Elsevier

New Biotechnology

Volume 32, Issue 1, 25 January 2015, Pages 180-190
New Biotechnology

Research paper
Identifying viable regulatory and innovation pathways for regenerative medicine: a case study of cultured red blood cells

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbt.2014.07.008Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Highlights

  • We map the product development pathway for a novel cultured blood therapy.

  • We highlight the role of methodological and regulatory innovation in future development in the field.

  • We describe the regulatory and manufacturing challenges for regenerative medicine.

  • We discuss broader lessons from this case study for successful translation of regenerative medicine more generally.

  • The cultured blood therapy is a challenge for the current regulatory system.

The creation of red blood cells for the blood transfusion markets represents a highly innovative application of regenerative medicine with a medium term (5–10 year) prospect for first clinical studies. This article describes a case study analysis of a project to derive red blood cells from human embryonic stem cells, including the systemic challenges arising from (i) the selection of appropriate and viable regulatory protocols and (ii) technological constraints related to stem cell manufacture and scale up to clinical Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard.

The method used for case study analysis (Analysis of Life Science Innovation Systems (ALSIS)) is also innovative, demonstrating a new approach to social and natural science collaboration to foresight product development pathways. Issues arising along the development pathway include cell manufacture and scale-up challenges, affected by regulatory demands emerging from the innovation ecosystem (preclinical testing and clinical trials). Our discussion reflects on the efforts being made by regulators to adapt the current pharmaceuticals-based regulatory model to an allogeneic regenerative medicine product and the broader lessons from this case study for successful innovation and translation of regenerative medicine therapies, including the role of methodological and regulatory innovation in future development in the field.

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