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PLX–MS for Multiple Sclerosis
Pluristem
has completed a proof of principle study to support the eventual initiation of
clinical trials with PLX-MS for the treatment of MS.
Multiple
sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by demyelinating
lesions in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is estimated that
between 250,000 and 350,000 persons in the United States have MS, and nearly 200
new cases of MS are diagnosed each week. The term multiple sclerosis
refers to two characteristics of the disease: the numerous affected areas of the
brain and spinal cord producing multiple neurological symptoms that accrue over
time and the characteristic plaques or sclerosed areas that are the hallmark of
the disease. MS is the one of the leading causes of neurological disability in
young adults, second only to traumatic accidents.
The Market for PLX-MS
The World Health
Organization (WHO) estimates that over 2.5 million people globally suffer from
MS which represents a current market of approximately $5.4 billion for disease-modifying
agents to treat the disorder.
Pluristem’s
Proof-of-Concept Trial
Researchers at Pluristem
utilized the Experimental Autoimmune Encephalitis (EAE) animal model for the
study, the paradigm for MS in humans. After EAE was induced, a portion of the
animals were given PLX-MS cells intravenously while the remaining portion served
as a control. There was a significant reduction in the EAE score in those
animals given PLX-MS cells versus the control group and this beneficial effect
was seen throughout the 25 day duration of the study. The EAE score is a
measurement of functional outcomes of the EAE-afflicted animal and correlates
closely with a histological improvement in EAE-induced lesions. Additionally,
the beneficial effects were similar to when Zappia et. al. used MSCs that were
non-placental in origin in this EAE animal model†.
†Zappia
et. al. Mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalitis
inducing T cell anergy. Blood. 2005;106: 1755-1761
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