Parkinson’s disease is caused by death of dopamine-producing
cells in a brain region called the substantia nigra, which hampers movement.
Current treatments focus primarily on replacing the lost dopamine, but these
treatments eventually fail because the dopamine-making cells continue to die.
For this reason, stem cell therapy is of interest. International Stem Cell
Corporation (OTCQB: ISCO) is a biotechnology company that focuses on the
development of therapeutic and biomedical products worldwide. The company’s
products are based on human parthenogenetic stem cells, a proprietary type of
pluripotent stem cells. International Stem Cell Corp. develops cell types,
including neural stem cells, for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other
neurological disorders.
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive movement
disorder, meaning that symptoms continue and worsen over time. Nearly one
million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson’s disease. The cause is
unknown, and although there is presently no cure, there are treatment options
such as medication and surgery to manage its symptoms.
The amount of money that the U.S. and individuals spend each
year on Parkinson’s disease is staggering. The combined direct and indirect
costs of Parkinson’s disease – including treatment, social security payments
and lost income from inability to work – is estimated to be nearly $25 billion
per year in the U.S. alone. Medication costs for an individual person with
Parkinson’s average $2,500 a year, and therapeutic surgery can cost up to
$100,000 per individual, according to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation’s
website (http://dtn.fm/4uIwr).
Stem cell research has the potential to significantly impact
the development of disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson’s disease, and
considerable progress has been made toward creating dopamine-producing cells
from stem cells. The development of new cell models of Parkinson’s disease is a
particularly promising area of stem cell research, as the current lack of
progressive, predictive models of Parkinson’s disease remains a major barrier
to drug development.
International Stem Cell Corp. has pioneered development of a
new class of stem cells – human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) – that has
the best characteristics of each of the other classes of stem cells. These stem
cells are created by chemically stimulating the oocytes (eggs) to begin
division. The oocytes are not fertilized and no viable embryo is created or
destroyed. The ethical advantage of derivation from unfertilized oocytes,
combined with immunomatching advantages, makes these stem cells a very
promising source for cell-based therapy.
For more information, visit www.internationalstemcell.com
MissionIR is committed to connecting the investment community with companies that have great potential and a strong dedication to building shareholder value. We know our reputation is based on the integrity of our clients and go to great lengths to ensure the companies represented adhere to sound business practices.
Sign up for “The Mission Report” at www.MissionIR.com
Please see disclaimer on the MissionIR website http://www.missionir.com/disclaimer.html
