Mesoblast to Present Positive Clinical Outcomes Using Remestemcel-L in Patients With Inflammatory Lung Disease at 2020 International Society of Cell and Gene Therapy Annual Meeting

NEW YORK, April 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mesoblast Limited (Nasdaq: MESO; ASX:MSB) today announced that results using its allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell product candidate remestemcel-L in patients with inflammatory lung disease have been selected for oral presentation at the 2020 International Society of Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) annual meeting being held May 28-29, 2020. The virtual presentation is entitled ‘Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy Improves Pulmonary Function and Exercise Tolerance in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and High Baseline Inflammation’.

The post-hoc analysis from a randomized, placebo-controlled 60-patient Phase 2 trial in patients with COPD showed that remestemcel-L significantly improved respiratory and functional clinical outcomes in patients with elevated levels of the inflammatory biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP). Significantly elevated CRP levels are also observed in patients with various acute lung diseases, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a life-threatening complication of COVID-19. 

These data formed part of the clinical justification in support of Mesoblast’s submission to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an Investigational New Drug (IND) application evaluating remestemcel-L in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 ARDS. Under this IND, the FDA cleared Mesoblast to proceed with the expanded access compassionate use program and a randomized controlled trial in patients with moderate to severe ARDS from COVID 19.

Mesoblast Chief Medical Officer Dr Fred Grossman said: “We are very encouraged by the positive clinical outcomes seen with intravenous infusions of remestemcel-L in patients with chronic inflammatory lung disease. These outcomes, together with results of remestemcel-L in patients with acute graft versus host disease, another condition associated with excessive cytokine release, have provided the strong rationale for the evaluation of remestemcel-L in patients with acute inflammatory conditions, including COVID-19 ARDS.”

About Mesoblast
Mesoblast Limited (Nasdaq: MESO; ASX: MSB) is a world leader in developing allogeneic (off-the-shelf) cellular medicines. The Company has leveraged its proprietary mesenchymal lineage cell therapy technology platform to establish a broad portfolio of commercial products and late-stage product candidates. Mesoblast’s proprietary manufacturing processes yield industrial-scale, cryopreserved, off-the-shelf, cellular medicines. These cell therapies, with defined pharmaceutical release criteria, are planned to be readily available to patients worldwide.