LCT wins ethics nod for NZ Ntcell trial
Friday, 16 November, 2012
Living Cell Technologies (ASX:LCT) has received ethical approval for its planned New Zealand phase I trial of its Ntcell treatment candidate in Parkinson's disease.
The company is on track to commence the study – its first in-human trial for the Ntcell treatment – in the first quarter of 2013.
LCT won authorisation to proceed with the trial from New Zealand's health ministry last month.
The open label safety and efficacy study will involve four patients who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's for at least four years.
Its principal investigator will be Parkinsons' researcher Dr Barry Snow, who heads up the Auckland Movement Disorders Clinic at the Auckland District Health Board.
The Ntcell treatment involves transplanting choral plexus cells from Auckland Island pigs into a patient's brain, with the aim of helping the brain repairing damaged nerve tissue and protecting it from further damage.
Cells are encapsulated with LCT's Immupel microcapsule technology to prevent the immune system from rejecting them as foreign.
LCT is also at the trial stage for Diabecell, a prospective treatment for uncontrolled type-1 diabetes.
In September, the company published trial results from a NZ phase I/IIa clinical trial of the treatment, showing that it was safe and well tolerated and caused a significantly significant reduction in unaware hypoglycaemic events at two of the four tested dose levels.
An Argentinian phase I/IIa trial for the product is ongoing. According to LCT's FY12 annual report, the company expects to complete the last of the trials required for Diabecell approval by the first quarter of 2015.
LCT also revealed it has appointed chief executive Dr Andrea Grant to the board as managing director.
Grant has been CEO of the company since the end of last year. Prior to joining LCT, she held positions at biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including most recently at Roche Products New Zealand.
Living Cell Technologies (ASX:LCT) shares were trading unchanged at 5.1c as of around 2pm on Friday.
TGA rejects Alzheimer's drug due to safety concerns
The TGA determined that the demonstrated efficacy of lecanemab in treating Alzheimer's did...
Defective sperm doubles pre-eclampsia risk in IVF patients
A high proportion of the father's spermatozoa possessing DNA strand breaks is associated with...
Free meningococcal B vaccines coming to the NT
The Northern Territory Government has confirmed the rollout of a free meningococcal B vaccine...
