Haifa, Israel -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/14/2014 -- According to Dr. Scott Rodeo of New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), although the findings of a recent study should be considered preliminary, adherent stromal cells derived from human placenta appear promising as a readily available cell source to aid tendon healing and regeneration. Dr. Rodeo presented his research findings in a scientific poster titled, “Use of Human Placental-Derived Adherent Stromal Cells Improves Tendon Healing in a Preclinical Model of Tendon Injury,” at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) Annual Meeting, on March 11-15 in New Orleans.

At the AAOS meeting, Dr. Rodeo’s poster presentation concluded that: a) placental-expanded cell therapy appeared to have an early beneficial effect on tendon healing following collagenase injury in this preclinical model; b) since these cells are immunoprivileged and are expanded ex vivo, its potential for “off-the-shelf” use is attractive relative to existing cell-based therapies; and c) additional preclinical studies are necessary to understand how these cells may affect tendon repair.

“Although our findings should be considered preliminary, adherent stromal cells derived from human placenta appear promising as a readily available cell source to aid tendon healing and regeneration,” stated Dr. Rodeo.

“These detailed preclinical results, as well as the favorable top-line results we announced from our Phase I/II muscle injury study in January, both validate our strategy to pursue advanced clinical studies of our PLX cells for the sports and orthopedic market,” stated Pluristem CEO Zami Aberman.

Dr. Rodeo and his orthopedic research team at HSS studied the effects of Pluristem’s PLacental eXpanded (PLX)-PAD cells in a preclinical model of patellar tendons that had sustained collagenase-induced injuries. Favorable results from the study were announced by Pluristem on August 14, 2013. Dr. Rodeo, the Principal Investigator for this study is Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College; Co-Chief of the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at HSS; Associate Team Physician for the New York Giants Football Team; and Physician for the U.S.A. Olympic Swimming Team.

About the Study
The biomechanical analysis of the study results showed that PLX-PAD treated tendons had significantly higher load-to-failure at the 2-week time point following injection when compared to saline-treated patellar tendons (p<0.05). While PLX-PAD treated tendons had a higher mean tendon load-to-failure and stiffness (31.44± 6.06 N/mm versus 27.91±6.57 N/mm) at a 4-week time point, these differences were not statistically significant.

Gross specimen and histological analysis of the tissue found: a) no consistent differences in severity of inflammation were seen between saline and tendons treated with placental cells at 2 and 4 weeks; b) no adverse soft tissue reaction was seen in placental cell-treated samples; c) CFSE-labeled placental cells were identified in the patellar tendon tissues out to 4 weeks following injection on fluorescent microscopy; and d) there was greater area of collagen content and metachromasia on ploraized-light picrosirius-red and safranin-O in tendons treated with placental-expanded cells, respectively.

About Pluristem Therapeutics
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapies. The Company's patented PLX (PLacental eXpanded) cells are a drug delivery platform that releases a cocktail of therapeutic proteins in response to a host of local and systemic inflammatory and ischemic diseases. PLX cells are grown using the company's proprietary 3D micro-environmental technology and are an "off-the-shelf" product that requires no tissue matching prior to administration.

Pluristem has a strong intellectual property position, company-owned GMP certified manufacturing and research facilities, strategic relationships with major research institutions and a seasoned management team. For more information visit http://www.pluristem.com.