A groundbreaking new treatment is giving fresh hope to Parkinson's patients in Japan, where the world's first therapy using lab-grown cells will soon be covered under the country's public health insurance system.
Developed by Sumitomo Pharma, the treatment, known as Amchepry, uses neural tissue created from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The therapy aims to help restore motor function in patients living with Parkinson’s disease.
Seven patients have participated in clinical trials so far, with some showing improvements in movement and motor abilities.
Japanese health authorities have approved public insurance coverage for the treatment and set the cost of a single procedure at approximately JPY55.3m ($350,000). However, patients are expected to pay significantly less out of pocket under Japan’s medical expense cap system.