Replies to post #821 on Athersys Inc (ATHXQ)

[MinnieM]

ATHX - Athersys Announces Results From Phase 2 Study of MultiStem(R) Cell Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis

http://ih.advfn.com/p.php?pid=nmona&article=61982493

The study results demonstrate favorable safety and tolerability for MultiStem through 8 weeks following treatment. However, the cell therapy failed to show meaningful benefit, following a single administration, in patients suffering from chronic, moderate-to-severe UC who have failed other therapies. These results reflect patient data 8 weeks following cell therapy or placebo administration and include the primary efficacy endpoints for the study. Additional 16-week results, including data about the impact from a second round of dosing for a subset of patients, longer term secondary clinical endpoints, and biomarker evaluation will be available after additional analysis has been completed.

I hold a very small position in ATHX and will continue to hold it in case their stem cells work on their other programs.







In Reply to 'DrBob99'
keep in mind that these were very hard to treat patients and the trial design limited the power of the study (small sample size). A key pint to the press release for me is the following;

At 4 weeks, the proportion of responders on MultiStem was significantly greater than placebo but the benefit was offset by declines in a minority of MultiStem-treated patients such that overall benefit at all time points measured was not significant.

So, we have a few patients skewing the statistics. If the study included a greater sample size the skewing would be better controlled. We won't know for sure until we see the full data set.

I would not discount the other programs....I'm buying today.