DMC recommends continuation of Ph I/IIa of AST-OPC1 for SCI

Asterias Biotherapeutics Inc. (NYSE-M:AST) said a DMC recommended enrollment continuation of the 10 and 20 million cell cohorts of AST-OPC1 in the Phase I/IIa SCiStar trial to treat cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). The open-label, U.S. trial is evaluating safety as well as neurological function as measured by upper extremity motor scores and motor level on International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI (ISNCSCI) in about 35 patients. Patients will receive single injections of 2 or 10 million cells of AST-OPC1 or 2 injections of 10 million cells of AST-OPC1 given 14-30 days following SCI...