International Stem Cell Corp (OTCBB:ISCO) said Wednesday it has begun a series of pre-clinical animal studies to develop neuronal cells for the brain, derived from the company's parthenogenetic stem cells, a step towards developing a new treatment for Parkinson's Disease (PD).
The company said the studies will test the safety and efficacy of the neuronal cells, as well as their ability to develop into a functioning dopaminergic neuron–like cell, a key milestone towards creating a cell-based therapy for Parkinson's.
International Stem Cell uses unfertilized eggs to create its human parthenogenetic stem cells, an approach that avoids ethical issues as no embryos are destroyed, and creates pluripotent cells similar to human embryonic stem cells, meaning they have the capacity to become almost any cell type in the body.
However, unlike embryonic stem cells, the company's own can be taken from a single donor and be genetically matched to millions of individuals.
"The ability of neuronal cells to become a specific type of neuron is one of the most important properties that these cells must have to be used in cell-based therapy of neurological disorders," said president and CEO, Dr. Andrey Semechkin.
"These studies will bring us one step closer to our goal of being able to treat PD."
Parkinson's is a disease of the central nervous system that affects millions of people worldwide. Patients present a range of possible symptoms, some of which are known to be as a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the mid brain.
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