Fibroblast Cell Therapy or Stem Cell Therapy for MS: Hamid Khoja, PhD

Video

The chief scientific officer of FibroBiologics discussed the advantages of fibroblast cell therapy over stem cell therapy.

This content originally appeared on our sister site, NeurologyLive.

FibroBiologics is targeting multiple sclerosis (MS) and other chronic diseases with the use of fibroblast cell technologies. NeurologyLive spoke with Hamid Khoja, PhD, chief scientific officer, FibroBiologics, to learn more about how this technology is being leveraged as well as the specific benefits for patients with MS.

Khoja discussed how, in terms of cell therapy, fibroblasts are more economical, exist in higher numbers, and are easier to obtain for culture than stem cells. Fibroblasts also grow faster than stem cells, with doubling rates of 18-24 hours vs 2-3 days, respectively. Data from preclinical studies of fibroblasts also suggest that the immune modulation effect for MS is superior to bone marrow-deprived mesenchymal stem cells and adipose-derived stem cells.

Data further indicate that this treatment approach is safe for patients with MS, as investigators were able to infuse 100 million tolerogenic fibroblasts into patients without and adverse events. While the clinical trial was aimed at assessing safety, investigators observed efficacy in that none of the 4 included patients with relapsing-remitting MS had an episode.

Recent Videos
Tami John, MD
Tami John, MD
Tami John, MD
Matthew Ku, MBBS, FRACP, RACP, FRCPA/RCPA, PhD, an associate professor and the lymphoma stream lead at St Vincent’s Hospital
Saurabh Dahiya, MD, FACP, an associate professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine; as well as clinical director of Cancer Cell Therapy in the Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy at Stanford Medicine
Shahzad Raza, MD, a hematologist/oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic
Manali Kamdar, MD, the associate professor of medicine–hematology and clinical director of lymphoma services at the University of Colorado
Shahzad Raza, MD, a hematologist/oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic
Laura Aguilar MD, PhD, the chief medical officer of Diakonos Oncology
Jamie Jacobs, PhD, the program director of the center for psychiatric oncology & behavioral sciences at Mass General Cancer Center
Related Content
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.