30 Best CEOs of the Year 2020 30 Best CEOs of the Year 2020 | Page 12

Pete O’Heeron, CEO: ‘Through Continued Discovery and Development
in the Lab, SpinalCyte, LLC has Become a World Leader in Using
Fibroblasts for a Number of Chronic Disease Pathways’
C
“SpinalCyte was formed to develop a regenerative medicine cure for degenerative disc
disease using human dermal fibroblasts to regrow the disc nucleus.”
hronic Lower Back Pain afflicts
an estimated 33 million people
annually in the U.S. Over seven
million of those people suffer from
Degenerative Disc Disease. Aging baby
boomers may double those numbers
in the next two decades.
Back pain is strongly associated with
degeneration of the inter vertebral
disc. Disc degeneration, although in
many cases asymptomatic, is also
associated with sciatica and disc
herniation or prolapse. It alters disc
height and the mechanics of the
rest of the spinal column, adversely
affecting the behaviour of other
spinal structures such as muscles and
ligaments. In the long term, it can
lead to spinal stenosis, a major cause
of pain and disability in the elderly.
Degenerated disc incidence is rising
with current demographic changes
and an increasingly aged population.
In light of the foregoing, we’re thrilled
to present SpinalCyte, LLC.
SpinalCyte’s invention provides a new
and unique patented regenerative
cell therapy for repairing the
cartilage of the intervertebral disc
(or any other articular cartilage).
The method is based on using
Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDFs)
which are forced to differentiate into
chondrocyte-like cells in vivo through
mechanical force, and the Intermittent
Hydrostatic Pressure (IHP) critical
for chondrogenic differentiation of
fibroblasts.
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SpinalCyte is a regenerative medicine
company developing an innovative
solution for spinal disc replacement
using human dermal fibroblasts.
Currently, SpinalCyte holds 57 U.S.
and international issued patents
and has filed for an additional
100+ patents pending. The company
holds 157 U.S. and International
Patents pending and issued across a
variety of clinical pathways, including
Disc Degeneration, Cancer, Multiple
Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Chronic
Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE),
Diabetes, Liver Failure, and Heart
Failure. Funded entirely by angel
investors, SpinalCyte represents
the next generation of medical
advancement in cell therapy.
The company was incorporated
in 2008 and is headquartered in
Houston, Texas.
Pete O’Heeron,
SpinalCyte, LLC CEO,
spoke exclusively to
The Silicon Review.
Below is an excerpt.
Why was the company set up?
And how did you expand your
company and its offerings
over the years?
SpinalCyte was formed to develop
a regenerative medicine cure for
degenerative disc disease using
human dermal fibroblasts to regrow
the disc nucleus. The human body has
two cell sources which can regenerate
into other tissues or organs, stem cells
and fibroblasts. Through continued
discovery and development in the
lab, SpinalCyte has become a world
leader using fibroblasts for a number
of chronic disease pathways. Current
pipeline products include Multiple
Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Cancer,
Diabetes, and CTE (Football Head
Injuries).
Can you brief us about the
history of your company?
We began the company with
one provisional patent to treat
Degenerative Disc Disease using
dermal fibroblasts to regrow the disc.
We spent years in the lab and multiple
animal trials before we were ready
to advance into humans. Our first-
in-human trial was a success and we
saw 83% of the patients experience
significant pain reduction. Over
the years, our research developed
other uses for fibroblasts and we’re
currently developing a pipeline
of clinical pathways including
Diabetes, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis,
Parkinson’s, and CTE.
What would you say was the
single most influential factor
in your business’ success?
I always believe curiosity and
determination are the most important
factors in our success. We try to keep
updated on all new clinical data being
published. As you can imagine, the
amount of innovation is growing both
domestically and internationally.
Staying at the forefront of scientific
discoveries is focus for us. It’s
curiosity and determination that takes
us in new and promising directions.
What are your three biggest
accomplishments?
My three biggest accomplishments
are developing a proprietary surgical
access system, developing a full cell