30 April 2018 - - Ness Ziona, Israel-based biotechnology company Kadimastem (TASE: KDST) has enrolled the first patient for its clinical trial in ALS patients, using its cell therapy product AstroRx, the company said.
The objective of the phase I/IIa clinical trial, expected to include 21 patients, is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AstroRx in patients. The trial is being conducted by the Department of Neurology of the Hadassah Ein-Kerem Medical Center.
AstroRx is an innovative cell-based treatment for ALS, which consists of brain supporting cells (astrocytes) designed to replace the astrocytes whose functionality was damaged in ALS patients. It is manufactured by Kadimastem from pluripotent stem cells using a unique technology developed by the company.
AstroRx has several mechanisms of action protecting damaged motor neurons simultaneously, as opposed to currently available treatments which use a single mechanism. The unique properties of AstroRx are expected to significantly slow down the progression of the disease, as demonstrated in pre-clinical trials.
Kadimastem develops regenerative medicine therapies based on differentiated cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to treat neuro-degenerative diseases such as ALS, as well as diabetes.
The company focuses on transplanting healthy brain cells to support the survivability of nerve cells as cell therapy for ALS, and transplanting insulin-secreting pancreatic cells for the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes.