Ossium Health Awarded $3.46M in Funding from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine

Ossium Health, announced today that the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded the company a $3.46M Clinical Stage Research Program (CLIN1) funding grant to support the continued clinical development of OSSM-007, Ossium’s interferon-gamma primed mesenchymal stem cell product, for the treatment of steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease (GVHD). The Ossium funding will support and accelerate pre-clinical and manufacturing activities for OSSM-007, with plans to initiate clinical study activities by the end of 2023.

Acute GVHD occurs after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HCT) and is a reaction in which immunocompetent donor cells (the graft) recognize and attack the recipient’s (host) tissues. Approximately 30–60% of allogeneic HCT recipients develop acute GVHD, and roughly half of these patients will become refractory to systemic steroid therapy. Despite overall improvements in other HCT outcomes, GVHD remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in allogeneic HCT recipients, highlighting the urgent need for effective new therapies.

Kevin Caldwell, Ossium’s Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, said, “We’re thrilled to partner with CIRM and appreciate their ongoing commitment to advancing research in stem cell-based therapeutics. This grant will accelerate Ossium’s development of OSSM-007 and is a crucial step towards a powerful new treatment option for patients with GVHD.”