Groundbreaking Paper Publishes Long Term Results of a Successful
Phase I Clinical Trial Using Autologous Neural Stem Cells to Treat
Parkinson's Disease
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientists announced today the
publication of a landmark peer-reviewed paper in the February issue
of the Bentham Open Stem Cell Journal which outlines the long term
results of the world's first clinical trial using autologous neural
stem cells for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. According to
lead author, Michel F. Levesque, MD, FRCS(C), FACS, "We have
documented the first successful adult neural stem cell
transplantation to reverse the effects of Parkinson's disease and
demonstrated the long term safety and therapeutic effects of this
approach." Dr Levesque is a principal investigator for
NeuroGeneration, a biotechnology company, and is affiliated with the
UCLA School of Medicine and the Brain Research Institute.
The researcher reports that the publication of the
article, "Therapeutic Microinjection of Autologous Adult Human Neural
Stem Cells and Differentiated Neurons for Parkinson's Disease: Five-
Year Post-Operative Outcome" in the Bentham Open Stem Cell Journal
heralds an important moment in regenerative and personalized
medicine. "Our paper describes how we were able to isolate patient-
derived neural stem cells, multiply them in vitro and ultimately
differentiate them to produce mature neurons before they are
reintroduced into the brain's basal ganglia. This is performed
without the patient requiring immunosuppressants. Of particular note
are the striking results this study yielded -- for the five years
following the procedure the patient's motor scales improved by over
80% for at least 36 months. A word of caution must be added however,
since this is a single case study, a larger clinical trial is needed
to replicate these findings," says Levesque.
"We have been pioneering the use of neural stem cells for
neurodegenerative disorders since 1998 and were the first research
team to successfully use differentiated adult neural stem cells for
the cellular restoration and treatment of Parkinson's disease. Our
original methodology is based on the replication of several steps in
human neurogenesis to regenerate millions of mature neurons
characterized before transplantation. These steps are essential to
establish safety, efficacy and to understand mechanisms of brain
repair. The autologous approach mitigates the long term risks
associated with allogenic transplants, including infection,
inflammatory response, immune rejection, and poor biologic efficacy.
In addition, we believe it was the combination of dopaminergic and
GABA-ergic neurons that produced the long- lasting motor improvement.
This suggests that in humans, Parkinson's disease is more than a
chronic dopaminergic dysfunction and involves the GABA-ergic system
with its glial environment. The relevance of this discovery cannot be
understated because it questions the classical dopaminergic model of
Parkinson's disease," says Levesque.
Scientists at NeuroGeneration are planning a larger prospective
clinical trial for Parkinson's disease. "It's our hope that this
trial will result in the launch of a cost-effective and lasting
therapies for the millions of patients suffering from debilitating
neurodegenerative disorders," concludes Levesque.
ABOUT NEUROGENERATION:
NeuroGeneration, a biotechnology company, is engaged in the
development of biological products for the repair of neurological
disorders. The company has completed a Phase I clinical trial for
Parkinson's disease using adult derived neural stem cells. It intends
to start a Phase II study for the treatment of Parkinson's disease as
soon as it received final approval from the FDA. It is also planning
Phase I studies for multiple systems atrophy, atypical parkinsonism,
stroke, spinal cord and brain injuries, and Alzheimer's disease. The
company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Los Angeles,
California.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Heather Larrabee
NeuroGeneration
310.659.3880
heather@neurogenera
http://www.neurogen
Website: http://www.neurogen
http://sev.prnewswi
hospitals/20090216/
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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
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