To: Ken W who wrote (10516 ) 9/20/2005 9:06:45 AM From: Galirayo Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 23958 [STEM] News .. StemCells moves ahead on spinal cord and infant disease treatments Monday September 19, 6:05 pm ET StemCells Inc. reported positive news on two fronts, one centering on using human stem cells to treat a fatal infant disease and another using such cells to repair spinal cord injuries. Palo Alto-based StemCells (NASDAQ: STEM - News) said a new study for the first time demonstrates that its proprietary human neural stem cells can restore the lost motor function of mice with spinal cord injuries. ADVERTISEMENT This study is also the first to show the causal relationship between transplanted human neural stem cells and long-term recovery of motor function: The human neural cells were subsequently destroyed in some of the mice, and their improved motor function was lost. The results of the study are being published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. StemCells also said that it has amended a new drug application, moving it closer to the first clinical trial using purified human neural stem cells as a treatment agent. The company is seeking permission to perform clinical trial on patients with Batten disease, a rare and fatal genetic neurodegenerative condition affecting infants and children. The company plans to treat the disease with human neural stem cells. StemCells first filed a new drug application with the Food and Drug Administration in January, but the FDA put the application on hold, pending the company's response to questions and concerns. StemCells said in a prepared statement that it believes the amendment answers the FDA questions and that it will be allowed to move on to its clinical trials on the Batten disease treatment. Published September 19, 2005 by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journalbiz.yahoo.com Press Release Source: StemCells, Inc. Published Study Shows First Direct Link between Human Neural Stem Cells and Restored Motor Function in Spinal Cord Injured Mice Monday September 19, 5:00 pm ET StemCells Inc.'s Adult Human Neural Stem Cells Regenerate Protective Layer Around Nerves Following Spinal Cord Injury [More]biz.yahoo.com