This is a lot of technical jargon, but eventually it says that
NeuralStem expects to be in clinical trials with a potential cure for PD
within 14-18 months.
Ron Reiner (50/3)
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COLLEGE PARK, Md., May 19 /PRNewswire/ via
NewsEdge Corporation -- NeuralSTEM
Biopharmaceuticals, Ltd., today announced the
issuance of U.S. Patent No. 5,753,506, a broad
patent protecting the Company's proprietary CNS
Stem Cell Technology. The technology is a
breakthrough for cell-based genetic therapy and
drug discovery aimed at disorders of the central
nervous system (CNS) -- the brain and spinal cord.
A pivotal development in the field of neuroscience,
NeuralSTEM's technology enables the isolation,
expansion, propagation in culture, and controlled
differentiation of multipotential stem cells derived
from the rodent or human fetal brain and spinal cord
into the variety of neurons and glia that constitute
the CNS. For the first time, this allows for the
creation of the many different kinds of neurons found
in the human brain; and enables their creation in
commercially significant quantities, and under
manipulable conditions. The patent claims are
extremely broad and strong, garnering CNS stem
cells from all fetal regions of the CNS, their
derivatives, and their uses and products by process.
"This patent firmly anchors NeuralSTEM's leading
position in the development of novel biotherapeutics
for neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's
disease and Alzheimer's disease, as well as spinal
cord injuries based upon CNS stem cell
technology," said Richard Garr, President and CEO
of NeuralSTEM. "In addition to our own therapeutic
efforts, we believe that CNS stem cells will prove to
be a universal delivery mechanism for all
gene-based brain therapies."
NeuralSTEM is pursuing commercial development of
a new generation of cell-based genetic therapy
products and therapeutics for CNS disorders and
spinal cord injuries based upon the human neurons
derived from its broad-platform stem cell technology.
The Company's products in development will have
the potential to replace, replenish and supplement
nerve tissues. The CNS stem cell technology also
allows for diverse human neurons produced in
culture to be used in function-based live cell
screens for traditional small-molecule drug
discovery in the CNS area; and it will provide the
basis for the Company's proprietary functional
genomics projects.
NeuralSTEM is currently negotiating strategic
partnerships with several major pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies for development of its cell
and gene therapies, functional genomics and drug
discovery. Then Company expects to be in clinical
trials with its lead program -- a novel Parkinson's
disease cell therapy approach based on replacing
damaged neurons with its stem cell-derived
dopaminergic neurons -- within 14 to 18 months.
NeuralSTEM Biopharmaceuticals, Ltd., is a privately
held company engaged in research, development
and commercialization of novel, proprietary
therapeutics and technologies for the treatment and
cure of neurodegenerative disorders of the brain and
spinal cord, based upon the Company's patented
CNS stem cell technology and human neurons
derived from CNS stem cells. SOURCE
NeuralSTEM Biopharmaceuticals, Ltd.
/CONTACT: Richard Garr, President & CEO of
NeuralSTEM Biopharmaceuticals, 301-571-9323; or
Mary Moynihan of M2 Communications,
202-726-4800, for NeuralSTEM Biopharmaceuticals/
