WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cord Blood Registry (CBR) from AMAG Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:AMAG) today announced research recently published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine found that children with cerebral palsy who received an infusion of their own neo-natal cord blood (collected & stored at birth) saw improved motor function and brain connectivity one year after treatment, when receiving a high cell dose (>20 million total nucleated cells per kilogram). The prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical study examining the efficacy of autologous cord blood in treating children with cerebral palsy was led by researchers at Duke University.
“The study results are compelling for further study of the use of autologous blood cord infusions in children with cerebral palsy,” said Joanne Kurtzberg, M.D., the study’s principal investigator and director of the Carolinas Cord Blood Bank and The Duke Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program. Dr. Kurtzberg is also chief scientific officer of the Robertson Clinical and Translational Cell Therapy Program at Duke University.
Following a Phase 1 study which showed the use of autologous cord blood to be safe in children with neurologic disorders, the aim of the Phase 2 trial was to determine efficacy using autologous cord blood for treatment of cerebral palsy in pediatric patients ages one through six. Improvement in the study was measured using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66), a standardized assessment to evaluate motor function (e.g. walking ability). Whole brain connectome (neural mapping) exploratory analysis was also performed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Sixty-three children were randomized into a treatment (n = 32) or placebo (n = 31) group. Of the 32 children receiving treatment, those who were given a dose greater than 20 million total nucleated cells per kilogram showed statistically significant, and clinically meaningful improvements in motor function measured on a validated scale for assessing motor function in children with cerebral palsy compared to children who received lower doses of cord blood (p=0.05) or the placebo (p=0.04). Additional analysis showed that children who received higher cord blood cell doses also showed a greater increase in normalized whole brain connectivity compared to children who received lower cell doses. While these results are encouraging, limitations of the study include a small sample size, heterogeneity of the participants, and greater than historically observed gains in motor function observed in all groups.
More than one-third of the children in this study—or 22 out of 63 total study participants—had their cord blood preserved at birth with CBR. CBR is one of the only private cord blood banks that collects health status information from families storing in order to facilitate participation in clinical research. CBR aims to advance families' access to new clinical applications of cord blood stem cells for conditions that currently have no cure through regenerative medicine and is committed to advancing the science on the use of cord blood stem cells. The results of this study highlight the need for continued research of autologous cord blood infusions to treat cerebral palsy. CBR is partnering with research institutions to support FDA-regulated clinical trials investigating the use of cord blood in regenerative medicine applications across a wide variety of conditions, including autism, acquired hearing loss, and two clinical trials on cerebral palsy at Augusta University and The University of Texas Health Sciences Center.
“We are excited about these results from this early trial regarding the potential for autologous cord blood in children with cerebral palsy and the impact it may have on both the participants and their families,” said Heather Brown, vice president, Scientific and Medical Affairs, CBR. “It is encouraging to see that the results of this trial suggest that in some of the children with cerebral palsy, when dosed ≥2 × 107 cells per kg, an infusion of a child’s own cord blood improves whole brain connectivity and motor function.”
About Cord Blood Registry® (CBR®)
CBR, from AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAG), is the world’s largest private newborn stem cell company. Founded in 1992, CBR is entrusted by parents with storing approximately 700,000 umbilical cord blood and cord tissue units. CBR is dedicated to advancing the clinical application of newborn stem cells by partnering with research institutions on FDA-regulated clinical trials for conditions that have no cure today. For more information, visit www.cordblood.com
About AMAG
AMAG is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and delivering important therapeutics, conducting clinical research in areas of unmet need and creating education and support programs for the patients and families we serve. Our currently marketed products support the health of patients in the areas of maternal and women’s health, anemia management and cancer supportive care. Through CBR®, we also help families to preserve newborn stem cells, which are used today in transplant medicine for certain cancers and blood, immune and metabolic disorders, and have the potential to play a valuable role in the ongoing development of regenerative medicine. For additional company information, please visit www.amagpharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information about AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Any statements contained herein which do not describe historical facts, including, among others, statements about the safety and efficacy of autologous cord blood use in children with neurological disorders, including cerebral palsy; the ability of CBR to advance families' access to new clinical applications of cord blood stem cells for conditions that currently have no cure through regenerative medicine and to advance the science on the use of cord blood stem cells; the ability of autologous cord blood to be used in children with cerebral palsy and the potential impact it may have on both the children and their families; AMAG’s belief that the results of the trial suggest that in some children with cerebral palsy, when dosed ≥2 × 107 cells per kg, an infusion of a child’s own cord blood improves whole brain connectivity and motor function; and beliefs that newborn stem cells have the potential to play a valuable role in the development of regenerative medicine are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements.
Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, those risks identified in AMAG’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ending March 31, 2017, June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2017 and subsequent filings with the SEC. Any such risks and uncertainties could materially and adversely affect AMAG’s results of operations, its profitability and its cash flows, which would, in turn, have a significant and adverse impact on AMAG’s stock price. AMAG cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made.
AMAG disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements
AMAG Pharmaceuticals® and Feraheme® are registered trademark of AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. MuGard® is a registered trademark of Abeona Therapeutics, Inc. Makena® is a registered trademark of AMAG Pharmaceuticals IP, Ltd. Cord Blood Registry® and CBR® are registered trademarks of Cbr Systems, Inc. Intrarosa® is a registered trademark of Endoceutics, Inc.
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