Human Spinal Cord Derived Neural Stem Cell Transplantation for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

This is a first-in-human trial of spinal derived stem cells transplanted into the spinal cord of patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The goal of the study is to see if the cells and the procedure to transplant them are safe.

These stem cells are called Human Spinal Stem Cells (HSSC) and have been engineered from the spinal cord of a single fetus electively aborted after 8 weeks of gestation. The tissue was obtained with the mother's consent. The cells will be transplanted into the ALS patient's spinal cord after laminectomy, an operation that removes bone surrounding the spine. After the spinal cord is exposed, a device manufactured for this purpose will be mounted onto the patient and will hold a syringe filled with the cells. The syringe will have a needle attached and the needle will enter the spinal cord in specified areas. The device will minimize trauma to the spinal cord by the needle by making the puncture precise and steady and injecting the material at a slow and steady speed.

ALS is a universally fatal neurodegenerative condition that causes weakness leading to paralysis and death. Life expectancy is 2-5 years. The cause is unknown and there is no effective treatment. Previous research has shown that on autopsy, ALS patients are found to have increased levels of the amino acid glutamate accumulated in the brain and spinal cord. This increase is thought to be caused by a decrease in the glutamate transporter which normally "cleans up" glutamate from the cells.

Because the HSSC are human in origin, their transplantation will be handled in some ways like other organ transplants in that patients will receive immunosuppressive medications to prevent the rejection of the cells. Right before and immediately after surgery patients will receive infusions of a drug called basiliximab. After surgery they will take prednisone and be tapered off that medication over one month. They will also be given two other immunosuppressive agents, tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil after surgery and it is expected that the patients will take these drugs for the rest of their lives.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Have the ability to understand the requirements of the study, provide written informed consent, understand and provide written authorization for the use and disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI) \[per Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Ruling\] and comply with the study procedures.
2. Subjects with sporadic or familial ALS diagnosed as laboratory-supported probable,probable or definite according to the World Federation of Neurology El Escorial Criteria (Appendix A), based on examination by the site PI.
3. Age 18 years or older.
4. Females must have a negative serum pregnancy test and practice an acceptable method of contraception or be of non-childbearing potential (post-menopausal for at least 2 years or surgically sterile \[hysterectomy, oophorectomy or surgical sterilization\]).
5. Geographic accessibility to the study center and the ability to travel to the clinic for study visits.
6. Presence of a willing and able caregiver.
7. Medically able to undergo lumbar or cervical laminectomy as determined by the Investigator, surgeon and anesthesiologist.
8. Medically able to tolerate immunosuppression regimen consisting of basiliximab, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and methylprednisolone as determined by the site Investigator.
9. Agrees to the visit schedule as outlined in the informed consent.
10. Not taking riluzole (Rilutek®) or on a stable dose for ≥30 days.
11. All required vaccinations current: tetanus/diptheria (TDAP), herpes zoster/shingles(Vostavax®: within last 10 years and must be prior to surgery), pneumonia (Pneumovax®),seasonal/H1N1 flu vaccines (as appropriate for season) for Groups B-E.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Etiology of paraplegia or weakness is due to causes other than ALS such as spinal ischemia, traumatic spinal injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral stroke, cerebral palsy, or infection.
2. VC \< 60% predicted normal by standard nomogram at the time of screening and VC \< 50% predicted normal measured supine for age at the time of surgery.
3. Current or peak Panel Reactive Antibody (PRA) due to alloantibodies \> 20% receiving their first allograft.
4. Any known immunodeficiency syndrome.
5. Receipt of any investigational drug,device or biologic within 30 days of surgery.
6. Any concomitant medical disease or condition limiting the safety to participate:

   * Coagulopathy
   * Active uncontrolled infection
   * Hypotension requiring vasopressor therapy
   * Previous spinal surgery at the site of planned transplantation except for anterior cervical dissection fusion (ACDF)
   * Skin breakdown over the site of surgery
   * Malignancy (except for non-melanoma skin cancer)
   * Primary or secondary immune deficiency
   * Spinal stenosis.
7. Creatinine \>1.5, liver function tests (SGOT/SGPT, Bilirubin, Alk Phos) \> 2x the upper limit of normal, hematocrit/hemoglobin \< 30/10, total WBC \< 4000, uncontrolled hypertension (defined as systolic \>180 or diastolic \>100) or uncontrolled diabetes(defined as hemoglobin A1C \>8), evidence of GI bleeding by hemoccult test, positive tuberculosis (TB test: PPD/Mantoux), hepatitis B or C, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
8. Presence of any of the following conditions:

   * Current drug abuse or alcoholism
   * Unstable medical conditions
   * Unstable psychiatric illness including psychosis and untreated major depression within 90 days of screening
   * Positive blood test for hepatitis B or C.
9. Any condition that the site PI feels may interfere with participation in the study.
10. Any condition that the surgeon feels may pose complications for the surgery.
11. Known hypersensitivity to basiliximab, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, or methylprednisolone.
12. Inability to provide informed consent as determined by screening protocol.
13. Inadequate family or caregiver support as determined by the site PI.