SEATTLE, Dec. 01, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nohla Therapeutics Inc. (Nohla), a leading developer of universal donor cellular therapies for the treatment of patients with life threatening hematological malignancies, announced today that positive clinical and pre-clinical data for its cell therapy product will be presented at the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, California, December, 3-6, 2016. These findings result from research supported in part through an industry sponsored collaboration agreement with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. In addition to exploring the mechanism of action by which these cells work, the presentations further demonstrate the remarkable benefits of Nohla’s leading therapies and the rapidly increasing body of evidence that cord blood transplant is proving to be a front-runner in therapeutic options for treating hematologic malignancies.

The details for the oral presentation are as follows:

Abstract number: 1232

Title:  Infusion of Ex-Vivo Expanded Cord Blood Progenitor Cells Reduces the Time to Platelet Engraftment and the Number of Platelet and Red Blood Cell Transfusions Required in Patients Receiving Myeloablative Cord Blood Transplants

Summary: This retrospective study shows that infusion of Nohla’s cord blood derived ex-vivo expanded CD34+ cell product reduces the time to platelet engraftment and the number of platelet and red blood cell transfusions needed.

Presenter: Emily R. Cox, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle WA

Session Name: 721. Clinical Allogeneic Transplantation: Conditioning Regimens, Engraftment, and Acute Transplant Toxicities: Alternative Donors

Venue: Room 31 (San Diego Convention Center)

Session Date: Monday, December 5, 2016

Session Time: 6:15 PM - 7:45 PM

Presentation time: 6:30 PM

The full abstract can be viewed here: https://ash.confex.com/ash/2016/webprogram/Paper95618.html

The details for the poster presentations are as follows:

Abstract number: 4693

Title: Myeloablative Cord Blood Transplantation Yields Excellent Disease Free Survival in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Summary: The study reports outcomes for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who received myeloablative cord blood transplantation in the last decade at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, resulting in a 74% 5-year disease free survival and 17% relapse rate. Within these patients, the presence of minimal residual disease at the time of transplantation had no significant effect on these outcomes.

Presenter: David Oliver, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle WA

Session Name: 732. Clinical Allogeneic Transplantation: Results: Poster III.

Venue: Hall GH, San Diego Convention Center

Session Date: December 5, 2016

Session time: 6:00-8:00 PM

The full abstract can be viewed here: https://ash.confex.com/ash/2016/webprogram/Paper95607.html

Abstract number: 3348

Title: Demonstration of Rapid Functional Myeloid Cell Recovery after Infusion of a Universal Donor Ex Vivo Expanded Progenitor Cell Therapy as a Bridging Graft Source

Summary: This study demonstrates that the rapidly engrafting myelomonocytic cells generated from the universal donor graft source develop into mature and functionally intact human myeloid cells that can fight infectious organisms.

Presenter: Fabiola V. Merriam, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle WA

Venue: Hall GH, San Diego Convention Center

Session Name: 701. Experimental Transplantation: Basic Biology, Pre-Clinical Models

Session Date: Sunday, December 4, 2016

Session time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

The full abstract can be viewed here: https://ash.confex.com/ash/2016/webprogram/Paper95620.html

About Nohla Therapeutics

Nohla Therapeutics Inc. (Nohla) is a clinical stage developer of universal donor cellular therapies for the treatment of patients with life threatening hematological disorders. The Company is leveraging a platform technology developed over the past two decades at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center which enables the ex vivo expansion and directed differentiation of cord blood stem/progenitor cells resulting in “off-the-shelf” universal donor cellular therapies.  These products can be used on demand without the need for HLA matching and provide bridging hematopoietic recovery in patients at risk for neutropenia after intensive chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment for critical diseases.  Currently, hematopoietic stem cell transplant remains the only proven cure for many hematologic malignancies.  Nohla is evaluating these “off-the-shelf” cryopreserved expanded cell products in several clinical settings including two lead programs: NLA-101, a multi-center, randomized open label Phase IIb study in the setting of myeloablative cord blood transplant and NLA-102, a multi-center, randomized global Phase II study in the setting of high dose chemotherapy for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). Nohla is supported by top-tier healthcare dedicated institutional investors including ARCH Venture Partners, 5AM Ventures and Jagen.

For more information, please contact:

General Enquiries
Paul Michael Johnson
Director, Business Development
+1 206 519 5317
paulj@nohlatherapeutics.com

Investors
Candice Knoll
Blueprint Life Science Group
+1 415-375-3340 Ext. 4
cknoll@bplifescience.com

Media
Esther Cuno
Director, Corporate Communications
+1 206 519 5313
estherc@nohlatherapeutics.com