ReNeuron Group Plc (LON:RENE) has delivered encouraging results from its phase II clinical study treating stroke patients with its CTX stem cells.
The PISCES II trial, led by professor Keith Muir of Glasgow University, monitored improvement in arm movement as measured by the ARAT sub-test number two.
The hope was to see discernible change within three months in two of the 21 patients receiving treatment.
As it turned out three patients registered improvement – though two of them were outside the timescale set by researchers.
Even so, ReNeuron called the results “highly encouraging”.
On other disability improvement measures the treatment appeared to have an impact on a greater number of patients.
Seven out of the 21 felt an effect when the Modified Rankin Scale was used, while the number rose to eight when the Barthel Index was applied.
In all, 15 out of 21 patients had a clinically significant response on at least one efficacy measure.
ReNeuron said it now intends to apply to the US and European regulatory authorities to begin a randomised, placebo-controlled, pivotal clinical trial in patients who are living with disability post-stroke.
A “delighted” Olav Hellebø, chief executive, said: “We are particularly excited by the response rate seen on the measures relating to disability and activities of daily living, given that these are the most important for patients and their carers.
“These measures are also the ones viewed by regulatory authorities as most relevant for late-stage clinical development.”