International Stem Cell Corp. (OTCQB: ISCO) is a biotechnology company that works with parthenogenesis to treat diseases of the eyes, the nervous system, the liver, and more. Currently, ISCO is preparing for a phase I clinical trial of its proprietary human parthenogenetic stem cells-derived neural stem cells (ISC-hpNSC®) for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD), a disease of the nervous system that affects mainly middle-aged and elderly people. The disease is marked by tremors, muscular rigidity, and slow movements. The company’s lead product, ISC-hpNSC, works in a different way than other conventional treatments. The stem cells enable protection of the remaining, fully-functional neurons of Parkinson’s disease patients. The testing ISCO has done on mice, rats, and non-human primates has backed its theory that a one-time transplant of ISC-hpNSC could alleviate current PD symptoms and prevent the disease from spreading.
Recently, Edison, an international equity research firm, initiated coverage on International Stem Cell Corp. The report focuses on ISCO’s parthenogenetic stem cell technology and how this technology has the potential to treat a variety of diseases. The report also includes an investment summary, a description of ISCO as a company, an outline of Parkinson’s disease, insight into ISCO’s cosmeceutical and biomedical business lines, a valuation, and a financial overview.
With the help of Cryoport, the world’s premier cryogenic logistics firm, International Stem Cell Corp. is rapidly approaching the start of its phase I clinical trial for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. So far, there have been a number of cell therapy and gene therapy treatments that have been evaluated to find the cause of Parkinson’s. The studies ISCO has undertaken on non-human subjects have shown significant results.
According to the initial coverage issued by Edison: “ISCO presented results of its PD preclinical studies in October 2015 at Neuroscience 2015 in Chicago. The preclinical studies on 18 non-human primates showed that at 12 months, the transplanted cells had integrated into the dopamine fibers and dopamine levels post-mortem were significantly higher in the transplanted group versus the control group.”
As part of its impending clinical study, each patient will receive a scan at the beginning of the trial and at the six-month and 12-month lines after the procedure. Although these procedures do come with risks, they will be performed at the well-known Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia and, if successful, could lead to larger phase II trials in 2017/2018.
For more information, visit www.internationalstemcell.com
