Autologous Incubated Macrophages for Patients With Complete Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Trial

Official title: A Phase II Multicenter, Randomized-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Autologous Incubated Macrophages for the Treatment of Patients With Complete Spinal Cord Injuries

Status Suspended

Clinical Trial Summary

Autologous Incubated Macrophages (ProCord) is being developed as a therapy for acute, complete spinal cord injury (SCI). The therapy is intended to reverse the loss of motor and sensory function.

Following non-CNS tissue injury, macrophages quickly arrive on the scene, where they clean up cell debris, secrete different molecules thus promoting a controlled inflammatory reaction that forms the first phase of the wound healing process. While this process occurs in most tissues, including peripheral nerves, it does not occur in the CNS, where macrophages and other immune cells are relatively rare, and their activities curtailed by a biochemical mechanism known as "immune privilege."

In animal studies, it appears that incubated macrophages circumvent the immune privilege, thus supporting the regrowth of axons through the injury site and enabling the recovery of neurological function. The concept derives from the pioneering research of Prof. Michal Schwartz at the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Clinical Trial Description

n/a

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Spinal Cord Injury

• NCT number: NCT00073853
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Proneuron Biotechnologies
• Status: Suspended
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: September 2003