CurexCell
CurexCellArutz Sheva: Macrocure

The patented “CureXcell,” made by Petach Tikvah-based MacroCure, is “the most comprehensive approach to the problem of chronic wounds, showing a very significant reduction of the mortality rate in patients…and a markedly improved healing rate for severe pressure ulcers," according to the company’s CEO, Dr. Mitchell Shirvan.

CureXcell uses a novel approach to wound repair – white blood cells from healthy donors that generally are discarded by blood banks.

"Usually, doctors infuse just red blood cells and plasma when they give blood transfusions," says Dr. Shirvan. "The white blood cells are usually not used in transfusions, but actually, they are very valuable for those suffering from chronic wounds, since this is where the core capacity of the body's ability to repair wounds is located. We developed CureXcell based on these cells, injecting it into the layer of the healthy cells just below the damaged tissue. The body absorbs those cells and uses them to begin repairing the wounds."

The company reports that patients begin to see an improvement in their condition within weeks.

When a wound occurs, the body automatically dispatches blood and fluids to the area of the wound to deliver healing substances. This causes inflammation, which is necessary for repair.

Until barely 50 years ago, "Doctors would treat wounds by putting a bandage on it and hoping for the best," Dr. Shirvan explains. "The white blood cells we use contain all the elements the body needs to repair itself," and the product contains the full complement of various cells that produce the cell messenger and growth factor molecules that might be missing as the body attempts to repair the wound.

He adds, "The cells are safe. We do all the tests that are done by blood banks for donors, and add on some other tests to insure product safety."

So far, says the company’s CEO, "CureXcell has been administered by physicians to over 4,500 patients with severe chronic wounds who would probably have remained with those wounds for years."

CureXcell is set to directly enter the last stage of the process for getting approval by the U.S.  Food and Drug Administration. "We anticipate receiving approval in the United States in 2014 with completion of a successful Phase 3 development program for the treatment of chronic lower-extremity ulcers in patients with diabetes," Shirvan says.