Cited by 181Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and TreatmentsDeep Brain Stimulation and Movement DisordersPluripotent Stem Cells Research

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 51 of the 51 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 6 of the 22 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Phase I trial of hES cell-derived dopaminergic neurons for Parkinson’s disease

Open access

Abstract

Fluoro-DOPA positron emission tomography uptake increased, indicating graft survival. Secondary and exploratory clinical outcomes showed improvement or stability, including improvement in the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part III OFF scores by an average of 23 points in the high-dose cohort. There were no graft-induced dyskinesias. These data demonstrate safety and support future definitive clinical studies.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In a first-in-human, open-label phase I trial, bilateral putaminal transplantation of the hES cell-derived dopaminergic neuron progenitor product bemdaneprocel met its 1-year safety and tolerability objectives in 12 patients with Parkinson’s disease. At 18 months, 18F-DOPA PET uptake increased in the putamen and MDS-UPDRS Part III OFF scores improved, especially in the high-dose cohort, with no graft-induced dyskinesias reported.

Key findings

  • Twelve patients were enrolled sequentially into low-dose (0.9 million cells per putamen, n = 5) and high-dose (2.7 million cells per putamen, n = 7) cohorts; all received 1 year of immunosuppression. The primary safety/tolerability criteria were satisfied at 12 months, with no adverse events related to the cell product and no deaths, tumours, abnormal tissue overgrowth or intracerebral haemorrhages detected by MRI.
  • At 18 months after transplantation, MDS-UPDRS Part III OFF scores decreased by a mean (s.d.) of 8.6 points (29.2) in the low-dose cohort and 23.0 points (7.9) in the high-dose cohort. Mean good ON times increased by 0.2 h (3.8 h) in the low-dose cohort and 2.7 h (1.6 h) in the high-dose cohort.
  • Putaminal 18F-DOPA PET uptake increased bilaterally across cohorts, supporting graft survival through 18 months, 6 months after immunosuppression discontinuation; caudate uptake was stable to decreased. There were no reports of graft-induced dyskinesias through 18 months.
  • Through 18 months, there were 78 cumulative treatment-emergent adverse events; most were mild or moderate, and none were related to bemdaneprocel. Two serious adverse events occurred at 12 months: one COVID-19 hospitalization and one seizure attributed to surgery; a later gastrointestinal haemorrhage at approximately 15 months was assessed as unrelated.

Methods

  • First-in-human, multisite, open-label phase I trial (NCT04802733) of cryopreserved, off-the-shelf bemdaneprocel derived from hES cells, grafted bilaterally into the post-commissural putamen via nine deposits per putamen in a single surgical session.
  • Participants had confirmed Parkinson’s disease; 12 were enrolled sequentially into low-dose then high-dose cohorts after a 30-day data safety monitoring committee pause. Median age was 67.0 years, 75% were male, and median time since diagnosis was 9 years.
  • Outcomes included safety/tolerability at 1 year, 18F-DOPA PET imaging at baseline, 12 and 18 months, MDS-UPDRS Part III OFF and adjusted PD diary good ON times, plus exploratory motor, non-motor and quality-of-life measures. Analyses were descriptive by cohort; no inferential statistical testing was performed because of the small number of participants.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the study was open-label, small, relatively short in observation, and not designed or powered to determine efficacy; expected PD symptom fluctuations and substantial placebo effects may influence results.
  • The paper states that PET data have limitations in resolution, signal-to-noise ratio and variability across and within patients and between dose cohorts, and that correlation between 18F-DOPA PET uptake and clinical performance can be variable. It also notes unknown kinetics of graft maturation and disease vulnerability, complicating dose-finding.
  • Evident from the design: there was no placebo or control arm and no blinding, and cohorts were enrolled sequentially rather than randomized, so efficacy signals cannot be attributed to the cell product alone.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/s41586-025-08845-y

