BrainStorm Cell's therapeutic approach has potential for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (OTCBB:BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell technologies and therapeutics, is pleased to announce that the company’s therapeutic approach for treating neurodegenerative diseases, particularly ALS and Parkinson’s disease, was found to have a positive effect in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS).

In a scientific paper published in the Journal of Molecular Neuroscience, Professors Melamed and Offen’s team from Tel Aviv University studied the effectiveness of human bone marrow derived stem cells induced to differentiate and secrete neurotrophic factors (NTF-SC) as compared to the use of non-differentiated stem cells in a mouse MS model.

“This study demonstrated that the transplantation of the NTF-SC, based on our novel differentiation technology, resulted in a delay of disease onset and increased animal survival in the mouse MS model to a greater extent than transplantation of the non-differentiated stem cells. It was shown that the NTF-SC modulate the immune system and protect neuronal cells from toxic insults. The positive results in the mouse MS model indicates that our new technology may serve as a possible approach for the treatment of MS,” commented Professor Daniel Offen, Brainstorm’s chief scientific advisor.

“This study demonstrates that Brainstorm’s approach for differentiating bone marrow stem cells into NTF-SC, may provide an effective strategy not only for the treatment of ALS and Parkinson’s disease but also for the treatment of MS,” said Rami Efrati, CEO of Brainstorm. “As we approach the start of clinical trials for ALS, the Company and its scientific team will continue to study how our technology can be further utilized in the treatment of MS as well as other neurodegenerative diseases.”