Living Cell taps lead investigator for NTCELL trial

Living Cell Technologies (ASX:LCT) has engaged Dr Barry Snow to be the principal investigator for phase I clinical trials of NTCELL in Parkinson's disease.

Snow is head of the Auckland Movement Disorders Clinic at the Auckland District Health Board (ADHB), and a well-known researcher into Parkinson's disease.

The appointment still requires regulatory and ADHB Research Review Committee approvals.

Pending these approvals and authorisation from New Zealand's Medsafe, the trials are expected to commence by the end of Q1 2013.

The NTCELL treatment candidate involves transplanting choroid plexus cells from the Auckland Island pig herd into the brain of patients, to help repair damaged nerve tissue and protect the brain.

The cells will be encapsulated with LCT's IMMUPEL microcapsule technology to prevent the immune system from rejecting them as foreign.

During the trial, NTCELL's performance will be measured against the current standard Parkinson's treatment, deep brain stimulation.

Living Cell has headquarters in Sydney and in Auckland, New Zealand.

Living Cell Technologies (ASX:LCT) shares were trading at 8c as of Wednesday at midday, up from 7c prior to the announcement.