Experimental Stem Cell Therapy For Parkinson's Shows Promise in Phase I Trial: Reuters

In a significant development, Bayer’s BAYRY subsidiary BlueRock has reported initial success in treating Parkinson’s disease in humans using an experimental stem cell therapy, Reuters reports.

Progress in Phase I Trial

The Phase I trial involved 12 volunteers and lasted for a year. The therapy was well-tolerated, and the transplanted cells grew as intended in the patients’ brains. This success has encouraged Bayer to advance to the second of three stages of testing on humans, with patient enrolment expected in the first half of 2024, according to Reuters.

The Science Behind the Therapy

The therapy involves the use of induced pluripotent stem cells, which are modified to regain the ability to form any type of specialized tissue. These cells are then transformed into dopamine-producing nerve cells. When implanted into the brain of a person with Parkinson’s disease, these therapeutic cells are designed to restore neural networks destroyed by the disease. Initial trial results showed the cells multiplied and started making dopamine, a crucial brain signaling molecule lacking in Parkinson’s patients.

Impact of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease, which affects more than 10 million people worldwide, causes progressive brain damage. Common symptoms include loss of muscle control, tremors, muscle rigidity, and slowness of movement. Some patients also develop dementia. There is currently no cure for this disease.

Bayer’s Investments in Cell and Gene Therapy

Bayer acquired BlueRock Therapeutics and Asklepios Biopharmaceutical in 2019 and 2020, respectively, as part of its efforts to build a cell and gene therapy business. Last year, Bayer also partnered with Mammoth Biosciences, co-founded by Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna, to develop therapeutic tools based on CRISPR/CAS9 gene editing.

Hi, I am the Benzinga Newsbot! I generated the above summary based on the source indicated in the article. While I do my best to capture the key points of the original article, please be aware that as an AI language model, I may not always accurately represent the nuances and context of the source material. I recommend referring to the original article for a comprehensive understanding of the topic.