Cesca Therapeutics : Sponsors First Symposium on Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation in India

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif -January 5, 2016 - Cesca Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:KOOL), an autologous cell-based regenerative medicine company, today announced that it is hosting the first annual Symposium on Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation in Delhi, India on January 7, 2016. The symposium will bring together National and International experts in the field of pediatrics and hematology/oncology to discuss current protocols and challenges for immune-oncology therapeutic approaches from a half-HLA matched (haploidentical), related donor. The program will include panel discussions on the latest clinical data and the merits of this treatment option in the current health care scenario.

Haploidentical transplantation is a treatment option gaining global acceptance as it increases the possibility and practicality of finding an acceptable donor match, known as an HLA (genotype) match. Parents are always a half-match for their children and siblings have at least a 75% chance of a match (full match and half match). Until recently, use of closely related donor sources such as the patient's parents came with a high risk of potentially fatal Graft versus Host disease, where donor immune cells attack the recipient's cells. New protocols that involve ex-vivo selection or removal of specific sub- types of T lymphocytes, a service provided in Cesca's TotipotentRX cell processing laboratory in Delhi, India, are now providing a good therapeutic option for patients in need of a life-saving bone marrow transplant for treatment of leukemia's and genetic blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia. Other protocols for haploidentical transplantation incorporate drugs that suppress the recipient's immune system in-vivo to promote acceptance of the donor's immune system.

Use of haploidentical transplantation will greatly increase the options for patients in need of bone marrow transplant, particularly in India where there is a great unmet need due to a lack of public bone marrow banks. Dr. Venkatesh Ponemone, Ph.D., Executive Director, Clinical affairs at TotipotentRX, India, stated 'We are very pleased to sponsor this symposium and excited to have Dr. Rupert Handgretinger, Professor of Pediatrics at the Children's Hospital, University of Tubingen, Germany to share his clinical experience in treating children with various cancers using haploidentical stem cell transplantation. This symposium is a welcomed platform to bring together leading hemato/oncology physicians to review and discuss standards of practice and emerging protocols for bone marrow transplantation. We are committed to supporting the practice of bone marrow transplantation and enhancing the ability of India to meet the growing need for this therapy.'
The one-day symposium will be held on January 7, 2016, in the Hotel Leela, Gurgaon, New Delhi, and is expected to be an annual event.