Abstract: The Invention features an implantable cell device that includes a membrane defining and enclosing a chamber; a distance body within the chamber for reducing the diffusion distance for a biological active factor to or across the membrane; and a support scaffold within the chamber for increasing the cell support surface area per unit volume of the chamber for distributing cells.

Abstract: The invention comprises an implantable cell device that includes a membrane defining and enclosing a chamber; a distance body within the chamber for reducing the diffusion distance for a biological active factor to or across the membrane; and a support scaffold within the chamber for increasing the cell support surface area per unit volume of the chamber for distributing cells.

Abstract: The invention features an implantable cell device that includes a membrane defining and enclosing a chamber; a distance body within the chamber for reducing the diffusion distance for a biological active factor to or across the membrane; and a support scaffold within the chamber for increasing the cell support surface area per unit volume of the chamber for distributing cells.

Abstract: The invention features an implantable cell device. The device includes a membrane defining and enclosing a chamber; a distance body, within the chamber, for reducing the diffusion distance for a biological active factor to or across the membrane; and a support scaffold, within the chamber, for increasing the cell support surface area per unit volume of the chamber for distributing cells.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for Encapsulated Cell Therapy. The device includes an implantable capsule containing cells which secrete a biologically active compound for providing a biological function. The capsule has a semi permeable outer membrane for delivery of the compound e.g. at a site in the central nervous system or the spinal cord, e.g. in the brain of a patient. The capsule is connected to a tether which e.g. facilitates removal of the capsule from the patient. To facilitate insertion of the capsule into the patient, a stiffener may be attached to the tether to make the tether more rigid. The invention further provides a container for storing a cell therapy device and a method of locating the device in the body of a patient.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, an implantable cell device is disclosed. The device includes a membrane defining and enclosing a chamber; a distance means, within the chamber, for reducing diffusion distance for a biologically active factor to across the membrane; and a support means, within the chamber, for increasing cell support surface area per unit volume of the chamber for distributing cells.

Abstract: The present invention concerns improved methods and compositions for producing a Neublastin polypeptide as well as local delivery of Neublastin to specific regions of the nervous system including the central nervous system and the eye for example by gene therapy. The invention also concerns Neublastin expression constructs which do not encode a pro-region of a Neublastin polypeptide, which expression construct result in increased secretion of bioactive Neublastin. The invention includes the delivery of Neublastin from transduced or transfected cells encapsulated into a macrocapsule with a semipermeable membrane. The invention further concerns mammalian cells capable of producing Neublastin in increased amounts.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for Encapsulated Cell Therapy. The device includes an implantable capsule containing cells which secrete a biologically active compound for providing a biological function. The capsule has a semi permeable outer membrane for delivery of the compound e.g. at a site in the central nervous system or the spinal cord, e.g. In the brain of a patient. The capsule is connected to a tether which e.g. facilitates removal of the capsule from the patient. To facilitate insertion of the capsule into the patient, a stiffener may be attached to the tether to make the tether more rigid. The invention further provides a container for storing a cell therapy device and a method of locating the device in the body of a patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to human cell lines genetically modified to overexpress bioactive NGF. In another aspect the present invention relates to encapsulated human cell lines genetically modified to overexpress bioactive NGF, which can be used in therapy of Alzheimer's disease, peripheral neuropathy and other neurological disorders amenable to local and prolonged NGF therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices comprising a composition of human cells secreting a therapeutically effective amount of GDNF (Glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor) encapsulated in a device comprising a core and a semipermeable membrane allowing for the diffusion of GDNF protein. The human cells are from one cell line.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for gene therapy, in particular in vivo gene therapy for delivery of bioactive Neurturin for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. In another aspect the invention relates to virus expression constructs comprising a mammalian signal peptide linked to a mature or N-terminally truncated Neurturin without a functional pro-region between the signal peptide and the Neurturin. These viral expression constructs are required for efficient secretion of bioactive Neurturin in in vivo gene therapy. The invention also concerns mammalian cells capable of producing Neurturin in increased amounts as well as the use of these cells for recombinant production of bioactive Neurturin and for therapeutic use.

Abstract: The present invention concerns improved methods and compositions for producing a Neublastin polypeptide as well as local delivery of Neublastin to specific regions of the nervous system including the central nervous system and the eye for example by gene therapy. The invention also concerns Neublastin expression constructs which do not encode a pro-region of a Neublastin polypeptide, which expression construct result in increased secretion of bioactive Neublastin. The invention includes the delivery of Neublastin from transduced or transfected cells encapsulated into a macrocapsule with a semipermeable membrane. The invention further concerns mammalian cells capable of producing Neublastin in increased amounts.

Abstract: The JeT promoter is a recombinant promoter with transcriptional activity comparable to a number of strong mammalian promoters. The promoter consists of five key elements: (1) a TATA box; (2) a transcription initiation site (Inr); (3) a CAT consensus sequence in conjunction with (4) a CArG element and finally, (5) four Sp1 transcription binding sites (GGGCGG) arranged in two tandems.

Abstract: The JeT promoter is a recombinant promoter with transcriptional activity comparable to a number of strong mammalian promoters. The promoter consists of five key elements: (1) a TATA box; (2) a transcription initiation site (Inr); (3) a CAT consensus sequence in conjunction with (4) a CArG element and finally, (5) four Sp1 transcription binding sites (GGGCGG) arranged in two tandems.