Journal
EXPERT OPINION ON INVESTIGATIONAL DRUGS
Volume 28, Issue 6, Pages 525-543Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2019.1627324
Keywords
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; ALS; clinical trial; preclinical; stem cells; therapy
Categories
Funding
- Program for Neurology Research Discovery
- A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute
- Sinai Medical Foundation
- Katherine Rayner Fund
- National Institutes of Health [K23 ES027221]
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Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease of cortical, brainstem, and spinal motor neurons; it causes progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, respiratory failure, and death. No currently available treatment either stops or reverses this disease. Therapeutics to slow, stop, and reverse ALS are needed. Stem cells may be a viable solution to sustain and nurture diseased motor neurons. Several early-stage clinical trials have been launched to assess the potential of stem cells for ALS treatment. Areas covered: This review covers the key advances from early phase clinical trials of stem cell therapy for ALS and identifies promising avenues and key challenges. Expert opinion: Clinical trials in humans are still in the nascent stages of development. It will be critical to ensure that powered, well-controlled trials are conducted, that optimal treatment windows are identified, and that the ideal cell type, cell dose, and delivery site and method are determined. Several trials have used more invasive procedures, and ethical concerns of sham procedures on patients in the control arm and on their safety should be considered.
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