Combined regulation of neural cell production

Patent Number: 7048934

This patent teaches ways of treating neurological disease such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease through administration of several compounds that are already in the clinic such as prolactin and EPO. The patent applies to selectively producing neural cells, including neurons or glial cells (cells that support the neurons and clean up after them), in vitro or in vivo. Also the patent teaches methods of treating or ameliorating neurodegenerative disease or medical conditions by producing neural cells either in vitro or in vivo. Thus, a combination of factors (prolactin and EPO) is used to achieve two steps: increasing the number of neural stem cells and instructing the neural stem cells to selectively become neurons or glial cells. The patent has 2 independent claims, the first covers making neural stem cells into neurons and glial cells, whereas the second coverse making neural stem cells into neurons. The basic concept of this patent is currently (Oct 2, 2006) in Phase II clinical trials in stroke patents, sponsored by the Assignee company.

View this patent on the USPTO website.