Asterias' oligodendrocyte progenitor cell therapy improves motor function in SCI patients at 12 months

Asterias Biotherapeutics Inc. (NYSE-A:AST) reported 12-month data from the Phase I/IIa SCiStar trial to treat cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) showing that 21 of 22 patients (95%) who received 10 or 20 million cells of AST-OPC1 given 21-42 days following injury achieved at least one motor level of improvement on at least one side of their body. AST-OPC1 comprises human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells.

Seven of the 22 patients (32%) recovered two or more motor levels on at least one side of their body at 12 months. The company said that patients with severe SCIs who show two motor levels of improvement on at least one side of their body may regain the ability to perform daily activities such as feeding, dressing and bathing. No patient in SCiStar had a decrease in motor function following treatment with AST-OPC1...