Somatix other research news

The Alameda, Calif., company presented primate data showing reversal of Parkinson's symptoms after grafting cells engineered to make dopamine into the brain area damaged in the disease.

At the Fifth International Neurotransplantation Symposium in Paris, seven animals that were treated chemically to create Parkinsonian symptoms were discussed. The three that received genetically altered cells showed improved motor skills within 24 hours of the transplant, and no longer showed tremors or the changes in posture and gait induced by the chemical damage. Two animals received unmodified fibroblasts and did not show any improvement. The rest of the animals served as untreated controls. ...