Search for stem cells for ALS trials had to go outside state
By Ryan Beene
Dr. Eva Feldman had to turn to a company outside Michigan for the stem cells needed for her ongoing Phase I trials on patients with Lou Gehrig's disease.
She chose Neuralstem Inc. (AMEX: CUR), a Rockville, Md.-based company focused on developing treatments for currently incurable neurological disorders.
Feldman said Neuralstem's stem cells are more developed than cells available at the University of Michigan because of the ban on research in Michigan before the 2008 passage of Proposal 2.
She said she plans to use Neuralstem's cells for a future Alzheimer's trial, too.
Using stem cells developed at UM would have delayed the Lou Gehrig's trials by three to five years, Feldman said.
Neuralstem will retain the intellectual property rights for the stem cell technology, but the university has first-publication rights for the results of the Lou Gehrig's disease trial.
Feldman said UM is developing its own neural progenitor cells that will be able to be used instead of Neuralstem cells in the future.
The university could manufacture these cells at its North Campus Research Center, the former Pfizer complex in Ann Arbor.
