Q Therapeutics and Johns Hopkins University collaborate in ALS research

Q Therapeutics’s collaboration with Dr Maragakis’s research team extends the work of both groups and will focus on the ability of the company’s human glial progenitor cells, known as Q-Cells, to protect motor neurons from degeneration in the SOD-1 rat model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This collaboration will support the development of a therapeutic product for the treatment of ALS.

In parallel to the studies by the Hopkins group utilizing Q-Cells in ALS animal models, Q Therapeutics will continue to manufacture the cellular product (with the University of Utah Cell Therapy Facility) and to perform preclinical safety studies required by the FDA. Positive results of the studies with Q-Cells would be supportive of a future investigational new drug submission to the FDA for conducting clinical trials in ALS patients, the company said.

Deborah Eppstein, president and CEO of Q Therapeutics, said: “We believe that Q-Cells should have applicability to several different types of central nervous system diseases. We are looking forward to studying the efficacy of our product in the neurodegenerative setting of this ALS model in addition to our ongoing studies in other models that involve demyelination. We are looking forward to working with Dr Maragakis and other members of the Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins on this project.”