Japan takes the first step to carry out the first clinical trials against Parkinson's disease

Tokyo .- Japanese researchers will begin clinical trials to treat Parkinson's disease via induced pluripotency (iPS) cells, being the first test performed for this neurodegenerative disease.

The clinical trial will begin after Wednesday and involves the implantation of healthy nerve cells in the brains of patients to complete the damaged nerve cells, announced today the University of Kyoto at a press conference.

The team, led by Professor Jun Takahashi of the University's Center for Research and Application of iPS Cells, received Japanese government approval to begin treatment with seven patients.

Researchers tested and tested in monkeys and found that none of the animals developed brain tumors that could become cancer within two years after the experiment, as some experts have warned.

Treatment would be covered by the health system of the Asian country and aims to meet the growing number of patients with this disease, about 160,000 people in Japan, according to figures from the Japanese agency Kyodo , according to Efe.

"I would like this treatment to be accessible to people as soon as possible," Kosei Hasegawa, president of the Parkinson's Association, was quoted by Kyodo as saying.

iPS cells have already been used in Japan to perform pioneer retinal grafts or to manufacture drugs for the treatment of extremely rare bone diseases of genetic origin.