Another stem cell clinical trial begins (in Japan)

[jeffreyn]

Kyoto University to begin iPSC clinical trial for Parkinson's disease:

mainichi.jp/english/article...

(hat tip to RooJr at NT for the link)

UPDATE: The article I linked to is no longer on the Mainichi website. However, the comments below contain the essential information.

[PDConscience]

The difference between 'autologous' (patient's own) and externally sourced cells:

From 'Summit for Stem Cell' & Scripps Research team:

"Dr. Jun Takahashi in Kyoto, Japan, is beginning to enroll patients for an upcoming clinical trial using iPSC-based dopamine neuron replacement therapy. Dr. Takahashi is working in the institute founded by Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, who received the 2012 Nobel Prize for developing the methods to make iPSCs (induced pluripotent stem cells).

"Neuron replacement therapy is also the focus of the Summit for Stem Cell Foundation supporting Dr. Jeanne Loring’s development of a patient-specific (DNA-matching) dopamine neuron replacement therapy. The main difference between this trial and our plans is that the Japanese group is not matching the cells to the patients, so they will need to give the patients immunosuppressive drugs.

"Summit wishes Dr. Takahashi and his team great success. Our wish is that PD patients throughout the world will have access to life-changing therapies like these."

[jeffreyn in reply to PDConscience]

Hi PDConscience,

Thanks for the input.

Unfortunately, the tradeoff for completely avoiding immunosuppressants is greatly increased cost.

Here is a quote from a recent PNT article that discussed Jeanne Loring's work:

"The biggest downside to this technology is its cost, which is still fairly high, but Loring says the economic burden would not be higher in comparison with other personalized cell therapies, such as CAR-T cell therapies — priced at roughly $500,000."

parkinsonsnewstoday.com/201...

In contrast to this, as it says in the Mainichi article:

"The researchers are aiming to develop the method as a new treatment covered by national health insurance."

Note: It is not clear to me how much immunosuppression will actually be required. As mentioned in the Mainichi article, Takahashi et al. will be employing the knowledge they gained via the research described in this recent paper:

nature.com/articles/s41467-...

Jeff

[jeffreyn]

The announcement of the Kyoto trial has triggered a new post on the SoPD blog:

scienceofparkinsons.com/201...