Stem-cell hope for spinal patients as big test nears

Thursday, June 27, 2013

A leading researcher into severe spinal cord injuries says trials for stem-cell therapy show groundbreaking results in helping immobile patients to walk again.

After progress in a second round of tests using stem cells to regrow nerve fibers, the China Spinal Cord Injury Network, set up in Hong Kong, has applied for regulatory approval in the mainland for a third and final phase, which could start in the autumn.

"This will convince the doctors of the world that they do not need to tell patients `you will never walk again,"' said US- based doctor Wise Young, the alliance's chief executive.

"Hong Kong is going to be way ahead of all countries if the spinal cord injury trial turns out to be positive.

He said 15 of 20 patients in Kunming who received umbilical cord blood cell transplants and intensive therapy were on average able to walk with minimal assistance seven years after suffering complete spinal cord injury.

"It's the first time in human history that we can see the regeneration of the spinal cord," Young added.

The treatment involves injecting umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells into patients' spines to help regenerate nerves, while lithium is used to promote growth of nerve fibers.

Each component of the combination therapy will be tested in the third phase, which Young said will involve 120 patients in the mainland and 120 across India, Norway and the United States.

"If the phase-three trial is successful, we should have achieved worldwide regulatory approval by the beginning to the middle of 2015," Young added.

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Stem-cell hope for spinal patients as big test nears