FDA-approved cord blood therapy demonstrates faster recovery and high survival rates.
A clinical trial led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that an experimental stem cell treatment for severe aplastic anemia achieved a 94 percent survival rate without major complications following transplantation. The therapy, which expands umbilical cord blood stem cells using a laboratory process, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients without access to matched stem cell donors.
“The results of this ongoing study are extremely encouraging and indicate a significant advancement in the treatment options for patients with a high unmet medical need. Patients in the study were high-risk but had significantly better than expected outcomes,” said Assistant U.S. Surgeon General Richard Childs, NIH study lead, and scientific director of NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Trial participants experienced faster immune recovery than typically seen with standard cord blood transplants, reducing infection risks and improving long-term outcomes. Researchers enrolled high-risk patients who had not responded to existing therapies, and the study remains ongoing, with full results expected to be published next year.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Assistant Surgeon General Childs to be prudent as he oversees the ongoing study.
- For NIH researchers and clinicians as they continue assessing treatments for rare and life-threatening diseases.
- For patients and families affected by severe aplastic anemia and other bone marrow disorders.
Sources: National Institutes of Health
