Irvine-based Aivita Biomedical Inc. said it’s “encouraged” by survival results from its Phase 2 clinical trials for glioblastoma brain cancer, which uses stem cell therapies.
The trial’s 76% survival rate for glioblastoma at 12 months and 15 months post-treatment with Aivita’s cell immunotherapies is higher than the control group that scored a 61% survival rate at 12 months, and only 48% survival rate at 15 months.
“Although treatment and monitoring of patients is ongoing, we are very encouraged by these interim results,” Aivita Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Dillman said.
The treatment consists of each patient’s own immune cells—dendrites of the neuron that are infused with tumor antigens specific to the patient’s tumor. The infused antigens act like antibodies and attack the tumor cells.
Chief Executive Hans Keirstead is a stem cell expert who has founded several companies and is also the founder of the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center at University of California-Irvine.
Last week, Keirstead disclosed that Aivita has garnered additional outside support and raised another $1.5 million from venture capitalists.
“I feel great to be raising during this recession,” Keirstead told the Business Journal.
Aivita is also working on a vaccine to treat coronavirus, Keirstead told a Pacific Club virtual forum last week.
“We are a vaccine company and I have all of the resources” to make a vaccine for it, he said.
“Our vaccine is one to watch” in Orange County, along with efforts by Hoag Hospital and UCI.
While Aivita is studying treatments for ovarian, brain, and skin cancers, it is also a skincare company focused on regenerative beauty and health. Aivita’s anti-aging product has been a hit in the Asia-Pacific countries, particularly in Japan where its products sold out on the QVC channel, according to Keirstead.
In February, Aivita completed a Series B2 round of funding for $12.5 million that included $8 million from Matthew Katz, founder of payment processor Verifi, and $3 million from Ci:z Holdings Co., a Tokyo firm with a line of skincare products that last year was acquired by Johnson & Johnson for about $2.1 billion.
