Neuralstem Receives Russian Patent for Stem Cell Transplantation to Treat Neurodegenerative Conditions

Neuralstem, Inc. CUR announced that it has received a patent covering the transplantation of human neural cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions from the Russian Federation. The claims include methods of culturing the cells as well as treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Huntington's disease and other conditions through cell transplantation. Neuralstem is currently sponsoring the world's first FDA-approved trial to treat ALS with its spinal cord stem cells and has applied to the FDA to initiate a stem cell trial in chronic spinal cord injury. "These patents are important because the claims go directly to treating a host of neurological conditions by delivering our GABA-producing neurons in vivo," commented Karl Johe, Ph.D., Neuralstem Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer. "These are the same cells which are currently being used in our ALS trial." "It is our goal to have the broadest worldwide patent coverage for our core technology," said Richard Garr, Neuralstem President & CEO. "The granting of this patent is another important step in that direction."