Infusion Improves Immune Response of Aging Frailty Following Flu Shot

Florida-based Longeveron Inc. announced the completion of the Company’s Phase I/II clinical study of the use of Lomecel-B to improve immune response to influenza vaccine in subjects with Aging Frailty.

Longeveron stated in a press release issued on April 15, 2021, 'it is anticipated that the top-line trial results will be announced in the 3rd quarter of 2021.'

Lomecel-B is an allogeneic, bone marrow-derived medicinal signaling cell product manufactured under current good manufacturing practices by Longeveron.  

The company says 'Lomecel-B has the potential to reduce inflammation associated with Aging Frailty and to promote an anti-inflammatory state by releasing anti-inflammatory molecules, which can balance the immune system and improve the function of B lymphocytes.

As B cells are responsible for antibody production in response to vaccines, Lomecel-B may boost antibody generation and immunity following vaccination in subjects with Aging Frailty.'

“Completion of this clinical study to investigate Lomecel-B as a new therapeutic approach to boost immune response serves as an important initial step to meet the critical unmet medical need for those with Aging Frailty, who often respond poorly to vaccines,” said Sean Leng, MD, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health and the study’s principal investigator.

Aging Frailty is a life-threatening geriatric condition affecting approximately 15% of Americans over 65 or 8.1 million individuals. Aging Frailty patients are vulnerable to poor clinical outcomes compared to their age-matched peers despite sharing similar comorbidities and demographics. Therefore it is considered by some as an extreme form of unsuccessful aging. 

Geoff Green, CEO of Longeveron. “From the inception of Longeveron, we have focused our efforts on using a regenerative medicine approach to treat chronic, aging-related diseases and conditions, such as frailty and Alzheimer’s disease, with the goal of improving healthspan.”

Miami-based Longeveron is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cellular therapies for specific aging-related and life-threatening conditions.