California-based biotechnology company, International Stem Cell Corp. announced updates on the progress of its Parkinson’s disease (PD) program this morning. The updates followed a recent meeting of key opinion leaders, which was facilitated by the study’s principal investigator, Dr. Mark Stacy of Duke Medicine. The meeting was a significant step toward launching clinical studies to evaluate the use of stem cell-derived neuronal cells in treating Parkinson’s disease.
“This is an interesting new approach for the treatment of PD,” remarked Dr. Stacy. “This meeting increases the chances of a successful clinical outcome by allowing us to not only build on previous studies, but also gain in-depth insight from some of the principal clinicians and neurosurgeons working in this field.”
By bringing together leading experts in the field of cell therapy and movement disorders, ISCO gained critical feedback and guidance that can be included in the final pre-clinical primate studies and the design of the first–in-man study, which is expected to begin in 2014.
The participants (including a number of pre-eminent clinicians who have conducted cell therapy trials using fetal-derived tissue) discussed the trial’s study design, including where in the brain the cells will be implanted, the necessity for placebo controls, and the duration that may be required to see clinically meaningful changes.
“There is still much debate in the literature concerning the most effective ways to treat Parkinson’s patients with human cells. Gathering such a distinguished clinical group together helped answer a number of open questions regarding the phase I clinical study,” commented ISCC’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Ruslan Semechkin. “It’s a testament to Dr. Stacy and Duke’s reputation in this area to be able to draw together such experience; we feel very confident that we have the right approach and every chance for a successful IND and subsequent phase I study.”
For additional information, visit www.InternationalStemCell.com
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