Mesenchymal stem cell therapy shows promise for treating multiple sclerosis (MS), with improvements seen in disability, walking ability, vision, and auditory function, according to a recent review of published studies. The approach also seems to be well tolerated by people with MS, but more research is needed on…
Stem cell research
The first patient has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial of Autolus Therapeutics‘ experimental CAR T-cell therapy, obecabtagene autoleucel (obe-cel), in people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) who have failed to respond to existing treatments. Dosing took place at University College London Hospitals NHS…
Liberate Bio’s CAR-M cell therapy almost completely depleted B-cells in nonhuman primates, suggesting the approach may be used to treat B-cell diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and some cancers. The therapy is designed to genetically engineer monocytes and macrophages, two types of immune cells, to target and…
Kernal Biologics has been awarded up to $48 million in funding to accelerate the development of KR-402, a next-generation CAR T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) and certain blood cancers. The funds come from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health’s (ARPA-H) EMBODY program, which aims to support the…
A stem cell transplant may offer better long-term results for people with aggressive multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with standard high-efficacy drug treatment, according to new evidence presented at a major European conference this week. Specifically, researchers found that an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT) was superior to…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted regenerative medicine advanced therapy (RMAT) designation to Hope Biosciences‘ adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HB-adMSCs) to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). RMAT status is given to therapies with compelling proof that they may substantially improve patient outcomes compared with existing…
Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT) could slow disease progression in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to a study tracking MS patients in Sweden. The procedure was associated with sustained reductions in biomarkers linked to progressive MS. The results also showed that a significant portion of patients…
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is safe and well tolerated, and leads to improvements in disability and a reduction in lesion burden in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a review of published studies. MSC treatments also reduced levels of biomarkers associated with nerve damage and inflammation,…
Treatment with neural stem cells, which have the ability to differentiate into neurons and other supportive cells of the nervous system, was safe and significantly boosted myelin repair in spinal cord lesions in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study showed. The stem cells were able to…
Nearly two-thirds of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who underwent a stem cell transplant showed no signs of confirmed disability progression five years later, according to a study tracking MS patients in the U.K. The results were generally better for people with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), but nearly half…
A CAR T-cell therapy from Iaso Biotherapeutics was tolerated well and led to marked improvements in disability for three people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to early data from a Phase 1 clinical trial. After a single dose of equecabtagene autoleucel, patients saw rapid and…
For years, the date of June 22 marked the anniversary of an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT) that gave me back a kind of life I never thought I’d taste again. The date marked a milestone I clung to like a ribbon at the finish line, a sign I’d…
Body mass index (BMI), a measure commonly used measure of body fat based on a person’s height and weight, does not seem to affect responses to stem cell transplant in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study found. While the efficacy of an autologous transplant — one that…
Stem cells from donated placentas appear safe and may help reduce symptoms of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a small, open-label Phase 1 clinical trial involving five patients. “Our results suggest possible neuroprotective effects” from these stem cells, researchers wrote in “Cell therapy with placenta-derived mesenchymal…
Fibrobiologics’ investigational cell therapy CYMS101 can significantly increase myelin production and promote myelin repair in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), the company has announced. The experimental therapy, which is made of connective tissue cells called fibroblasts, demonstrated benefits within seven weeks after both single and multiple infusions…
In a new deal, TG Therapeutics will use MaxCyte’s engineering technology to develop and manufacture its off-the-shelf CAR T-cell therapy candidate azercabtagene zapreleucel — azer-cel for short — for adults with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The experimental treatment is being advanced toward a Phase 1…
Stem cell transplant can be considered a viable treatment option for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) who are young, early in the disease course, do not have other major health issues, and have failed to respond to available medications, according to a new set of recommendations. The procedure…
Cabaletta Bio is getting set to launch a clinical trial testing its cell therapy resecabtagene autoleucel (rese-cel) in people with relapsing and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The company sought permission last year from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to start the study. Once such…
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who undergo an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) — which uses a patient’s own stem cells — face unique physical and emotional challenges at every stage of the process, from balancing hope and fear when deciding on moving forward with the treatment…
Roche signed a definitive agreement to acquire Poseida Therapeutics, a deal that includes Poseida’s portfolio of CAR T-cell therapy candidates being developed for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases. Poseida and Roche have been collaborating since 2022 on cell therapies for people with blood cancer. The companies…
A mesenchymal stem cell therapy led to significant improvements in quality-of-life scores for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in a small clinical trial, according to the treatment’s developer Hope Biosciences Research Foundation (HBRF). “The results of this trial are groundbreaking for multiple sclerosis,” Donna Chang, president of HBRF,…
Glial cells, which mostly support the function of nerve cells, play key roles in multiple sclerosis (MS) disease progression and development, according to a stem cell-based study. “Most research and therapeutic strategies have so far focused on blocking the overactive immune system, but how cells in the brain itself,…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light to Immpact Bio to conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial to test IMPT-514, its experimental cell therapy, in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). With the investigational new drug (IND) clearance by the FDA, Immpact Bio now…
Indapta Therapeutics will launch a Phase 1 clinical trial in the U.S. in the second half of 2024 to explore its cell-based therapy IDP-023 in people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). The announcement follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) clearance of the company’s investigational…
Iaso Biotherapeutics has received the green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to start clinical trials of its investigational CAR T-cell therapy equecabtagene autoleucel (eque-cel) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The FDA’s clearance of the company’s investigational new drug (IND) application makes MS the…
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) tend to experience a short-term reduction in disability and brain lesion volume after receiving stem cell therapy, according to a meta-analysis of nine studies detailing randomized clinical trials. After six and 12 months, however, the researchers found no differences in disability between patients…
June is a special month for me. Eight years ago I had an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT) in Moscow to treat my multiple sclerosis (MS). On June 22, I celebrated my eighth stem cell birthday! A stem cell transplant, or “stemmie day,” is when patients…
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. In June 2016, I traveled to Moscow with two friends. The first evening we were…
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has awarded a $2.9 million, five-year grant to a research project that aims to advance a new technology that could improve stem cell therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological disorders. “The work we plan to undertake has significant implications…
Charles River Laboratories has joined up with FibroBiologics to manufacture the company’s spheroids for clinical trials in multiple sclerosis (MS) and several other conditions. The spheroids are groups of fibroblast cells arranged in a three-dimensional (3D) structure that more closely resemble how cells organize in living tissues.