BrainStorm launches efficacy study of stem cell therapy for ALS

Posted: June 10, 2014 at 1:47 am

US BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (OTCBB:BCLI), a developer of adult stem cell technologies for neurodegenerative diseases, said Friday that the first participants had been recruited in a Phase II study of NurOwn in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial aims to examine the safety and efficacy of transplantation of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells Secreting Neurotrophic Factors (MSC-NTF or NurOwn) in 48 patients with ALS. The study is being carried out at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, the University of Massachusetts Memorial (UMass) Hospital in Worcester and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

NurOwn is BrainStorm's autologous, adult stem cell therapy technology that differentiates bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) into MSC-NTF cells, which secrete neurotrophic, or nerve- growth, factors for protection of existing motor neurons, motor neuron growth promotion, and re-establishment of nerve-muscle interaction. BrainStorm holds the rights to develop and commercialise the technology through an exclusive, worldwide licensing deal with Israeli Tel Aviv University's technology transfer company Ramot.

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BrainStorm launches efficacy study of stem cell therapy for ALS

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