The Rafael del Pino Foundation and the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Puerta de Hierro University Hospital signed a collaboration agreement for the creation of a Rafael del Pino Chair of Neurosciences dedicated to clinical research in the field of spinal cord injury led by Dr. Jesús Vaquero at the Puerta de Hierro Hospital in Majadahonda (Madrid).
The aim of the Chair's work is to develop a pilot programme for cell transplantation in patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries. The project is based on preclinical research carried out at the aforementioned hospital over the last 15 years in collaboration with the Association for research into the repair of spinal cord injury (APINME), which has donated the cell production room needed to initiate these studies in patients.
By supporting this research, the Rafael del Pino Foundation reinforces its strategy of support for spinal cord injuries, the most visible achievements of which are the construction, in Toledo, of the Rafael del Pino Sports Complex -and the development, in collaboration with the company Indra and the National Hospital of Paraplegics in Toledo, of the TOYRA Project (Objective Therapy and Audiovisual Rehabilitation), whose first hospital unit was launched in September 2010.
The results of this study were presented on 21 September 2016 at the Puerta de Hierro Hospital. The event was attended by the President of the Community of Madrid, Cristina Cifuentes; the Regional Minister of Health of the Community of Madrid, Jesús Sánchez Martos, the Infanta Elena de Borbón and María del Pino, President of the Rafael del Pino Foundation, among others. The results of this first trial, which began in July 2013, have been published in the scientific journal Cytotherapy.
Patients who participated in the clinical trials approved by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) of the Ministry of Health, improved sphincter control, sensitivity and spasticity, sexual function, neuropathic pain and are progressively recovering motor function in many cases, in a process of improvement that continues to advance every day.
12 patients participated in the clinical trial on complete spinal cord injuries and 10 in the one focused on incomplete injuries that started in 2016; 10 more patients participated in the trial on complete and incomplete injuries started at the end of 2017 and 6 in the one referring to complete injuries with large cavities; also, two new clinical trials have started in 2018 with around thirty patients, extending the study to brain damage alongside spinal cord injuries.
The project offers the best results published to date in the recovery of chronic spinal cord injury. The partners making this project possible are: the Rafael del Pino Foundation, the Mapfre Foundation and the Government of the Autonomous Community of Madrid.
This is the first non-industrially manufactured advanced therapy drug authorised in Spain by the Spanish Medicines Agency for hospital use, which is a milestone for research activity in the Community of Madrid. The advances obtained in the research environment have been put into clinical practice.
For further information, please contact Doctor Vaquero's team by e-mail at nc-terapiacelular@idiphim.org.