Cites

51 of 51 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

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Figures

Fig. 1 The study design. Summary of the study design. Patients were enrolled sequentially into a low-dose then a high-dose cohort. The diagram indicates the timeline of immunosuppression, monthly laboratory and clinical assessments, and imaging studies throughout the study. Ongoing follow-up is anticipated for a minimum of 5 years.
Fig. 1 The study design. Summary of the study design. Patients were enrolled sequentially into a low-dose then a high-dose cohort. The diagram indicates the timeline of immunosuppression, monthly laboratory and clinical assessments, and imaging studies throughout the study. Ongoing follow-up is anticipated for a minimum of 5 years.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Fig. 2 Clinical outcomes 18 months after transplantation. a,b, Secondary end points: individual MDS-UPDRS Part III OFF scores in the low-dose (a) and high-dose (b) cohorts at the baseline and at different timepoints after transplantation. c,d, Individual PD diary good ON time at the baseline and at different timepoints after transplantation in the low-dose (c) and high-dose (d) cohorts. Bold lines are mean ± s.d.; exact values are given as mean (s.d.) beneath each data point. e–h, Exploratory end points: individual scores on MDS-UPDRS Part III ON (e), Adjusted PD diary OFF time (f), MDS-UPDRS Part II (g) and UDysRS objective subscore (h) at the baseline and at different timepoints after transplantation in the low- and high-dose cohorts. Bold lines are mean ± s.d. The baseline value (0 months) is defined as the last recorded value before surgery. The double dagger symbol (‡) indicates the exception that, for MDS-UPDRS Part III OFF at 18 months after transplantation, n = 6. The total possible score for the MDS-UPDRS Part III scale is 132, for the MDS-UPDRS Part II scale is 52 and for the UDysRS objective scale is 44. Good ON time is the sum of ON time without dyskinesia and ON time with non-troublesome dyskinesia. Source data
Fig. 2 Clinical outcomes 18 months after transplantation. a,b, Secondary end points: individual MDS-UPDRS Part III OFF scores in the low-dose (a) and high-dose (b) cohorts at the baseline and at different timepoints after transplantation. c,d, Individual PD diary good ON time at the baseline and at different timepoints after transplantation in the low-dose (c) and high-dose (d) cohorts. Bold lines are mean ± s.d.; exact values are given as mean (s.d.) beneath each data point. e–h, Exploratory end points: individual scores on MDS-UPDRS Part III ON (e), Adjusted PD diary OFF time (f), MDS-UPDRS Part II (g) and UDysRS objective subscore (h) at the baseline and at different timepoints after transplantation in the low- and high-dose cohorts. Bold lines are mean ± s.d. The baseline value (0 months) is defined as the last recorded value before surgery. The double dagger symbol (‡) indicates the exception that, for MDS-UPDRS Part III OFF at 18 months after transplantation, n = 6. The total possible score for the MDS-UPDRS Part III scale is 132, for the MDS-UPDRS Part II scale is 52 and for the UDysRS objective scale is 44. Good ON time is the sum of ON time without dyskinesia and ON time with non-troublesome dyskinesia. Source dataCC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Fig. 3 PET images of 18F-DOPA uptake signal in the striatum. Images of the 18F-DOPA PET uptake signal at multiple sections through the striatum, presented as the mean uptake of all patients (n = 12 at all timepoints except at 18 months, for which n = 11). Images of 18F-DOPA uptake were produced by dividing each original PET image by the occipital count and then subtracting 1. Formula: image of 18F-DOPA uptake = (PET image/occipital count − 1).
Fig. 3 PET images of 18F-DOPA uptake signal in the striatum. Images of the 18F-DOPA PET uptake signal at multiple sections through the striatum, presented as the mean uptake of all patients (n = 12 at all timepoints except at 18 months, for which n = 11). Images of 18F-DOPA uptake were produced by dividing each original PET image by the occipital count and then subtracting 1. Formula: image of 18F-DOPA uptake = (PET image/occipital count − 1).CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Extended Data Fig. 1 Patient Disposition. Diagram detailing the disposition of all participants. The 12 participants who passed screening were enrolled sequentially into the low-dose cohort (N = 5) or high-dose cohort (N = 7).
Extended Data Fig. 1 Patient Disposition. Diagram detailing the disposition of all participants. The 12 participants who passed screening were enrolled sequentially into the low-dose cohort (N = 5) or high-dose cohort (N = 7).CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Extended Data Fig. 2 Representative Magnetic Resonance images. Representative axial T1-weighted and sagittal Flair MRI images obtained at baseline, 6 months, 12 months and 18 months. No evidence of intracerebral haemorrhage, mass, lesion, and/or cellular overgrowth. Transplanted cells were indiscernible; needle tracks exhibit gliosis as expected and are best seen in the lower panels. MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging.
Extended Data Fig. 2 Representative Magnetic Resonance images. Representative axial T1-weighted and sagittal Flair MRI images obtained at baseline, 6 months, 12 months and 18 months. No evidence of intracerebral haemorrhage, mass, lesion, and/or cellular overgrowth. Transplanted cells were indiscernible; needle tracks exhibit gliosis as expected and are best seen in the lower panels. MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Extended Data Fig. 3 Quantification of 18F-DOPA PET uptake in the striatum. Volume of interest (VOI)-based analysis of 18F-DOPA PET uptake signal in the anterior putamen (a), posterior putamen (b) and the caudate (c) at baseline, 12 months and 18 months, for individual patients in the low and high dose cohorts. Data is obtained via the VOI method as described in the Methods section. N = 12 for all timepoints with 2 exceptions: one patient missed the 18-month timepoint scan, and another patient had their 18-month timepoint scan performed at week 91 (at ~21 months) post grafting (data included). Bold lines in each panel represent the mean ± SD. Source data
Extended Data Fig. 3 Quantification of 18F-DOPA PET uptake in the striatum. Volume of interest (VOI)-based analysis of 18F-DOPA PET uptake signal in the anterior putamen (a), posterior putamen (b) and the caudate (c) at baseline, 12 months and 18 months, for individual patients in the low and high dose cohorts. Data is obtained via the VOI method as described in the Methods section. N = 12 for all timepoints with 2 exceptions: one patient missed the 18-month timepoint scan, and another patient had their 18-month timepoint scan performed at week 91 (at ~21 months) post grafting (data included). Bold lines in each panel represent the mean ± SD. Source dataCC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Extended Data Fig. 4 PET images of 18F-DOPA PET uptake signal in the two dose cohorts. Images of 18F-DOPA PET uptake signal at multiple sections through the striatum, presented as mean uptake at baseline, 12 months, and 18 months in the low dose cohort (top) and high dose cohort (bottom). Images were produced by dividing each original PET image by occipital count and then subtracting 1. PET, positron emission tomography. N = 12 for all timepoints with 2 exceptions: one patient missed the 18-month timepoint scan, and another patient had their 18-month timepoint scan performed at week 91 (at ~21 months) post grafting (data included).
Extended Data Fig. 4 PET images of 18F-DOPA PET uptake signal in the two dose cohorts. Images of 18F-DOPA PET uptake signal at multiple sections through the striatum, presented as mean uptake at baseline, 12 months, and 18 months in the low dose cohort (top) and high dose cohort (bottom). Images were produced by dividing each original PET image by occipital count and then subtracting 1. PET, positron emission tomography. N = 12 for all timepoints with 2 exceptions: one patient missed the 18-month timepoint scan, and another patient had their 18-month timepoint scan performed at week 91 (at ~21 months) post grafting (data included).CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

