A new treatment called AB126 for stroke has been developed by researchers at the University of Georgia and ArunA Biomedical that decreases brain damage and accelerates the brain’s natural healing tendencies that could be ready for human clinical trials next year, as published in the journal Translational Stroke Research.
Treatment AB126 uses extracellular vesicle fluid filled structures called exosomes, which are generated from human neural stem cells, which are fully able to cloak themselves in stealth like characteristics invisible to immune defenses within the bloodstream. Regenerative EV therapy appears to be promising in ability to overcome limitations many cell therapies have by the exosomes being able to carry and deliver multiple doses and be able to store and administer treatment. Tiny in size the tubular shape of the exosome allows for the EV therapy to cross barriers that cells are not able to.
Subsequent to the administration of treatment AB126 use of MRI scans measured brain atrophy rates in age matched, preclinical stroke models which showed a close to 35% decrease in size of injury and a 50% decrease reduction in brain tissue loss, which has not been observed acutely in previous exosome stroke treatment studies. Outside of rodents results were replicated using a porcine model of stroke, the only one of its kind within the USA. Based on these results human studies should begin in 2019.
There has been not much evidence specific to neural exosome treatment and ability to improve motor function available until now. Even just a few days after stroke improved balance, better mobility, and measurable behavioral benefits have been observed in treated animal models. Strokes are leading cause of death in the USA, with upwards of 140,000 Americans dying each year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
ArunA has unveiled advances to its proprietary neural cell platform for the production of exosome manufacturing, which positions ArunA to produce treatment AB126 exosomes at a scale to meet early clinical demand, with plans to expand the initiative beyond that of stroke for preclinical studies in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries and epilepsy later this year. Tools and technology will be developed for the consistent and low cost production of high quality living therapeutic cells that could drastically improve treatment for cancer, stroke, heart disease, and other disorders.
