BrainStorm on the Verge of a Breakthrough Towards Developing a Cure
for Lou Gehrig's Disease
Monday October 8, 8:30 am ET
Company Announces Exciting Positive Results in Pilot Studies
NEW YORK --(BUSINESS WIRE)--BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.
(OTCBB:BCLI - News), a leading developer of adult stem cell
technologies and therapeutics, announced today that the Company is
initiating a series of efficacy and safety studies toward a cure for
Amyelotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, named after the famous baseball player
who succumbed to the illness, is a rare and incurable
neurodegenerative disease characterized by rapid loss of motor
neurons leading to impaired motor-function and progressive
paralysis. As the disease progresses, the patient loses control of
the muscles controlling speech, swallowing and finally breathing,
which inevitably becomes fatal within 3-5 years from onset for the
vast majority of patients. ALS afflicts an average of two out of
100,000 individuals and six out 100,000 persons suffer from the
disease. The cause of the disease is yet unknown.
The scientific team at the Tel Aviv University Neuroscience
laboratory led by Prof. Eldad Melamed and Dr. Daniel Offen, has
transplanted BrainStorm's human neurotrophic factor (NTFs) producing
cells into transgenic mutant SOD mice (mice with mutated human genes
and the most common animal model of the human disease). Preliminary
results demonstrated remarkable effect on the deteriorated motor
function as measured by performance on running rotational rods.
"During our study, BrainStorm's technology was used to differentiate
adult stem cells, which will be able to be extracted from ALS
patients, into cells producing the neurotrophic factors," explained
Dr. Offen. "Significant improvement in motor function was achieved
once we implanted the cells into a mouse model of ALS. These
positive results bring us closer to clinical trials as we continue
to design additional studies to support our data."
The transplanted cells were isolated from human bone marrow,
expanded in vitro and induced to differentiate into cells that
produce neuroprotective factors including GDNF and BDNF, which have
been shown to protect neurons in certain neurodegenerative diseases.
The company is moving forward with additional studies and further
results will be analyzed and reported accordingly.
"We are extremely pleased to spearhead adult stem cell efforts
toward a cure for Lou Gehrig's disease," commented Chaim Lebovits,
President of BrainStorm. "The devastation of ALS is often displaced
amongst the other more familiar neurodegenerative diseases.
BrainStorm recognizes the severity of this disease and we are
pleased so far with our progress toward alleviating its effects."
BrainStorm's cell therapeutic approach is based on the
transplantation of the patient's own bone marrow-derived mesenchymal
stem cells, which are stimulated to differentiate ex-vivo into NTF
producing cells. These cells, when administered back into the
patient, are believed to provide neuroprotection of motor-neurons.
This results in improved motor function as well as improvement of
the clinical symptoms. BrainStorm's large-scale efficacy studies
will provide additional data to support the initial pilot study.
About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is an emerging company developing
adult stem cell therapeutic products, derived from autologous (self)
bone marrow cells, for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
The NurOwn(TM) patent pending technology is based on discoveries
made by the scientific team led by prominent neurologist Professor
Eldad Melamed, Head of Neurology at Rabin Medical Center, and expert
cell biologist Dr. Daniel Offen, Head of the Neuroscience Laboratory
at the Felsenstein Medical Research Center of Tel-Aviv University.
The technology allows for the differentiation of bone marrow-derived
stem cells into functional neurons and astrocytes, as demonstrated
in animal models. The Company holds rights to develop and
commercialize the technology through an exclusive, worldwide
licensing agreement with Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd., the
technology transfer company of Tel-Aviv University. The Company's
initial focus is on Parkinson's disease, although its technology has
promise for treating several others diseases including MS, ALS,
Huntington's disease and stroke.
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
____________________________________________
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
__,_._,___
No comments:
Post a Comment