Can pigs really help Parkinson’s?

Pig cells will be transplanted into the brains of New Zealanders with Parkinson’s disease as part of an experimental treatment of the neurological disorder.

The trial will involve patients getting either the pig cells or the current gold standard of treatment – deep brain stimulation, after government approval was given this month for the trial.

Kiwi scientists will undertake the clinical trial after Living Cell Technologies, which has its research and development based in this country, got the goahead to test the treatment in humans next year.

“Receiving regulatory approval to conduct clinical trials is a critical step in developing a treatment for this debilitating condition,”  the company’s chief executive, Andrea Grant, said in a statement.

Ms Grant adds pre-clinical trials suggest the treatment, known as NTCELL, can protect brain tissue which would otherwise die, potentially delaying or preventing the effects of Parkinson’s.

Only those who have been diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease for at least four years will be part of the study, which will last for up to 60 weeks.

Leader of Auckland District Health Board’s movement disorder clinic, Barry Snow, will oversee the trial and says the trial may bring new and exciting options for patients.

Pre-clinical studies had shown improvement in movement and neurological defects and a rise in dopamineproducing neurons within two weeks of treatment.

Read DPS News’ story on Parkinson’s sufferer Karyn Spilberg who underwent deep brain stimulation.