VitaKine® Platelet Cell Therapy from BioParadox Improves Cardiac Function after Heart Attack in Preclinical Studies

MENLO PARK, Calif., April 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BioParadox, Inc., a regenerative medicine company pioneering point-of-care biologic treatments for cardiovascular disease, today announced data supporting the use of VitaKine® Platelet Cell Therapy (PCT) as a promising treatment for heart attack patients. The results of a preclinical cardiac study were presented at the 2nd Annual Translational Regenerative Medicine Forum in Washington, D.C.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), a component of whole blood, has been shown to effectively treat sports-related injuries such as chronic tennis elbow in randomized controlled trials. With two recent preclinical studies, BioParadox has demonstrated the effectiveness of Platelet Cell Therapy, a proprietary subset of PRP, to safely and effectively enhance the function of cardiac tissue damaged by myocardial infarction (heart attack). Left untreated, the heart is unable to regain its muscle pumping action, also known as ejection fraction. Progressive lack of function can lead to congestive heart failure or even death.

Working with colleagues at Stanford University Medical Center, Dr. Allan Mishra and Dr. Todd Brinton studied the effects of PCT – proprietary formulations of concentrated platelets and white blood cells – on cardiac function after inducing a heart attack in a pivotal swine model. VitaKine PCT was found to significantly enhance the amount of blood pumped out of the ventricles (ejection fraction) by 23% compared to controls (p < 0.05).  Standard PRP did not improve pumping action. VitaKine PCT contains white blood cells in specific ratios and concentrations, in addition to platelets.

"From a decade of research in sports medicine with Platelet-Rich Plasma, we have seen its effectiveness as a biologic therapeutic for improving tissue healing," said Dr. Allan Mishra, founder of BioParadox. "With this new study, we are translating the benefit of PRP from sports medicine to cardiovascular care with more precise formulations such as VitaKine PCT. BioParadox's preclinical studies show tremendous potential for treating patients who have suffered from a heart attack, congestive heart failure or peripheral vascular disease, among other conditions."

The BioParadox VitaKine PCT research study was conducted at Stanford University under the direction of Principal Investigator Dr. Alan Yeung, professor of medicine and chief, division of cardiovascular medicine. "The results from our preclinical animal model studies are promising and support the initiation of human trials," said Dr. Yeung. "The study also represents a novel approach to a challenging clinical problem without the risk of rejection or the costs of extensive stem cell processing."

"Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in industrialized nations, with nearly half a million heart attacks each year, and near-epidemic numbers of patient with heart failure," said Dr. Warren Sherman, director of stem cell research and regenerative medicine at the Center for Intervention Vascular Therapies at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. "BioParadox's Platelet Cell Therapy (PCT) shows significant potential to create a paradigm shift in biologic therapy for damaged myocardial tissue and improve cardiovascular care."

Taking place April 6-8, 2011 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C., the Translational Regenerative Medicine Forum is an international event convening members of the academic, clinical, pharmaceutical, government and venture capitalist community to collaborate and advance the science of regenerative medicine.

Dr. Mishra and Dr. Brinton are members of the BioParadox Board of Directors. Dr. Sherman is a member of the BioParadox Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Yeung was the study's principal investigator and has no conflict of interest.  

About BioParadox

BioParadox is innovating the use of Platelet Cell Therapy (PCT) for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. The company's first products, VitaKine® and RevaTen® are proprietary formulations that have been shown to enhance cardiovascular function. They are produced exclusively by BioParadox.

For more information, please visit: BioParadox.com or e-mail: [email protected].

About the Regenerative Medicine Foundation

The Regenerative Medicine Foundation (www.regenerativemedicinefoundation.org), launched in 2005, is an internationally-focused, not-for-profit organization created to enable the advancement of new treatments and therapies based on regenerative medicine, and ultimately, to realize the goals of personalized medicine. Through educational programs, translational conferences and public policy initiatives, the Foundation advocates for increased medical research, promotes the training and education of scientists, and facilitates the translation of therapies to patients.

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SOURCE BioParadox, Inc.