Living Cell Technologies announces results for treating Huntington's disease

Living Cell Technologies announced pre-clinical results today showing its brain protection product, NeurotrophinCell (NtCell) produces a marked reduction in the size of brain lesions in a Huntington's disease (HD) model.

Results reveal that brain cell damage in primates treated with NtCell was 5 times less than in control animals affected by HD (approximately 50% cell death versus 10%).

LCT's injectable live cell treatment uses natural pig cells that are encased in a bio-polymer capsule (biocapsule) developed from seaweed. The cells used are choroid plexus brain cells, which produce a range of protective proteins, for the repair and function of the brain.

The biocapsule cell treatment was transplanted into the region of the brain predominantly affected by HD, known as the striatum.

The biocapsules act as an immune barrier, allowing for the therapeutic cocktail of proteins produced by the cells to leave the capsule, but the body's immune system can't reject the cells.

"The product appears to protect brain tissue that would otherwise die and has the potential to forestall or prevent the debilitating consequences of neurodegenerative disease," said Mr Al Vasconcellos, CEO, LCT BioPharma Inc, USA.

Huntington's disease is a devastating neurological disease that currently has no cure or treatment. It is an inherited disease that affects more than 1 in 100,000 people.

"LCT has a unique opportunity to potentially design treatments that can intervene prior to the onset of degeneration from HD," commented LCT's Medical Director, Professor Bob Elliott.

"The long term survival of the choroid plexus cells in the brain delivered in this way opens the strong possibility that this treatment approach could be used effectively in disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. We will pursue a clinical trial with Huntington's patients as soon as possible."

Huntington's disease currently has an annual cost to US healthcare at over US$2.5billion. NtCell has the potential to meet a $700m market opportunity.