HuCNS-SC® (human neural stem cells)
Our HuCNS-SC product candidate is a highly purified composition of human neural stem cells (tissue-derived or “adult” stem cells). HuCNS-SC cells are based on groundbreaking research conducted by StemCells scientists who, in 1999, were the first to identify by cell surface marker the human neural stem cell and to use monoclonal antibodies against the cell surface markers to prospectively isolate a highly purified, expandable population of neural stem cells from human brain tissue.
Prepared under controlled conditions and processed to cGMP standards, our HuCNS-SC cells are purified, expanded in culture, cryopreserved and then stored as “stem cells in a bottle,” ready to be transplanted as patient doses. The results of rigorous preclinical studies, including the transplantation of these cells in thousands of immunodeficient mice, have shown that our cells engraft, migrate, differentiate into the three major CNS cell types (neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes), and possess the ability to survive long-term with no evidence of tumor formation or adverse effects.
Because the transplanted HuCNS-SC cells have been shown to engraft and survive long-term, this suggests the possibility for a durable clinical effect following a single transplantation. In January 2009, we completed the first clinical trial of our HuCNS-SC product candidate. Data from this first trial and from an ongoing observational study initiated following completion of the trial have demonstrated the initial clinical safety and tolerability of HuCNS-SC cells and the transplantation procedure. Additional data gathered in 2011 has shown that transplanted HuCNS-SC cells can persist even after immunosuppression has been discontinued. Learn more...
Differentiation of HuCNS-SC cells in transplanted mouse brain.
- Neurons
- Astrocytes
- Oligodendrocytes
Patents
We hold 40 issued or allowed US and more than 100 foreign counterparts associated with our human neural stem cell technology, with broad claims covering composition of matter, methods and uses of these cells.