First patient receives Sumitomo Pharma stem cell transplant for Parkinson's disease

In October 2026, Kyoto University Hospital performed the world's first stem-cell brain transplant for Parkinson's disease using Sumitomo Pharma's donor-derived induced pluripotent stem cells. Following conditional approval in Japan in March 2026, Sumitomo Pharma announced plans to treat up to 30 patients by March 2029. Meanwhile, competing developer Aspen Neuroscience raised $140.6 million in an October 2026 U.S. IPO to advance its autologous cell therapy, sasineprocel, into Phase 3 clinical testing.

Sumitomo Pharma's Parkinson's cell therapy trial

• ▪Sumitomo Pharma announced the first human transplant of its induced pluripotent stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease in an October 30, 2026 earnings press release.
• ▪In a clinical trial of Sumitomo Pharma's cell therapy involving seven Parkinson's patients aged 50 to 69, four patients showed symptom improvements with no major adverse effects over two years.
• ▪Kyoto University Hospital performed the first brain transplant of Sumitomo Pharma's donor-derived induced pluripotent stem cell therapy in a Parkinson's disease patient in October 2026.
• ▪Sumitomo Pharma plans to perform induced pluripotent stem cell transplants on 20 to 30 Parkinson's disease patients by March 2029 while conducting a clinical trial in the United States.

Aspen Neuroscience's sasineprocel therapy

• ▪Aspen Neuroscience is evaluating sasineprocel in an open-label Phase 1/2a clinical trial, with long-term data expected in 2028 and a Phase 3 trial planned by late 2027.
• ▪Aspen Neuroscience's experimental therapy sasineprocel modifies skin cells harvested from individual Parkinson's patients into autologous precursor cells to replenish dopamine-producing neurons.

Aspen Neuroscience initial public offering

• ▪Including Aspen Neuroscience and Bambusa Therapeutics, 29 biotechnology companies completed initial public offerings on U.S. stock exchanges in 2026 through October 29, 2026.
• ▪Parkinson's cell therapy developer Aspen Neuroscience raised $140.6 million in its initial public offering, selling 9.4 million shares at $15 each

Parkinson's cell therapy developers

• ▪Cellular Intelligence acquired an experimental Parkinson's treatment from Novo to advance its cell therapy development pipeline.
• ▪Biotechnology developers including BlueRock Therapeutics, Oryon Cell Therapies, XellSmart, and Cellular Intelligence are actively pursuing stem-cell treatments for Parkinson's disease alongside Sumitomo Pharma and Aspen Neuroscience.
• ▪Bayer subsidiary BlueRock Therapeutics is testing its donor-derived Parkinson's cell therapy bemdaneprocel in a Phase 3 clinical trial.