NEW YORK & PETACH TIKVAH, ISRAEL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (OTCBB: BCLI), a developer of adult stem cell technologies and CNS therapeutics, announces plans to initiate a preclinical study assessing the efficacy of its NurOwn™ stem cell technology in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Positive proof-of-concept results for MS have been confirmed in a set of in-vitro and in-vivo experiments, and the Company is working to advance MS into preclinical development in Q2 2012.
Based on initial promising pre-clinical data published by the Company's Chief Scientist, Prof. Daniel Offen of Tel Aviv University, BrainStorm has decided to explore MS as an additional indication for its NurOwn technology. The Company will draw plans to initiate pre-clinical safety trials, after which it will seek a leading medical center specializing in MS for clinical trials.
“We have been focused on growing our pipeline of indications using our NurOwn™ stem-cell technology,” commented Dr. Adrian Harel, Acting CEO of BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics. “As we continue our ongoing trials to evaluate the safety, tolerability and therapeutic effects of NurOwn™ in ALS patients, we have determined through positive preliminary animal data that MS will be the next indication to pursue using our technology.”
About NurOwn™
BrainStorm’s core technology, NurOwn™, is
based on the scientific achievements of Professor Eldad Melamed, former
Head of Neurology, Rabin Medical Center, and Tel-Aviv University, and
Professor Daniel Offen, Head of the Neuroscience Laboratory, Felsenstein
Medical Research Center at the Tel-Aviv University.
The NurOwn™ technology processes adult human mesenchymal stem cells that are present in bone marrow and are capable of self-renewal as well as differentiation into many cell types. The research team is among the first to have successfully achieved the in-vitro differentiation of adult bone marrow cells (animal and human) into cells capable of releasing neurotrophic factors, such as glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), by means of a specific differentiation-inducing culture medium.
About Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is
believed to be an autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous
system (CNS). Autoimmune means that the body’s immune system mistakenly
attacks its own tissue, in this case, the tissues of the CNS. With MS,
autoimmune damage to neurons disrupts the body’s ability to send and
receive signals, thus causing MS-related symptoms. Symptoms
may vary due to the location and extent of the damage. Worldwide, MS may
affect more than 2 million individuals, including approximately 400,000
people in the United States.
About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.
BrainStorm Cell
Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company engaged in the development
of adult stem cell therapeutic products derived from autologous bone
marrow cells and intended for the treatment of neurodegenerative
diseases. The Company holds the rights to develop and commercialize its
NurOwn™ technology through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement
with Ramot, the technology transfer company of Tel-Aviv University. For
more information, visit the company’s website at www.brainstorm-cell.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements in this
announcement other than historical data and information constitute
"forward-looking statements" and involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'s actual results to differ
materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking
statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include risks
associated with BrainStorm's limited operating history, history of
losses; minimal working capital, dependence on its license to Ramot's
technology; ability to adequately protect the technology; dependence on
key executives and on its scientific consultants; ability to obtain
required regulatory approvals; and other factors detailed in
BrainStorm's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form
10-Q available at http://www.sec.gov.
The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking
statements made by us.