Global regulatory developments for clinical stem cell research: diversification and challenges to collaborations

Optimizing mesenchymal stem cell extracellular vesicles for chronic wound healing: Bioengineering, standardization, and safety

Chronic wounds represent a significant global burden, afflicting millions with debilitating complications. Despite standard care, impaired healing persists due to factors like persistent inflammation and impaired tissue regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer an innovative regenerative medicine approach, delivering stem cell-derived therapeutic cargo in engineered nanoscale delivery systems. This review examines pioneering bioengineering strategies to engineer MSC-EVs into precision nanotherapeutics for chronic wounds. Emerging technologies like CRISPR gene editing, microfluidic manufacturing, and biomimetic delivery systems are highlighted for their potential to enhance MSC-EV targeting, optimize therapeutic cargo enrichment, and ensure consistent clinical-grade production. However, key hurdles remain, including batch variability, rigorous safety assessment for potential tumorigenicity, immunogenicity, and biodistribution profiling. Crucially, collaborative frameworks harmonizing regulatory science with bioengineering and patient advocacy hold the key to expediting global clinical translation. By overcoming these challenges, engineered MSC-EVs could catalyze a new era of off-the-shelf regenerative therapies, restoring hope and healing for millions afflicted by non-healing wounds.

Scaffold-based delivery of mesenchymal stromal cells to diabetic wounds

Foot ulceration is a major complication of diabetes mellitus, which results in significant human suffering and a major burden on healthcare systems. The cause of impaired wound healing in diabetic patients is multifactorial with contributions from hyperglycaemia, impaired vascularization and neuropathy. Patients with non-healing diabetic ulcers may require amputation, creating an urgent need for new reparative treatments. Delivery of stem cells may be a promising approach to enhance wound healing because of their paracrine properties, including the secretion of angiogenic, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory factors. While a number of different cell types have been studied, the therapeutic use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) has been widely reported to improve delayed wound healing. However, topical administration of MSCs via direct injection has several disadvantages, including low cell viability and poor cell localization at the wound bed. To this end, various biomaterial conformations have emerged as MSC delivery vehicles to enhance cell viability and persistence at the site of implantation. This paper discusses biomaterial-based MSCs therapies in diabetic wound healing and highlights the low conversion rate to clinical trials and commercially available therapeutic products.

Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cell-based treatments legislation in Latin America: The need for standardization in a medical tourism context

Medicinal Signaling Cells (MSCs) secrete bioactive molecules with paracrine effects. These cells are widely used in basic and clinical research to treat several human diseases and medically relevant conditions. Although there are promising results, only a few treatments are approved of its administration, and clinicians should not underestimate the potential risks of its application without proper authorization. However, some treatments advertised mainly through the internet are not supported by solid or rigorous scientific evidence, legal consent, or the assurance of safety and efficacy, especially in the cell therapy tourism space. This practice allows patients to travel from stringently regulated countries to less restricted ones and increases the flourishing of non-endorsed therapies in these regions. Clinical applications of MSC-based treatments are subject to health legislation, and regulatory agencies are responsible for supervising their manufacture, quality control, and marketing approval. Consensus is needed to homologize and strengthen health legislation regarding those therapies, particularly in regions where medical tourism is frequent. Latin America and the Caribbean, an overlooked region with very heterogeneous legislation regarding cell therapy, is a popular medical tourism destination. Brazil and Argentina created regulations to supervise cell-based treatments manufacture, quality, and marketing. While Mexico, considered the second-largest drug market in Latin America, does not recognize nor authorize any cells as therapy. Also, some regulatory bodies miss the importance of several critical GMP processes to ensure reproducible, reliable, safe, and potentially more favorable results and do not consider them in their legislation. These inconsistencies make the region vulnerable to unproven or unethical treatments, potentially becoming a public health problem involving people from countries worldwide. This review attempts to generate awareness for the legal status of cell therapies in Latin America and the need for standardization as this region is a significant medical tourism destination.

