GRNOPC1, hESC-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells for spinal cord injury

GRNOPC1 contains human embryonic stem (hES) cell-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) that have demonstrated remyelinating, nerve growth-stimulating and angiogenic properties leading to restoration of function in rodent models of acute spinal cord injury. Safety data from a Phase 1 clinical trial on 4 patients with spinal cord injuries, who received GRNOPC1 at a dose of 2 million cells, demonstrated no complications from either the cells or the surgical procedure itself, and without any negative effects on the spinal cord or neurological function of the patients to date. The only side-effects observed were due to the immunosuppressive drug tacrolimus, which is administered for the first two months after injection of GRNOPC1. Furthermore, there is no evidence of immune rejection of GRNOPC1, an allogeneic cell therapy, including upon withdrawal of immunosuppressive drug.