The promise of these cells is in their potential to become the source of neurons that could be used to replace brain or spine tissue, to possibly benefit Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and spinal cord injury patients, among others

Samaritan Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCBB:SPHC) through Samaritan Research Labs, Georgetown University, today announced that it has identified a small molecule drug that induces human neuron differentiation from precursor cells -- that is, they transform cells from embryonic early-stage development, to an adult state. Stem cells, cells that gives rise to a lineage of cells, are immature precursors that can become neurons; they exist in both embryonic and adult brain cells.

Using a model of human embryonal carcinoma stem cells, the Georgetown/Samaritan Research team screened a number of small molecules for their ability to induce neuronal differentiation. One of these molecules, discovered in reduced levels in Alzheimer's brain biopsies compared to age-matched controls, was found to induce neuronal differentiation as seen by the formation of networks of axon bundles and the expression of markers specific to adult human differentiated neurons. This molecule was found to be devoid of tumorigenic activity -- that is, capable of causing tumors, in contrast to other previously reported inducers of neuronal differentiation. The Georgetown team, funded by a collaborative agreement by Samaritan Pharmaceuticals, is now proceeding to test this molecule in animal models. Although this molecule is early in its development, if this discovery becomes a successful drug, it could give incredible, long-sought-after hope for patients who suffer with related diseases.

The diseases or conditions that could be positively impacted by this discovery include: neurogenetic defects, spinal cord injury, spinal motor atrophy, stroke, multi-infarctdementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and diseases where "neuronal regeneration" may be the treatment of choice for neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's. Moreover, such a molecule may offer an adjuvant treatment in neuronal stem cell therapy.

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