Parkinson's stem-cell transplant a success in Phase 1 study

What's the news: Scientists have transplanted neurons grown from stem cells into the brains of 12 Parkinson's disease patients.

Why should we believe it: This news is not based on a science paper, but rather on a press release by BlueRock Therapeutics, a private company. BlueRock just completed its Phase 1 study on the matter. Detailed data from the study will be presented at the 2023 International Congress on Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders taking place in Copenhagen from August 27-31.

Phase 1 studies mainly look to show a new treatment is safe. That’s what this study did, and it found that the treatment was well tolerated, with no major safety issues. But in addition, the study also found that the transplanted neurons survived and grafted into the patients' brains — offering hope that the treatment will be effective.

Why this is a big deal: Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disease, which involves the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain. Currently, there are no treatments for the disease.

In the past five years, there have been small experiments on transplanting stem-cell-derived neurons into the brains of Parkinson's patients. However, this is the first Phase 1 study to demonstrate the same. It could be the beginning of a new era for Parkinson's treatment. It shows how medical treatments that once sounded like science fiction are quickly becoming reality.

So what specifically can you do now: Now that the Phase 1 study has concluded, a Phase 2 study will involve a larger group and will aim to show efficacy. It's expected to kick off in Q1 of 2024. If you or someone you know has Parkinson's, it could be worth contacting BlueRock and seeing what it would take to be able to participate in this Phase 2 study.