Innvoative Cell Therapy

Stem cell transplantation can save lives. It is often the only chance for people with leukemia or other blood and immune diseases. Despite great chances of survival: some develop strong rejection reactions during therapy, which cause great suffering, including death. In the Johanna Quandt Center of the University Clinic, stem cell transplants are a special focus. Prof. Peter Bader's team has succeeded in developing an innovative cell therapy for patients suffering from life-threatening complications of a stem cell transplant. Treatment with the preparation Obnitix® approved in Germany according to § 4b AMG can save lives and reduce suffering. With the help of the university's own technology transfer company Innovectis, the "drug" (cells cultivated in the laboratory and modulating the immune system) was registered for a patent and licensed out to an external, commercial partner. A controlled study is now to investigate whether Obnitix® also helps patients with particularly severe COVID-19 diseases. The Goethe Corona Fund made earmarked donations of 1.45 million euros available. Donors are the Else Kröner Fresenius Foundation with 700,000 euros, J2xU Foundation with 300,000 euros and the Barbara and Wilfried Mohr Foundation with 150,000 euros. The entrepreneur Stefan Quandt added a private donation of 300,000 euros. "We are happy that we have developed a drug here that is so promising. If the drug can also help in other desperate indications, it is of course all the more gratifying. There is still no drug that could help for seriously ill COVID-19 patients. For these patients we want to investigate whether we can actually help. "