Similar trials intended to start in New Zealand

(New Zealand has over 5000 people confined to wheelchairs resulting from spinal cord injuries)

A medical team in Ecuador, using methods in some ways similar to proposed New Zealand trials, has achieved for all of the  eight people confined to  wheelchairs,  improvement in muscle function and feeling.

Some have regained ability to walk with assistance.

The report just received by the Spinal Cord Society of New Zealand (SCSNZ), describes the clinical trial of spinal cord injury treatment

The trials used the patients’ own bone marrow cells and patients received the treatment over the past 15-24 months.

Four of the patients in the trial had chronic spinal cord injury and had been paralysed and confined to wheelchairs for periods of between 6 to 22
years and four had recent spinal cord injuries.  People with chronic spinal cord injury do not normally show any improvement after
1-2 years but those with recent injury can show moderate improvement in the first year after the injury.

All of the patients showed improved results in assessment of their quality of life.  Improvement in control of bladder function also occurred
in some patients.

Noela Vallis, Chair of the New Zealand Spinal Cord Society, said the Ecuadorian trials used the patients’s own bone marrow cells,
and SCSNZ has been developing plans for related trials in New Zealand. 

“However, our trials will begin with use of the patient’s own olfactory mucosa (cells taken from the upper nose) and later with addition of trials using their own bone marrow cells,” she said. Ms Vallis said the Society has received heavy inquiries since it announced the planned New Zealand trials last week. She has asked that people in wheelchairs email Dr Faed rather than call. “He has become a bit overwhelmed by calls for people wanting to volunteer for the trials,” said Ms Valllis.

“The evidence for this concept of using the patient’s own cells, is becoming so compelling now that we are sensing an impatience to get on with it,”
she said.

The Society places its final submission to the Multi Regional Ethics Committee on April 21 and once final approval is received, the trials will get under way.

The Society also needs to raise $2million as quickly as possible, to fund the trials and subsequent rehabilitation programmes. Ms Vallis said she is confident that many of the 5000 New Zealanders confined to wheelchairs will soon experience a dramatic improvement in their quality of life.

Ms Vallis said donations for the trials can be made by:

• telephoning 0900 spine ( 77463),
• by going on line to the Society’s website
• or by depositing funds at any branch of the Westpac bank