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Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine is a subsidiary of Astellas Pharma located in Marlborough, Massachusetts, US, developing stem cell therapies with a focus on diseases that cause blindness. It was formed in 1994 as a company named Advanced Cell Technology, Incorporated (ACT), which was renamed to Ocata Therapeutics in November 2014. In February 2016 Ocata was acquired by Astellas for $379 million USD.

History

Advanced Cell Technology was formed in 1994 and was led from 2005 to late 2010 by William M. Caldwell IV, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Upon Mr. Caldwell's death on December 13, 2010, Gary Rabin, a member of ACT's board of directors with experience in investment and capital raising, assumed the role of Chairman and CEO.

In 2007 the company's Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), Michael D. West, PhD, also founder of Geron left Ocata to join a regenerative medicine firm, BioTime as CEO. In 2008, for $250,000 plus royalties up to a total of $1 million, the company licensed its "ACTCellerate" technology to BioTime. Robert Lanza was appointed CSO.

On November 22, 2010, the company announced that it had received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate the first human clinical trial using embryonic stem cells to treat retinal diseases. A preliminary report of the trial published in 2012, and a follow-up article was published in February 2015.

In July 2014, Ocata announced that Paul K. Wotton, previously of Antares Pharma Inc (ATRS:NASDAQ CM), became President and Chief Executive Officer.

On August 27, 2014, Ocata announced a 1-100 reverse stock split of its common stock. Ocata was listed on NASDAQ in February 2015.

Research

Macular degeneration

On November 30, 2010, Ocata filed an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. FDA for the first clinical trial using embryonic stem cells to regenerate retinal pigment epithelium to treat Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD). Dry AMD is the most common form of macular degeneration and represents a market size of $25–30 Billion in the U.S. and Europe.

Stargardt's disease

In November 2010 the FDA allowed Ocata to begin a Phase I/II human clinical trial to use its retinal pigment epithelium cell therapy to treat Stargardt disease, a form of inherited juvenile macular degeneration.

See also

• Key stem cell research events
• Somatic cell nuclear transfer
• Stem cells without embryonic destruction

References

1. "Company seeks to test stem cells for blindness". Reuters. 2009-11-25.
2. "Ocata website: Pipeline Overview". Archived from the original on 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
3. "Advanced Cell Technology Changes Name to Ocata Therapeutics". Ocata Therapeutics. 2014-11-14. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
4. "Astellas to acquire Ocata Therapeutics for $379M". GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News. 2015-11-10. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
5. "Astellas Announces Results of Tender Offer to Acquire All Outstanding Shares of Ocata Therapeutics and Changes to Subsidiaries - Feb 10, 2016". Astellas Pharma US, Inc. | News Room. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
6. "Executive Profile". BusinessWeek.com. 23 March 2010. Archived from the original on October 18, 2010.
7. "Advanced Cell Technology Senior Executive Officers". Advanced Cell Technology. Archived from the original on 2014-07-20. Retrieved 2014-08-13.
8. "Bloomberg Longevity Economy Conference 2013 Panelist Bio". Archived from the original on 2013-08-03.
9. "Press Release: ACTCellerate Technology Licensed to BioTime, Inc by Advanced Cell Technology".
10. "New Method for Controversy Free Embryonic Stem Cells". Wired Science. 9 July 2008.
11. "FDA approves second human embryonic stem cell trial". CNN.com. 22 November 2010. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010.
12. Schwartz, Steven D; Hubschman, Jean-Pierre; Heilwell, Gad; Franco-Cardenas, Valentina; Pan, Carolyn K; Ostrick, Rosaleen M; Mickunas, Edmund; Gay, Roger; Klimanskaya, Irina; Lanza, Robert (2012). "Embryonic stem cell trials for macular degeneration: A preliminary report". The Lancet. 379 (9817): 713–720. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60028-2. PMID 22281388. S2CID 2230787.
13. Schwartz, Steven D; Regillo, Carl D; Lam, Byron L; Eliott, Dean; Rosenfeld, Philip J; Gregori, Ninel Z; Hubschman, Jean-Pierre; Davis, Janet L; Heilwell, Gad; Spirn, Marc; Maguire, Joseph; Gay, Roger; Bateman, Jane; Ostrick, Rosaleen M; Morris, Debra; Vincent, Matthew; Anglade, Eddy; Del Priore, Lucian V; Lanza, Robert (2015). "Human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium in patients with age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt's macular dystrophy: Follow-up of two open-label phase 1/2 studies". The Lancet. 385 (9967): 509–516. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61376-3. PMID 25458728. S2CID 85799.
14. "Cynata appoints Paul K Wotton to Board of Directors". www.biospectrumasia.com. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
15. Seiffert, Don (18 November 2015). "Ocata's $379M acquisition leaves many small investors disillusioned". Boston Business Journal. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
16. Ocata Therapeutics Approved for Listing on NASDAQ February 26, 2015
17. "Advanced Cell Technology Files IND with FDA for First Clinical Trial Using Embryonic Stem Cells to Treat Dry AMD". Archived from the original on 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
18. "ACT Seeks FDA Approval For Stem Cell Study". Archived from the original on 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
19. "Advanced Cell Technology Receives FDA Clearance to Initiate Clinical Trials". Retina Today. Retrieved 5 April 2015.

• Astellas Pharma
• Biotechnology companies of the United States
• Stem cells
• Biotechnology companies established in 1994
• Life sciences industry