• BlueRock, the US subsidiary of German Pharmaceutical company Bayer, on Monday reported encouraging results from a preliminary 12-patient trial involving a stem cell therapy aimed at alleviating Parkinson's disease symptoms. Parkinson's UK
• The study tested a low and high dose of the therapy — known as Bemdaneprocel — and found evidence across both groups that cells had engrafted and were surviving. BlueRock added that the severity of the disease had seen improvement one year after treatment, with the most progress found in the high-dose group. BioPharma Dive
• The researchers transformed human pluripotent embryonic stem cells into dopamine-producing nerve cells, implanting them into the brain to restore neural networks destroyed by the disease. Drugs were also prescribed to prevent the immune system from attacking the new cells. Reuters (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• On average, the seven high-dose patients reportedly had well-controlled symptoms for 2.2 hours per day compared with their baseline before treatment. The low-dose patients showed an improvement of 0.72 hours. Guardian (LR: 2 CP: 5)
• BlueRock had earlier admitted that a 70-year-old patient temporarily developed seizures a day after the therapy — although the cells themselves didn't cause any serious side effects — and that the man has since recovered with medication and hasn't had seizures since. Endpoints News
• Following these results, BlueRock reportedly plans to start a mid-stage study and begin enrolling participants in the first half of next year. BioPharma Dive

Narrative A:

• While groundbreaking cell implant studies are showing promise in attacking devastating Parkinson's cells, groups like the Michael J. Fox Foundation are developing tools to detect the disease earlier on, which is the best way to fight it. While a cure hasn't yet been found, Parkinson's is being researched by brilliant medical and technological innovators who won't stop until they're successful.
  Forbes (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Narrative B:

• Stem cell research has proven effective in only a limited number of studies. Additionally, the US FDA has not approved many stem cell treatments because they've previously led to severe symptoms, such as loss of eyesight. The medical community shouldn't get too excited about this development too soon.
  The Conversation (LR: 2 CP: 3)

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 50% chance that the FDA will approve the first disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson's disease by January 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  Metaculus (LR: 3 CP: 3)