BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics' approach for treating neurodegenerative diseases shown to be effective

Nov 9 2009

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 was shown to be superior to other current potential stem cell treatments.

In a scientific paper published in the Israel Medical Association Journal, Ofer Sadan, Eldad Melamed and Daniel Offen, from Tel Aviv University, show the migratory capacity of Neurotrophic Factor Stem Cells (NTF-SC) in animal models of Parkinson’s disease and Huntington disease. The study demonstrated that in a rat model for Parkinson’s disease, the efficacy of NTF-SC was superior to that of mesenchymal stem cells in terms of behavioral, biochemical and histological indices.

“The results of this study show that the NTF-SC based treatment is efficacious due to NTF secretion and the stem cell’s migratory capabilities. Since our novel technology is clinically compatible and safe, the study suggests that in the future, cell therapy based on the transplantation of NTF-SC derived from autologous human mesenchymal stem cells should become a preferable option in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases,” commented Professor Daniel Offen, Brainstorm’s chief scientific advisor.

“This study demonstrates that Brainstorm’s approach in differentiating adult mesenchymal stem cells into NTF-SC, will provide the most effective approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases via the use of stem cells,” said Rami Efrati, CEO of Brainstorm. “As we near clinical trials, the Company and its scientific team will continue to study how our technology and methodology can be further utilized with other neurodegenerative diseases.”