Clinical Trial on The Use of Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Extension CMN/ELA)

The purpose of this clinical trial is to assess the feasibility and the security of the intraspinal and intrathecal infusion of autologous bone marrow stem cells for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis patients.

Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) typically endure a progressive paralysis due to the continued loss of motoneurons that leads them to death in less than 5 years. No treatment has changed its natural history. Intraspinal injections of bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNC) have been able to ameliorate the course of ALS in murine models, acting as pumps of trophic factors that keep the motoneurons functional. Moreover, the clinical trial (Study NCT00855400 on www.ClinicalTrials.gov) conducted by our research group to determine the safety and efficacy of Autologous Stem Cell transplantation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in humans, found that this procedure is feasible and safe. Continuing with that study, we have designed a phase I/II clinical trial to check the feasibility of the intraspinal and intrathecal infusion of autologous bone marrow stem cells.