Israel to weigh "compassionate use" of Pluristem therapy for COVID-19

Pluri

17/03/2020 12:47

JERUSALEM, March 17 (Reuters) - Israel's Health Ministry has
approved a request by Pluristem Therapeutics  PSTI.TA  to seek
case-by-case permission for compasstional treatment of COVID-19
patients with its stem cell therapy, the company said on
Tuesday.
    Pluristem said in a regulatory filing the ministry may now
approve proposed treatments for severely ill patients, though it
has yet to submit any requests and there is no guarantee the
government would approve each case.
    The proposed treatment includes intra-muscular
administration of the company's PLX-PAD, which uses cells
derived from the placenta, for severe pneumonia resulting from
COVID-19 and preventing the deterioration of patients towards
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis.
    Shares in Pluristem were up 14% in late afternoon trade in
Tel Aviv.
    Pluristem said it is collaborating with the BIH Center for
Regenerative Therapy and the Berlin Center for Advanced
Therapies at Charité University of Medicine Berlin to evaluate
the effects of PLX cells for the potential treatment
ofrespiratory and inflammatory complications associated with
COVID-19.

 (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Tova Cohen)
 ((ari.rabinovitch@thomsonreuters.com;  +972-2-632-2202; Reuters
Messaging: ari.rabinovitch@thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))