Asterias Biotherapeutics Inc has released new 9-month follow-up data from the AIS-A 10 million cell cohort in its ongoing SCiStar Phase 1/2a clinical trial.
According to the company, three of six (50%) patients have now recovered two levels of motor function and previously-announced improvements in arm, hand and finger function at 3 months and 6 months following administration of AST-OPC1 have been confirmed and further increased at 9 months.
“The new efficacy results show that previously reported meaningful improvements in arm, hand and finger function in the 10 million cell cohort treated with AST-OPC1 cells have been maintained and in some patients have been further enhanced even 9 months following dosing,” states Dr Edward Wirth III, chief medical officer, in a media release from Asterias Biotherapeutics Inc.
“Gains in motor function, such as the improvements observed in the SCiStar study to date, have been shown to increase a patient’s ability to function independently following complete cervical spinal cord injuries. We are increasingly encouraged by these continued positive results, which are remarkable compared with spontaneous recovery rates observed in a closely matched untreated patient population.”
[Source(s): Asterias Biotherapeutics Inc, PR Newswire]
