FDA Review of Citizen Petition Offers a Fresh Look at NurOwn®'s Evidence of Treatment Effectiveness

Core Viewpoint - BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is committed to advancing its investigational therapy NurOwn for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and welcomes the FDA's review of the data supporting this treatment [1][2][3] Company Commitment and Regulatory Engagement - The company supports the integrity and scientific validity of its data and emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive review of evidence as the regulatory landscape for rare diseases evolves [2][3] - BrainStorm is proceeding with its Phase 3b ENDURANCE trial of NurOwn under an FDA Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) to generate additional data on efficacy and safety for early-stage ALS patients [3][11] Clinical Data and Outcomes - New survival data from 10 participants in the Expanded Access Program (EAP) indicates that they survived more than five years from ALS symptom onset, with a median survival of 6.8 years, significantly higher than the estimated 10% of ALS patients reaching this benchmark [5][6] - In a subgroup with baseline ALSFRS-R scores of 35 and above, NurOwn demonstrated statistically significant functional improvement compared to placebo, with treated participants retaining an average of two more ALSFRS-R points [7] Technology and Research Advancements - NurOwn technology utilizes autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to produce neurotrophic factor-secreting cells (MSC-NTF cells), aimed at delivering therapeutic signals to modulate neuroinflammation and promote neuroprotection [9][10] - The clinical program has provided valuable insights into ALS biology, including pharmacogenomic responses and biomarker data collected over time [11] Community and Advocacy Engagement - The ALS community plays a crucial role in advocating for new treatment approaches, and the company aligns with these efforts to prioritize data-driven decision-making and urgency for patients [4][8]