LCT completes patient implants in Parkinsons trial Sydney & Auckland, 15 December 2014 - Living Cell Technologies Limited today announced that the final patient has been successfully implanted in its Phase I/IIa clinical trial of regenerative cell therapy NTCELL for Parkinsons disease. The operation took place at Auckland City Hospital last week. The Phase I/IIa clinical trial, led by Dr Barry Snow, is an open-label investigation of the safety and clinical effects of NTCELL in patients who no longer respond to current therapy. Dr Snow MBChB, FRACP, FRCPC, leads the Auckland Movement Disorders Clinic at the Auckland District Health Board and is an internationally recognised clinician and researcher in Parkinsons disease. LCT anticipates presenting the results of the 26-week trial at the 19th International Congress of Parkinsons Disease and Movement Disorders in San Diego in June 2015. Dr Ken Taylor, chief executive, notes that the success of the implant procedure means that LCTs clinical programme remains on track. The treatment phase of the trial has been completed on schedule. We believe NTCELL has the potential to be the first disease-modifying treatment for patients who are failing the current conventional treatment for Parkinsons disease, said Dr Taylor. About Living Cell Technologies … Continue reading →

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was admitted to an undisclosed hospital Saturday with pneumonia, his spokesman Bob Gunnell said. Alis treatment prognosis is good, he said. Ali, who suffers from Parkinsons disease, is being treated by his team of doctors and is in stable condition, Gunnell said in a statement. The illness was caught early, and Ali, 72, is not expected to be in the hospital for long. At this time, the Muhammad Ali family respectfully requests privacy, the statement said. Ali was born Cassius Clay and won an Olympic gold medal as a light-heavyweight at age 18. In 1964, he became world heavyweight champion in an upset victory against then champion Sonny Liston, according to Alis official website. Shortly thereafter changed his name to Muhammad Ali to reflect his conversion to Islam. The boxer was also known for his protest against the Vietnam War and refusal to be drafted into service out of religious conviction. He retired from boxing in 1981 and announced his diagnosis with Parkinsons Disease three years later. Read more from the original source: Muhammad Ali in hospital with pneumonia … Continue reading →