The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Inc. an additional patent for its autologous stem cell technology. The patent covers the production method used by the company to induce stem cells to secrete significantly elevated levels of neurotrophic factors for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Landmark Patent Granted for Stem Cell Secretion Technology
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The neurotrophic factors secreted by the company’s patented cells include Glial Cell-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. Company officials report that the latter supports the neural cell network by protecting existing motor neurons, promoting motor neuron growth, and re-establishing nerve-muscle interaction. The cells also secrete high levels of hepatocyte growth factor which company researchers believe to have neuroprotective effects in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
BrainStorm is the exclusive worldwide licensee of this technology. It came to BrainStorm via Ramot, the technology transfer company of Tel Aviv University, where it was developed by Professors Daniel Offen and Eldad Melamed, in conjunction with Brainstorm’s scientists.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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