Researchers at the Californian biotechnology company International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO) are currently conducting a ground-breaking Parkinson’s stem cell trial. The treatment involves the transplantation of millions of stem cells via intracranial injection. It is hoped that this clinical trial may lead to a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition that damages nerve cells in the brain, causing dopamine levels to drop. The loss of dopamine causes the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, including tremors, stiff muscles, slow bodily movements, poor balance, reduced facial expression, shaking limbs, and difficulty walking.
The researchers are using the stem cells to replace dopamine-producing cells, leading to an improvement in the patient’s condition. Two patients have already received a transplant and have not displayed any ill effects. The trial is being conducted at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia and involves 12 test subjects in total.
Researchers will know if the stem cell therapy has been effective within a few months, and the trial will conclude in a year.
A research note outlined the timeline, saying: “We currently expect that the company will be able to progress to a phase 2 study in late 2017 or 2018 depending on the safety and efficacy profile discovered in the current trial.” The first patient received a transplant in July of 2016.
The researchers are gradually increasing the doses that test subjects receive, from 30 million cells in the first two patients, to 70 million cells for the remainder of the test subjects.
If the clinical trial finds the treatment to be effective, it would be a significant achievement. Parkinson’s disease is currently treated with drugs that can boost dopamine levels within the brain. Unfortunately, these drugs are not always effective and carry some serious side effects.
Source: After delay, ISCO’s trial of Parkinson’s stem cell therapy gets underway again
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