A possible "Hurrah!" for ALS patients

[The Battousai]

http://science.slashdot.org/story/0...n-Trial-of-Neural-Stem-Cell-Therapy?art_pos=1

An anonymous reader sends word that the FDA has approved a phase 1 trial for Neuralstem, a company with a patented stem cell procedure targeting ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and other spinal conditions. The company's CEO said in a press release, "While this trial aims to primarily establish safety and feasibility data in treating ALS patients, we also hope to be able to measure a slowing down of the ALS degenerative process." Results are expected in 2 years. The trial will involve 12 ALS patients who will receive stem cell injections in the lumbar area of the spinal cord. An information site for the disabled community adds hopefully: "If it makes it through all stages of testing, we will see if doctors are willing to [use] it on subjects that have injuries coming from physical injuries like diving accidents."

 

[[A]]

Get the church sniper squad ready.

 

[SuperFerret]

And when they become mutated robosamurai, you'll all know that I never predicted anything of the sort.

This is cool.

 

[Ghostvirus]

Yeah! Now Christopher Reeves can finally......awwwww.

 

[Majic Walrus]

See stem cell research is great!

 

[POWdER-man]

ALS is a horrible disease that takes a former soldier and bodybuilder like my brother in law to a former shell of himself (unable to eat, breathe, or do anything by himself) within 2 1/2 years.

I am glad to see they have made some progress.

 

[The Guard]

RESIDENT EVIL here we come.

 

[The Battousai]

One of my relatives unfortunately died from ALS a couple years ago. He wasn't young by any means, but he certainly wasn't finished living. It's a sad thing to see happen to someone

 

[zanos]

I'd be interested to know what happens with this a year from now. How many times are we going to hear that some potential "cure" has been discovered online only for the newstory to disappear into oblivion later?

 

[The Battousai]

"Cure" is a bit of a loaded word in the context you're using.