UTHealth in Houston and Athersys Announce Funding for Clinical Trial using MultiStem® to Treat Trauma Patients

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and Athersys (NASDAQ:ATHX) announced plans to conduct a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating Athersys’ MultiStem cell therapy for early treatment and prevention of complications after severe traumatic injury. This first-ever study of a cell therapy for treatment of a wide range of traumatic injuries will be conducted at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, one of the busiest Level 1 trauma centers in the United States.

As quoted in the press release:

In conjunction with this planned study, UTHealth reported that its McGovern Medical School has received a grant award from the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) to support the study. The MTEC grant will provide $2.0 million in funding and the Memorial Hermann Foundation will provide an additional $1.5 million. Athersys will provide the investigational clinical product for the conduct of the trial, as well as regulatory and operational support, as its contribution to the trial. Dr. Charles S. Cox Jr., the George and Cynthia Mitchell Distinguished Chair in Neurosciences in the Department of Pediatric Surgery and co-Director of the Red Duke Trauma Institute at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, will serve as principal investigator. Co-investigators are Charles Wade, Ph.D. and John B. Holcomb, M.D. Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center is the teaching hospital of McGovern Medical School.

Click here to read the full press release.