39 Own result · 20 Own method · 6 No full text of the sources · 5 Own interpretation · 4 No basis given · 3 Partly supported · 1 Supported so far · 1 Sources not found · 1 Not checked yet · accuracy not yet measured

Verify all 1 references — free account

Show all 43 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 22
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 26
37 of 37
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The correlation between 18F-DOPA PET uptake and clinical performance can be variable.

    “Furthermore, the correlation between 18F-DOPA PET uptake and clinical performance can be variable, and graft survival alone is not sufficient to predict long-term patient benefit.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Graft survival alone is not sufficient to predict long-term patient benefit.

    “Furthermore, the correlation between 18F-DOPA PET uptake and clinical performance can be variable, and graft survival alone is not sufficient to predict long-term patient benefit.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Placebo effects can be substantial in studies of PD.

    “the possibility of placebo effects, which can be substantial in studies of PD.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    PD symptoms fluctuate expectedly.

    “the expected fluctuations in PD symptoms”
4 of 4

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

1 of 1

Citations

Cites

Show all 51 references

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Martinez–Martin, P., Rodriguez-Blazquez, C. & Forjaz, M. J. in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology 8–16 (Elsevier, 2017).

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Metadata

Authors
Tabar, V., Sarva, H., Lozano, A. M., Fasano, A., Kalia, S. K., Yu, K. K. H., Brennan, C., Ma, Y., Peng, S., Eidelberg, D., Tomishima, M., Irion, S., Stemple, W., Abid, N., Lampron, A., Studer, L., & Henchcliffe, C.
Affiliations
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (US)
  • Weill Cornell Medicine (US)
  • University of Toronto (CA)
  • University Health Network (CA)
  • Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (US)
  • University of California, Irvine (US)
Corresponding author
Tabar, V.
Venue
Nature
Published
2025-04-16
Volume
641
Issue
8064
Pages
978-983
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W4409502153
Cited by
181
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 124 · 2025: 57
FWCI
97.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Cancer Institute (P30CA008748)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS118067)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Clinical Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Clinical Neurology › Deep Brain Stimulation and Movement Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
Keywords
Parkinson's disease, human embryonic stem cells, dopaminergic neurons, cell therapy, graft survival, dyskinesia, safety
MeSH terms
Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Adult, Aged, Female, Graft Survival, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Parkinson Disease, Putamen, Cohort Studies, Cryopreservation, Treatment Outcome, Stem Cell Transplantation, Positron-Emission Tomography, Dopaminergic Neurons

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