The federal government is examining the efficacy of a Houston-based company's stem cell technology in preventing Covid-19.
Houston-based Celltex Therapeutics Corp. in late June began a clinical trial to examine the prophylactic efficacy of its adult stem cell technology against the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to the National Institute of Health's website. The clinical trial involves 200 subjects, half of whom are receiving doses of Celltex's autologous adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells, while the other half receives placebo treatments. The subjects will be monitored and tested for Covid-19 for six months after the last dose, according to the NIH.
David Eller, chairman, co-founder and CEO of Celltex, told the Houston Business Journal that the firm's adult stem cells have previously been used to target pneumonia and lung disease in patients. In the absence of a vaccine for Covid-19, could stem cells be used to prevent people from catching the virus?
"Drugs and vaccines are good when they get done — but right now, what's available?" Eller said. "That's something we've tried to get a focus on."
Eller, who has previously served as president of DuPont Pharmaceuticals for Europe and North Africa, said that Celltex is also engaged in a Phase 3 clinical trial targeting Covid-19 in Mexico. Due to regulatory limitations in the U.S., Celltex administers its stem cell therapies in Cancun, Mexico, in coordination with Hospital Galenia.
Celltex also recently began a separate U.S. clinical trial studying the impacts of its stem cell technology on osteoarthritis in knees, hips and shoulders, according to the NIH. The clinical trial began July 1.
About 50 people are employed by Celltex, with some 35 based in the U.S. and 15 based in Mexico, Eller said. Celltex was aiming to scale up its hiring efforts this year prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said. Now, Eller thinks that many of those hires will be delayed until 2021 or 2022.
"As difficult as times are, I think we'll make it fine and be able to get back into the groove of really growing the company and scaling upward," Eller said.
Celltex was founded in 2011 to spearhead research into regenerative medicine using mesenchymal stem cells, according to the company's website. The company maintains an office and lab at 2401 Fountain View Drive near the Galleria, where Celltex stores and grows hundreds of millions of adult stem cells for patients.
Separately, Houston-based Pulmotect Inc., a portfolio company of Fannin Innovation Studio, began clinical trials in April for its inhaled immunomodulatory agent called PUL-042. The studies aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the PUL-042 inhalation solution in reducing Covid-19 infections.
