Living Cell Technologies Limited (LCT) announced that it has been granted a European patent for the use of its product NTCELL in the treatment of degenerative neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), Huntington’s disease and stroke.
LCT’s European patent is based on the technology of preparing NTCELL, which are encapsulated porcine cells of the choroid plexus of the brain. The cells release growth factors and neurotrophins, which are a range of agents that protect and maintain the health of brain cells. NTCELL was designed to protect brain cells from disease and injury and to enhance the natural repair mechanisms in the brain. NTCELL has the potential to restore neural cells and tissue.
The porcine choroid plexus cells are encapsulated in a seaweed-derived gel. The encapsulation protects the cells from rejection by the immune system allowing implantation without the need for toxic anti-rejection drugs.
Dr Paul Tan, chief executive officer LCT said: “At a time when we are seeing regulatory approvals in Europe and the US for clinical trials with cell-based therapeutics in neurologic disorders, we can expect NTCELL to add significant value to LCT. The granting of this key patent for NTCELL coincides with the publication of LCT’s most recent data on cell therapy for neurological diseases in a leading peer review journal.”
Living Cell Technologies (LCT) is developing cell-based products to treat life threatening human diseases. The Company owns a biocertified pig herd that it uses as a source of cells for treating diabetes and neurological disorders.
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