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Minutes for SB373 - Committee on Public Health and Welfare
Short Title
Making appropriations to the university of Kansas medical center for fiscal year 2022 for conducting COVID-19 clinical trials at the midwest stem cell therapy center.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 16, 2022
Chairperson Hilderbrand opened the hearing on SB373.
Jenna Moyer, Staff Revisor gave an overview of the bill.
Senator Mike Thompson gave proponent testimony stating that SB373 will provide the necessary funds for Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center for them to continue their work on cell-based smart therapy that can and will save lives of patients facing out of control inflammation called a cytokine storm. He stated that he has seen the researchers at MSCTC demonstrate that the therapies they are developing have the potential to fill a needed gap in the treatment of life-threatening diseases like Graft Versus Host disease where transplant patient's immune system attacks their own body. Their therapies also show promise in treating the most severe COVID patients who face severe inflammation and a similar auto immune response. (Attachment 1)
Dr. David A. Prentice gave his testimony in support of SB373. SB373 would provide funding to allow MSCTC to use their experience with Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) to treat the most severe Covid-19 patients, those in respiratory distress and to calm their cytokine storm using MSCTC-0010 cells. The MSCTC has a clinical research protocol ready to submit to the FDA for this application for Covid-19 patients. (Attachment 2)
Dr. James L. Sherley testified as a proponent of SB373. He stated that approval of SB373 is important for maintaining the current momentum of this valuable clinical research and development center and resource. This allocation would allow the MSCTC to continue forward with plans to evaluate their manufactured adult stem cells for their effectiveness in treating debilitating lung inflammation associated with severe Covid-19 infection. (Attachment 3)
They took questions from committee members.
Written only, neutral testimony was submitted by:
Dr. Robert D. Simari and Dr. Sunil H. Abhyankar (Attachment 4)
Chairperson Hilderbrand announced to committee members that the Midwest Stem Cell Therapy Center 2022 Annual Report is included in their materials and has been uploaded to the Legislative website. (Attachment 5)
Chairperson Hilderbrand closed the hearing on SB373.
