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Neuralstem Receives FDA Approval To Commence Spinal Cord Injury Trial |
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(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20061221/DCTH007LOGO) The primary objective of the study is to determine the safety and toxicity of human spinal stem cell transplantation for the treatment of paralysis and related symptoms due to chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). The secondary objectives of the study are to evaluate graft survival in the transplant site by MRI, as well as the effectiveness of transient immunosuppression. Additionally, the study will look at exploratory objectives to evaluate the ability of human spinal cord stem cell (HSSC) transplantation to positively affect AIS level, ISNC SCI motor and sensory index scores, bowel and bladder function, pain, UAB IMR scores, SCIM scores, evoked sensory and motor potentials, and electromyogram (EMG). All patients in the study will receive six injections in, or around, the injury site. The first four patients will receive 100,000 cells per injection, the second four patients will receive 200,000 cells per injection. All patients will also receive physical therapy post surgery, as well as immunosuppressive therapy, which will be for three months, as tolerated. The trial study period will end six months post-surgery for each patient. "The company is both pleased and excited to begin this long-awaited trial to treat spinal cord injury patients with our spinal cord cells, NSI-566," said This will be the first stem cell trial to attack the problem that way, as well as the first to treat chronic spinal cord injury patients," Dr. Johe went on to say. "In addition to the pre-clinical animal data, we have conducted 18 successful surgeries using the same cells and surgical device in our ALS trial. That trial has demonstrated that the surgical route of administration and the cells are safe and, well-tolerated and that the cells survive long-term in the patients. The successes of our human clinical experience, combined with the compelling data from the preclinical spinal cord injury animal studies gives us confidence that we are prepared to move into this additional indication for NSI-566." "This is another critical milestone for the company," said The approval of this trial is also a demonstration of our product development strategy," Mr. Garr continued. "While we can create cell products from various regions of the CNS that might be applicable to all manner of indications, we have chosen to address multiple indications where the same cell product is applicable. This allows us to leverage the product manufacturing and safety data created in each trial with the next. Along those lines, we will begin dosing patients with NSI-566 to treat paralysis from stroke in the next month, in In a September study published in the journal CELL (http://www.cell.com/abstract/S0092-8674%2812%2901018-5), paralyzed rats transplanted with NSI-566 stem cells recovered significant locomotor function, regaining movement in all lower extremity joints. Additionally, the transplanted neural stem cells turned into neurons which grew multiple axons. These axons extended over 17 spinal segments above and below the point of severance, where made reciprocal synaptic connectivity with the host spinal cord neurons, improving electrophysiological and functional outcome About Chronic Spinal Cord Injury There are more than 10,000 new spinal cord injuries (SCI) in the US each year. At the time of a recent survey done by the About In addition to ALS, the company is also targeting major central nervous system conditions with its NSI-566 cell therapy platform, including spinal cord injury, ischemic stroke and glioblastoma (brain cancer). The company received approval to commence a Phase I safety trial in chronic spinal cord injury in January, 2013. For more information, please visit www.neuralstem.com or connect with us on Twitter, Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements in this press release regarding potential applications of SOURCE Deanne Eagle - Media Relations, +1-917-837-5866, Susan Roush - Investor Relations, +1-818-222-8330 |