Medipost Co., a Korean stem cell therapy company, announced on Monday it has completed phase 1 and 2a clinical trials to evaluate its investigational stem cell drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

The drug called Neurostem is a human umbilical cord blood (hUCB) derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy known to lower beta-amyloid levels in the cerebrospinal fluid and block the hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein, blamed for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer`s disease.

The two-step trials have been conducted at Samsung Medical Center in Seoul since 2014. A total of 46 patients with 10 in the first step and 36 in the second were enrolled in the trials designed to evaluate the safety and exploratory efficacy of the drug. Patients have received Neurostem through an ommaya reservoir inserted in the brain at a frequency of every month.

Neurostem treats Alzheimer`s disease with various mechanisms of action unlike existing therapeutics, said a Medipost spokesman, adding the next step will be based on the forthcoming clinical results.

Kosdaq-listed Medipost shares traded 2.85 percent, or 950 won, higher at 34,300 won as of 11:50 a.m. on Tuesday from the previous session.

By Kim Si-gyun and Minu Kim

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