Innovation in cancer therapeutics and regulatory perspectives

Cancer therapy has undergone a drastic revolution in the past few decades with the introduction of several novel therapies, like immunotherapy (active and passive), stem cell-based therapies, and nanocarrier-based therapies. These therapies have addressed the issues of conventional cancer therapy (chemotherapy or radiotherapy), like specificity and off-target effects. Further, the introduction of such treatments has improved survival and converted a terminal disease into a more manageable condition. However, many clinical, ethical, and regulatory issues are raised with such novel additions. Several effective therapies are under research but could not come to market or are delayed due to regulatory concerns for marketing approval. The scope of this review encompasses the examination of these regulatory issues and discuss their possible solutions. A practical and flexible regulatory approach, harmonized globally, could help the patients suffering from a terminal illness to lead a quality life.

Promises and challenges of adoptive T-cell therapies for solid tumours

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and, despite new targeted therapies and immunotherapies, many patients with advanced-stage- or high-risk cancers still die, owing to metastatic disease. Adoptive T-cell therapy, involving the autologous or allogeneic transplant of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes or genetically modified T cells expressing novel T-cell receptors or chimeric antigen receptors, has shown promise in the treatment of cancer patients, leading to durable responses and, in some cases, cure. Technological advances in genomics, computational biology, immunology and cell manufacturing have brought the aspiration of individualised therapies for cancer patients closer to reality. This new era of cell-based individualised therapeutics challenges the traditional standards of therapeutic interventions and provides opportunities for a paradigm shift in our approach to cancer therapy. Invited speakers at a 2020 symposium discussed three areas-cancer genomics, cancer immunology and cell-therapy manufacturing-that are essential to the effective translation of T-cell therapies in the treatment of solid malignancies. Key advances have been made in understanding genetic intratumour heterogeneity, and strategies to accurately identify neoantigens, overcome T-cell exhaustion and circumvent tumour immunosuppression after cell-therapy infusion are being developed. Advances are being made in cell-manufacturing approaches that have the potential to establish cell-therapies as credible therapeutic options. T-cell therapies face many challenges but hold great promise for improving clinical outcomes for patients with solid tumours.

Comparative lessons in regenerative medicine readiness: learning from the UK and Japanese experience

This paper explores how 'regenerative readiness' varies between different national research and healthcare systems. Here, 'readiness' refers to both the readiness of a given technology and the ability of a given setting to adopt a new technology. We compare two settings that have taken active yet dissonant approaches to improve readiness: the UK and Japan. Existing scholarship observes that disruptive technologies such as regenerative medicine require many adaptations to become useable and function along the principles of their design. We incorporate the sociotechnical systems framework to consider the range of adaptive measures taken across elements of the sociotechnical system for novel technological adoption. Building upon existing works on technology readiness and institutional readiness, we also expand the conceptualization of readiness toward system-wide readiness.

Regulating advanced therapy medicinal products through the Hospital Exemption: an analysis of regulatory approaches in nine EU countries

Aim: To study regulatory approaches for the implementation and utilization of the Hospital Exemption (HE) in nine EU countries. Materials & methods: Using public regulatory documentation and interviews with authorities we characterized the national implementation process of the HE, including national implementation characteristics and two outcomes: national licensing provisions and the amount of license holders. Results: National licensing provisions vary substantially among selected countries as a result of different regulatory considerations that relate to unmet medical needs, benefit/risk balance, and innovation. The amount of license holders per country is moderate (0-11). Conclusion: The HE facilitates HE utilization in clinical practice in some countries, yet safeguarding of public health and incentivizing commercial development is challenging.

Regenerative medicine regulatory policies: A systematic review and international comparison

BACKGROUND

A small number of regenerative medicines (RMs) have received market authorization (MA) worldwide, relative to the large number of clinical trials currently being conducted. Regulatory issues constitute one major challenge for the MA of RMs.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to systematically review the regulation of RMs internationally, to identify the regulatory pathways for approved RMs, and to detail expedited programs to stimulate MA process.

METHODS

Official websites of regulatory authorities in 9 countries (United States (US), Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, China, and India) and the European Union (EU) were systematically browsed, and was complemented by a systematic literature review in Medline and Embase database.

