Athersys (NASDAQ: ATHX) reports more news flow from its data on Multi-stem in stroke. From the press
release:
"Medical researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School presented new research results this morning at the American Heart Association International Stroke Conference that highlight the role of the spleen in the mechanisms underlying how MultiStem reduces damage and enhances functional recovery in animals after an ischemic stroke.
The study illustrated the potential benefits of MultiStem therapy for treating stroke using standard preclinical models. Researchers observed that intravenous administration of MultiStem one day after a stroke resulted in a substantial reduction in brain tissue loss 28 days post-stroke.
The spleen is believed to play a significant role in the body's immune response to the stroke that can result in additional damage following the primary ischemic event. After administration, MultiStem cells limit the inflammatory cascade that results from the initial stroke, thereby reducing the secondary damage that occurs.
These outcomes support prior research at UTHealth, in which researchers found that animals treated with MultiStem showed normal spleen size and increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the blood whereas animals treated with placebo showed a reduction in spleen size and an increase in inflammatory cytokines in the blood."
Daily Dose Conclusion: Not sure that anyone cares about pre-clinical models in stroke. Athersys is cheap based on market cap but the clinical pathway ahead for multi-stem is not clear and definitive proof of concept, for multi-stem has yet to be established. On the positive side multi-stem looks like it could have utility in a wide range of indications from ulcerative colitis, GvHD, to ischemic disease (cardiovascular, stroke).
