Cell therapy for neurodegenerative diseases

Living Cell Technologies Limited (LCT) is an Australasian biotechnology company improving the wellbeing of people with serious diseases worldwide by discovering, developing and commercialising regenerative treatments which restore function using naturally occurring cells.

Our lead product, NTCELL®, is an alginate coated capsule containing clusters of neonatal porcine choroid plexus cells. After transplantation NTCELL functions as a biological factory, producing factors to promote new central nervous system growth and repair disease-induced nerve degeneration.

A Phase IIb trial of NTCELL for Parkinson's disease is currently underway. It aims to confirm the most effective dose of NTCELL, define any placebo component of the response and further identify the initial target Parkinson’s disease patient sub group. At 26 weeks post treatment, the trial was unblinded. It showed that NTCELL was safe and well tolerated but at this stage, did not meet the primary efficacy endpoint. Patients will be assessed again at 52 weeks post implant and we are waiting for these follow up results.

In addition to Parkinson’s disease, NTCELL has the potential to be used in a number of other central nervous system indications, including Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s and motor neurone diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

LCT’s proprietary encapsulation technology, IMMUPEL™, allows cell therapies to be used without the need for co-treatment with drugs that suppress the immune system.

LCT is listed on the Australian (ASX: LCT) and US (OTCQX: LVCLY) stock exchanges and is incorporated in Australia, with operations based in New Zealand. Fonte: LCT Global.