The news is buzzing with a groundbreaking study released with very promising results in the last week for ALS patients. The ALS Clinical Trial results indicate that the new Stem Cell Treatment inhibits ALS Disease progression in 87% of patients.
Those with ALS / Lou Gehrig’s disease have had very little hope or agreement from doctors on pharmaceuticals or methods to slow the progression of the disease. The recent announcement offers encouraging results that a new stem cell treatment can help some patients. The process evaluated by the study involves the collection of bone marrow stem cells from the patient. After the stem cells are gathered they are treated in a proprietary process. Once the stem cells are ready, they are then directly administered into the patient’s spinal fluid.
Dr. Dimitrios Karussis and his colleagues at Hadassah Medical Center in Israel reported that the treatment not only helped in stopping ALS progression but the same patients showed “notable improvement in their neurological functions.” The sentiment form the ALS researcher is that they are onto something “big” in treating ALS.
Denise Dador of ABC 7 of Chicago noted on January 12, 2016 12 that:
Researchers followed 26 patients for the past four years and 90 percent of patients experienced improvements in walking, talking and hand movement within a month of treatment and the results lasted for several months.
Karussis’ most compelling story is how well the new therapy helped a 22-year-old ALS patient.
“The disease completely stopped progressing and he had a significant improvement in many of his functions including his ability to speak and his motor functions of the hands,” Karussis said.
Neurologist Cliff Segil of Providence St. John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica said it’s easy to create tissue from stem cells, but motor-neurons are a completely different challenge.
That’s why Israeli doctors partnered with biotech firm BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, which pioneered the cocktail of growth factors added to stem cells.
The process encourages cells to become neurons.
“If this study pans out and they repeat these results in the U.S., and we get 26 patients in the U.S. with similar results, it would really change ALS forever,” Segil said.
The article states that “similar studies are underway at the Mayo Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston University.”[1]
The potential for similar methodology to be implemented on other neuro degenerative or motor diseases is also being considered and evaluated. For more information about this treatment please see the press release:
Jama Neurology Releases Highly Promising Data from ALS Clinical Trial Conducted By Hadassah Medical Organization Jerusalem and Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics
“In the clinical trial of intrathecal infusion of stem cells there were no major adverse effects, and close to 90% of patients showed slowing in the progression of disease, as measured by their respiratory function or their general motor disability” — Principal Investigator Dr. Dimitrios Karussis, MD, PhD, Sr. Neurologist, HMO Neuro
To read more please see: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jama-neurology-releases-highly-promising-data-from-als-clinical-trial-conducted-by-hadassah-medical-organization-jerusalem-and-brainstorm-cell-therapeutics-300202651.html
Other metabolic programs exist to help improve the quality of life for ALS patients until a cure is found. Simplesa offers the Deanna Protocol® which is a part of the Winning the Fight Program for ALS. It is an all-natural metabolic program developed by Dr. Vincent Tedone through his research on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Scientific studies conducted on the Deanna Protocol® by Winning the Fight have shown that it benefits individuals with ALS. To view research studies, CLICK HERE.
Please check back as we post updates on this treatment and other important news for ALS patients, families, and caregivers on our site and social media.