RESULTS

Specific RM legislation/frameworks were available in the EU, US, Japan, South Korea and Australia. A risk-based approach exempting eligible RMs from MA regulations were adopted in the EU and 6 countries. All investigated regions have established accelerated review or approval programs to facilitate the MA of RMs. 55 RMs have received MA in 9 countries and the EU. Twenty-three RMs received Priority Medicine designation, 32 RMs received Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation, and 11 RMs received SAKIGAKE (fore-runner initiative) designation.

CONCLUSION

Regulators have adopted proactive strategies to facilitate RM approval. However, addressing the discrepancies in regulatory requirements internationally remains challenging.

Regulation of Stem Cell-Based Research in India in Comparison with the US, EU and other Asian Countries: Current Issues and Future Perspectives

Stem cell therapy is applicable for repair and replacement of damaged cells and tissues. Apart from transplanting cells to the body, the stem cell therapy directs them to grow new and healthy tissues. Stem cells in the area of regenerative medicines hold tremendous promise that may help to regenerate the damaged tissues and heal various diseases like multiple sclerosis, heart diseases, Parkinson's disease, and so on. To prove the safety, efficacy, and for the requirement of a licence for manufacturing and sale, all the stem cell therapies should pass the required criteria and undergo certain examinations of the regulatory agencies. The regulatory authorities review the manufacturing procedures of products to assure its purity and potency. This review summarizes the comparative critical evaluations of existing regulations and developments on the stem cells research in India, USA, EU and Asian regions and also discusses the challenges that have to be overcome and the important points that should be understood to position India as a source of the perspective nation in stem cells around the world.

Mesenchymal stromal cells for ocular surface repair

INTRODUCTION

Cornea is a transparent, robust tissue that comprises highly organized cells. Disruption of this specialized tissue can lead to scarring and subsequent blindness, making corneal damage a considerable challenge worldwide. At present, the available medical treatments are unable to address the wide range of corneal diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have increasingly been investigated for their regenerative effect on ocular surface injury due to their unique ability for growth factor production, anti-inflammatory activity, immunomodulatory capacity and differentiation into multiple cell lineages.

AREAS COVERED

Within this review, we explore the pathogenesis of corneal disorders in response to injury and disease, and the potential for MSCs to modulate this process as a treatment. Through the review of over 25 animal studies, we investigate the common mechanisms of action by which MSCs have their effect and discuss their potential for treating and/or preventing corneal deterioration

EXPERT OPINION

Depending on the environmental cues, MSCs can exert a potent effect on corneal wound healing through reducing opacity and vascularization, whilst promoting re-epithelialization. Whilst their mechanism is multifactorial, it seems clear that the anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory factors they produce in response to damage are key to their control of cellular milieu and improving healing outcomes.

Overcoming barriers to facilitate the regulation of multi-centre regenerative medicine clinical trials

In the context of regenerative medicine and cellular therapies, the treatment under study often targets a less common disease or condition for which recruitment of a large number of research participants at any given site is challenging, if not impossible. One way to overcome this challenge is with a multi-centre clinical trial. This manuscript first aims to briefly outline the existing ethical, legal and social implications as well as the regulatory frameworks associated with multi-centre regenerative medicine clinical trials. Second, it considers the regulatory limitations and barriers surrounding the initiation of such trials in Canada, the USA and Europe. Third, it concludes with a set of recommendations for facilitating multi-centre clinical trials, at both national and international levels.

Marketing of unproven stem cell-based interventions: A call to action

Commercial promotion of unsupported therapeutic uses of stem cells is a global problem that has proven resistant to regulatory efforts. Here, we suggest a coordinated approach at the national and international levels focused on engagement, harmonization, and enforcement to reduce the risks associated with direct-to-consumer marketing of unproven stem cell treatments.

A blueprint for the next generation of ELSI research, training, and outreach in regenerative medicine

Regenerative medicine has attracted the interest of scientists, physicians, and patient communities, and as well as policy-makers and the broader public given related ethical, legal, and social implications. Here we examine past initiatives in the ethical, legal and social implications arena in regenerative medicine, and offer our views on actionable priorities for the future in six key areas: capacity building, policy, engagement with industry, resaerch ethics, communication, and community building.