Emory University using Stem Cells to treat ALS

[Jeannine]

ATLANTA, GA (WABE) - Dr. Jonathon Glass has spent 20 years researching ALS, a debilitating and fatal neurologic disease. In that time, he's encountered a lot of frustration.

"There have been about 80 different drug trials in ALS in the past decade, and all of them have failed. Every single one of them. And it gets disappointing after a while," said Glass.

But he's optimistic about a new approach. Instead of drugs, Glass and a team from Emory University are for the first time implanting stem cells into the spines of ALS patients.

"If it works, I don't know how well it will work. But we're just willing to try," said Glass.

The trial's first phase looks at the safety of implanting stem cells. Glass says if deemed safe, the procedure will be broadened to include more patients and to answer the question: Does it Work?

Scientists caution stem cells will not cure ALS, but may help slow the disease's progression.

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wabe/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1649055/Atlanta/Emory.University.Looks.to.Stem.Cells.to.Treat.ALS

 

[Jeannine]

Stem Cell Treatment for Lou Gehrig's Disease Advancing in Clinical Trials

Stem Cell Treatment for Lou Gehrig's Disease Advancing in Clinical Trials Reports Neuralstem, Inc

Neuralstem, Inc. (NYSE Amex: CUR) has updated the progress of its ongoing Phase I human clinical trial to treat ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease) at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The company announced that, after reviewing the safety data from the first cohort of three patients, the Safety Monitoring Board has approved moving to the next cohort and transplantation of the fourth patient. The first cohort of patients received five injections of the company's spinal cord stem cells on one side of the spinal cord. The second cohort of three patients will receive ten injections, five on each side of the cord.

About The Trial
The FDA-approved Phase I trial to evaluate the safety of Neuralstem's spinal cord stem cells in the treatment of ALS has been underway since January, 2010. The trial will ultimately consist of up to 18 ALS patients, who will be examined at regular intervals post-surgery, with final review of the data to come six months after the last patient is treated.

The Emory ALS Center has posted the relevant trial information for patients on its website at http://www.neurology.emory.edu/ALS/Stem Cell.html.


About Neuralstem, Inc.
Neuralstem's (Rockville, Maryland) patented technology enables, for the first time, the ability to produce neural stem cells of the human brain and spinal cord in commercial quantities, and the ability to control the differentiation of these cells into mature, physiologically relevant human neurons and glia.

The company is targeting major central nervous system diseases including: Ischemic Spastic Paraplegia, Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury, Huntington's disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a progressive fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain, leading to the degeneration and death of the motor neurons in the spinal cord that control muscle movement. Neuralstem is in a Phase I clinical trial to treat ALS. For more information, please go to www.neuralstem.com.