Asymmetrex Interviewed in Anticipation of Presentations at the 14th Annual World Preclinical Congress Focused on Tackling Translation Challenges
Boston, MA (PRWEB) April 22, 2015 -- James Sherley, the head of stem cell technology company Asymmetrex, often wonders how and why such a fundamental property of adult tissue stem cells has been overlooked by so many for so long. Since mid 2014, he has been on a campaign, speaking at several national and international academic and industrial conferences, to revive the presently overlooked importance of asymmetric self-renewal in stem cell science and stem cell medicine. Sherley says that, “Asymmetric self-renewal is the gnomonic for adult tissue stem cells. It is the property that names them.” So, for Sherley, it follows that if asymmetric self-renewal does not maintain a role as the guiding principle of regenerative medicine, this exciting emerging field will continue to under achieve.
In June, Sherley will talk with other participants at the 14th Annual World Preclinical Congress about the current absence of consideration of asymmetric self-renewal in the design of tissue-engineered systems in development for drug evaluations by the pharmaceutical industry. In a recent interview with An-Dinh Nguyen, Associate Producer for the congress, Sherley provides a brief primer on asymmetric self-renewal and why it is an important principle overlooked in tissue engineering. He also shares a brief history of the research on asymmetric self-renewal that is the foundation for Asymmetrex’s business.
Asymmetric self-renewal means that adult tissue stem cells can actively multiply with simultaneous reproduction of themselves and production of new mature tissue cells. This ability allows tissue stem cells to replenish old mature cells, which are continuously lost from tissues and organs, but not lose their own stem cell blueprint required for tissue and organ renewal and repair.
Asymmetric self-renewal by tissue stem cells is an essential consideration for all aspects of the cells' study and use. Sherley cautions that overlooking this property of tissue stem cells may be holding back progress in regenerative medicine. Asymmetrex has shown that asymmetric self-renewal is an important factor that limits the production of tissue stem cells. But it is also so unique to tissue stem cells, that it can be used to identify them, which is a long-standing unmet need in tissue stem cell research and medicine. Asymmetrex’s patented technologies for producing, identifying, and counting adult tissue stem cells for research and clinical development are grounded in the company’s special research and bioengineering expertise for tissue stem cell asymmetric self-renewal.
In his planned presentation at the conference in June, Sherley will focus on the company’s newest technology developed with computer-simulation leader, AlphaSTAR Corporation. In partnership, the two companies have created a first-of-its-kind method for monitoring adult tissue stem cell number and function for any human tissue that can be cultured. This advance is the basis for the two companies’ “AlphaSTEM” technology for detecting adult tissue stem cell-toxic drug candidates before conventional preclinical testing in animals or in clinical trials. Asymmetrex and AlphaSTAR are marketing the new technology to pharmaceutical companies. AlphaSTEM technology is projected to accelerate drug development, reduce its cost, and improve drug safety. With widespread use, AlphaSTEM could reduce U.S. drug development costs by $4-5 billion each year.
Asymmetrex and AlphaSTAR are now accepting pharmaceutical companies as early adopters of their new AlphaSTEM technology. Their key advantage responsible for the new technology is Asymmetrex’s expertise in the asymmetric self-renewal of adult tissue stem cells.
About Asymmetrex
Asymmetrex, LLC is a Massachusetts life sciences company with a focus on developing technologies to advance stem cell medicine. Asymmetrex’s founder and director, James L. Sherley, M.D., Ph.D. is an internationally recognized expert on the unique properties of adult tissue stem cells. The company’s patent portfolio contains biotechnologies that solve the two main technical problems – production and quantification – that have stood in the way of successful commercialization of human adult tissue stem cells for regenerative medicine and drug development. In addition, the portfolio includes novel technologies for isolating cancer stem cells and producing induced pluripotent stem cells for disease research purposes. Currently, Asymmetrex’s focus is employing its technological advantages to develop facile methods for monitoring adult stem cell number and function in clinically important human tissues.
James L. Sherley, M.D., Ph.D., Asymmetrex, LLC, http://asymmetrex.com, +1 (617) 990-6819, [email protected]
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