Capricor, StemCells neurology, cardiovascular, gene/cell therapy news
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) awarded $63.1 million in grants across four stem cell therapy projects, including one from StemCells to evaluate its HuCNS-SC purified human neural stem cells to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). StemCells will receive up to $20 million over four years to conduct preclinical testing and submit an IND within the time frame. The cells are in Phase I/II testing to treat thoracic spinal cord injury and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and are in Phase I testing to treat Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease (PMD). In July, CIRM awarded StemCells up to $20 million to evaluate the cells to treat cervical spinal cord injury, for which they are in preclinical development (see BioCentury, July 30). ...