With around a million people in the U.S. living with Parkinson’s disease and about 90,000 new cases each year, researchers are in a race to find a cure. Scientists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) have made strides in this quest by developing a stem cell therapy for advanced Parkinson’s. In a phase 1 trial, they took stem cells from early-stage embryos to create neurons and transplanted them into the brains of a dozen patients, as MSK shared in a press release.
Once these cells are in the brain, they produce dopamine, a crucial hormone for movement and coordination. Parkinson’s is often marked by low dopamine levels, leading to tremors, stiffness, balance problems, and walking difficulties. The researchers noted that after 18 months, the cells had “taken hold in the brain with no serious side effects,” leading to “noticeable improvements,” especially in those who received a higher dose.
Participants in the high-dose group enjoyed an average of 2.7 additional “on time” hours each day, meaning they experienced more periods of normal function with fewer symptoms. Dr. Lorenz Studer, co-author of the study and director of MSK’s Center for Stem Cell Biology, stated, “In our study, not only did the score not get worse, it dropped by more than 20 points in the high-dose group.” This improvement could be significant for those managing daily life with Parkinson’s.
Thanks to these promising results, the FDA has approved a phase 3 clinical trial with a larger group of about 100 patients, expected to start in the first half of 2025. The findings have been published in the journal Nature. Dr. Viviane Tabar, lead study author and chair of MSK’s Department of Neurosurgery, told Fox News Digital that this method of developing specific nerve cells from human embryonic stem cells for brain injection “is safe and holds significant promise as a possible future treatment.”
Dr. Mary Ann Picone, not involved in the study, shared her thoughts with Fox News Digital, suggesting this cell therapy could potentially slow disability, stop progression, and improve motor function for Parkinson’s patients. While she acknowledges the risks associated with immune suppression and the procedure itself, she describes it as a “major step forward” in replacing lost neurons.
Levodopa is the current primary treatment for Parkinson’s, but its effectiveness diminishes over time, requiring higher doses and making symptom management more challenging, according to Picone. Meanwhile, Dr. Ann Murray from WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute called the study “unbelievably exciting” and a groundbreaking achievement in improving clinical outcomes for Parkinson’s patients.
Though the initial study was small and focused on safety, the early findings are promising. Tabar emphasized the need for a larger, more controlled study to confirm the treatment’s effectiveness. She expressed optimism about the potential of stem cells to repair the brain in Parkinson’s and possibly other conditions in the future.
The cell therapy developed at MSK is licensed to BlueRock Therapeutics, which funded the study. Dr. Tabar and her team remain hopeful, suggesting that with proper derivation and differentiation, stem cells hold great promise for treating Parkinson’s. For further health news and updates, you can visit Fox News’ health section.
