International Stem Cell Corporation
 

International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Successful Completion of Its Phase 1 Clinical Trial in Parkinson's Disease


https://investors.internationalstemc...747-g7s3s4e2Y4


"We are excited about our phase 1 clinical trial results. Patients, followed for over two years after cell transplantation, have reported, on average, improvements in a Parkinson's Disease specific measures, when compared to baseline evaluations. In this context, the results are very encouraging that the ISC-hpNSC® transplanted cells are not only well tolerated, but also may be effective" commented Dr. Russell Kern, ISCO's Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer.
In terms of preliminary efficacy, where scores are compared against baseline before transplantation, we observed a potential dose-dependent response, with an apparent peak effectiveness at our middle dose. The % OFF-Time, which is the time during the day when levodopa medication is not performing optimally and PD symptoms return, decreased an average 47% from the baseline at 12 months post transplantation in cohort 2. This trend continued through 24 months where the %OFF time in the second cohort dropped by 55% from the initial reading. The same was true for % ON-Time without dyskinesia, which is the time during the day when levodopa medication is performing optimally without dyskinesia. The % ON-Time increased an average of 42% above the initial evaluation at 12 months post-transplantation in the second cohort. The %ON result improved in the second cohort to 65% above the baseline in month 24. The quality of life of the patients as measured by the Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Score-39 (PDQ-39) Summary Index, improved 43% for the second cohort at twelve months post-transplantation. This improved to a 45% better score in cohort 2 at 48 months.

Autologous stem cell work
 

This is good news, but I sure would like to see more updates about the work being done with autologous stem cell transplants for Parkinson's. Autologous cells are derived from the patient, so there are no immune issues as the body recognizes the transplanted cells as "self" (and no need for immunotherapy/
immunosuppression). There is also evidence that autologous cells form synapses with neighboring cells better than allogenic cells (not derived from the patient). Both of those become bigger issues if a patient will need not one, but two, three, or more transplants during his/her lifetime.

Jeanne Loring's department is working on this at Scripps, here's a partial description of the work: (link here:
The Loring Lab)

"Stem cell projects:

Human disease: We have basic and translational projects studying several human diseases, using technologies that range from making disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patient skin biopsies to experimental transplantation strategies. Our most advanced translational project is development of a stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease. We are also researching stem cell-based therapies for multiple sclerosis and autism."

Loring stepped down last summer from her role as chief science officer of Aspen Neuroscience, which she helped co-found. Aspen Neuroscience has a couple of candidates they are working on:

An Autologous Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Parkinson's Disease

One good thing about these two research teams is that they recognize there are different types of PD and are developing therapies accordingly.

These therapies will not come in time for so many suffering with Parkinson's, but at least I have hope that family members of those patients may one day be spared the same journey.

In the meantime, dance, box, and keep moving:)