I find this encouraging.
The central nervous system (CNS) contains both excitatory cells (primarily neurons that express glutamate) and inhibitory cells (primarily neurons that express GABA). Normal brain and spinal cord function depends on a delicate balance between these two types of neurons. This balance is normally established during embryonic development and just after birth when the nervous system is still assembling and developing neurologic connections. During this time, neurons are born, migrate to proper locations, and form connections or synapses, creating complex circuits that are maintained into adulthood. Problems arise when genetic mutations and/or external traumas result in aberrant development and/or degeneration of particular CNS cell types, leading to the dysregulation of neural circuits. Epileptic seizures, neuropathic pain, spasticity, and certain types of cognitive impairments and psychoses can be symptomatic of dysregulated neural activity. Because the genesis of new neurons and synapses, or plasticity, is limited in the adult CNS, these diseases persist and lack effective treatment. Notably, effective drugs are lacking for many patients with neuropathic pain, and one-third of epilepsy patients do not respond to current anti-epileptic drugs.
Neurona’s founders have discovered that transplantation of specialized neurons in the adult CNS can rebalance neural activity and induce plasticity to repair neural circuits. Neurona is using human stem cell technologies to develop novel cell-based therapeutics.
They’re starting with epilepsy, but it doesn’t seem they will stop there.
Paper by one of the founders:
Transplanted interneurons display disease-modifying activity in animal models of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, schizophrenia, anxiety, spasticity, chronic pain, and neuropathic itch.