Histocell, which specialises in regenerative medicine, has invested 3 million euros to develop a cell-based drug for pulmonary fibrosis based on research begun by Dr. Anna Serrano, from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and Dr. Antoni Xaubet, from the Clinic Hospital in 2004. The results of this study showed that certain lung cells could be used to recover lost lung function in patients suffering from pulmonary fibrosis.

Patients with this disease have an average survival of three to five years from the onset of symptoms, and there is currently no effective treatment. Initial tests suggested that a cell transplant could help to treat a disease that affects 15 out of every 100,000 people.
"The annual worldwide market for the therapy being developed by Histocell is around 30 billion euros" notes Marta Acilu, assistant director at Histocell.

Histocell is responsible for the initial clinical phases, for which it has made a cell-production clean room available, and it is expected that the first results of the clinical program, which is overseen by CSIC and the Carlos III Health Institute, will be available in 2012. If the various phases are successful, the product could be launched in around eight years.

Histocell's investment has been boosted by a grant of 450,000 euros from Genome Spain via the Innocash program. The aim is to licence the product to a pharmaceutical company, and both CSIC and the Clinic Hospital (Barcelona) will receive royalties once a profit it becomes profitable.