Stem cell trial has identified enough potential participants

Hundreds of people with MS came forward on Friday after the MS Society and the UK Stem Cell Foundation announced we were to jointly fund a clinical trial to test whether stem cells can be used to treat MS. Researchers have now confirmed they have identified enough participants for the trial and will not be able to consider anyone further.

Dr Paolo Muraro, who is conducting the trial at Imperial College, London, has asked the MS Society to pass on his thanks to people for their interest in this trial and that he is sorry that he cannot consider any additional participants.

Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the MS Society, said: “We are delighted that there has been such widespread interest in this incredibly important piece of MS Society funded research. It is essential that we test the safety and effectiveness of potential treatments, like stem cells, in clinical trials before they can become more widely available.”

Despite several ongoing trials, stem cells remain an unproven treatment for MS and the MS Society does not recommend anyone to receive stem cell therapy outside of a properly conducted clinical trial.

For more information on stem cells please read the MS Society’s booklet “Stem cell therapies in MS”.