130: The Promise Behind Cell Therapy Approaches in Epilepsy

NeurologyLive® Mind Moments®

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In this episode, Jonathan Parker, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic Arizona, spoke about the emerging commotion around cell therapies as a way to treat patients with epilepsy. The discussion, which took place at the 2024 American Epilepsy Society (AES) Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, California, covers the thought process behind this approach and why it may hold greater advantages over other traditional surgeries that result in detrimental cognitive effects. Parker, director of the Device-Based Neuroelectronics Lab, spoke on the different types of cell therapies currently in development, the limitations and challenges associated with these medications, and the need to create innovative trials to appropriately test them. Furthermore, Parker spoke on the therapeutic pipeline of cell therapies for epilepsy, including his experience leading a study site for a first-in-human trial of an investigational agent NRTX-1001, a product derived from human pluripotent stem cells.
Looking for more epilepsy discussion? Check out the NeurologyLive® Epilepsy clinical focus page.
Episode Breakdown:

• 1:00 – Idea behind cell therapy to treat epilepsy
• 4:05 – Current state of stem cell therapies for neurological disorders, focusing on Parkinson disease, stroke, and epilepsy
• 8:05 – NTE001 study of NRTX-1001, an investigational human embryonic stem cell product
• 11:45 – Neurology News Minute
• 13:50 – Unanswered questions and safety concerns with cell therapies; challenges with clinical trial design and the need for more innovative trials
• 17:35 – Misconceptions or gaps in understanding about cell therapies for epilepsy
• 20:05 – Unique challenges and potential of stem cell therapies for epilepsy, particularly in younger patients; patient motivation and hope

The stories featured in this week's Neurology News Minute, which will give you quick updates on the following developments in neurology, are further detailed here:

• Anavex Submits Marketing Authorization Application for Blarcamesine in Alzheimer Disease in the EU

• Testing Begins for RELIEV-CM2 Study of ShiraTronics Neuromodulation Device in Chronic Migraine

• STK-001 Gains FDA Breakthrough Designation as Potential Disease-Modifying Treatment for Dravet Syndrome

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