Tengion Works on Kidney Regeneration
A press release from Tengion: "rodents with chronic kidney disease (CKD) were treated with healthy kidney cells to catalyze the regeneration of functional kidney tissue and delay disease progression, as evidenced by extended survival, improved kidney filtration, and reduced severity of kidney tissue pathology. The published data demonstrate that delivery of a selected population of kidney cells to the kidney significantly extended long-term survival and improved kidney function in rodents with chronic kidney disease during six months of follow-up. Further, the therapeutic effects reported in this study were more pronounced and more durable than have been previously reported with this animal model. ... Chronic kidney disease is a serious medical condition affecting millions of Americans and can lead to kidney failure requiring the need for transplant or lifelong dialysis. A treatment approach that can increase kidney tissue and improve function would be a significant advancement in the care of these patients. The scientific community has historically considered that CKD develops from an imbalance between tissue damage and the kidney's ability to repair and regenerate itself. These preclinical data provide clear evidence that regeneration of functional renal tissue can delay progression of CKD."