Study published in Nature Medicine shows promising results in Alzheimer’s disease – supports the development of ProTrans at NextCell

May 7, 2025

NextCell Pharma AB (“NextCell” or the “Company”) highlights a recently published clinical trial demonstrating promising results for mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in the treatment of mild Alzheimer’s disease. The results strengthen the scientific foundation for NextCell’s drug candidate ProTrans, which is being developed for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. NextCell is developing the next generation of MSC therapies with a focus on selection and indication-specific tailoring using its patented platform technology.

NextCell has conducted preclinical development based on a selection algorithm specifically designed for applications in the central nervous system (CNS). This work forms the basis for a pending patent application regarding the use of ProTrans in the treatment of CNS and neurodegenerative diseases and expands on NextCell’s pre-existing preclinical and clinical data in different diseases including type 1 diabetes and viral induced pneumonia. The specific indication(s) under evaluation for application of the CNS tailored drug product have not yet been disclosed.

In a Phase 2a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study published in Nature Medicine (Rash et al., 2025), a total of 49 patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease were enrolled and treated with a single or repeated intravenous dose of the MSC product laromestrocel (Lomecel-B®). The treatment led to improved cognitive symptoms, reduced neuroinflammation, and slower brain atrophy, with no reported serious adverse events. The study appeared in Nature Medicine, one of the world’s most prestigious medical journals, further underscoring its scientific importance. Lomecel-B, like ProTrans, is an allogeneic cell therapy product; however, it is derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). ProTrans represents a next-generation MSC therapy, developed using highly selected cells sourced from umbilical cord tissue.

“The study clearly demonstrates the potential of cell-based therapies in neurodegenerative diseases and is highly relevant to NextCell’s development of ProTrans. It confirms both the safety and the immunomodulatory effects of MSCs as intravenous delivered drug products and their potential as a platform-based drug product,” says Mathias Svahn, CEO of NextCell.

For more information about NextCell Pharma AB, please contact:

Mathias Svahn, CEO

Patrik Fagerholm, CFO

Tel: 0+46 8-735 5595

E-mail: info@nextcellpharma.com

Website: www.nextcellpharma.com

 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/15255207/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NextCellPharma


For information about Cellaviva, please contact:

Sofie Falk Jansson, CEO

Tel: 08-735 2010

E-mail: info@cellaviva.se

Website: www.cellaviva.se

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cellavivasverige

Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/cellaviva/

Certified Adviser
RedEye AB is assigned as Certified Adviser

About NextCell Pharma AB

NextCell is a cell therapy company in Phase II trials with the drug candidate ProTrans for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. The focus is to obtain market approval of ProTrans via a phase III trial. In addition to type 1 diabetes. NextCell owns Cellaviva AB, Scandinavia’s largest private stem cell bank licensed by the Swedish Health Authority (IVO) to preserve and store stem cells from umbilical cord blood and umbilical cord tissue for family use. NextCell also owns QVance which will offer quality control analytics for advanced therapy developers. Furthermore, NextCell owns 8.5% in FamicordTX, a CAR-T start-up in oncology.

Download attachmentRead full press release on Cision (external link)
2019-06-20
Final patient treated in the phase II part of the ProTrans-1 trial
NextCell Pharma AB (NextCell) today treated the last diabetic patient in the phase II part of the ProTrans-1 trial. This means that all patients included in the clinical study have been treated and are now subject to a 12-month follow-up period before efficacy and safety data will be available. The final patient has been treated in the randomized, placebo controlled ProTrans-1 phase II part trial. Efficacy and safety data will be collected through regular clinical assessments visits during a 12 month period. Last patient, last will be assessed in July 2020 and thereafter the code will be
NextCell Pharma AB (NextCell) today treated the last diabetic patient in the phase II part of the ProTrans-1 trial. This means that all patients included in the clinical study have been treated and are now subject to a 12-month follow-up period before efficacy and safety data will be available. T...
Read moreRead more
2019-06-20
New collaboration and increased digital presence - Cellaviva is gearing for growth
NextCell Pharma AB ("NextCell") today announces that they, via its biobank Cellaviva, have entered into a partnership with Bonzun Health Information AB ("Bonzun"), who are providing the first global health app for pregnant women. Bonzun has launched the first virtual midwife for pregnant women which can be downloaded in Appstores under the name Bonzun Pregnant. The app is currently available in 79 countries worldwide under the name Bonzun and in Sweden under the name Min Graviditet. The collaboration has been entered into with the common goal of strengthening the work of sharing knowledge
NextCell Pharma AB ("NextCell") today announces that they, via its biobank Cellaviva, have entered into a partnership with Bonzun Health Information AB ("Bonzun"), who are providing the first global health app for pregnant women. Bonzun has launched the first virtual midwife for pregnant women wh...
Read moreRead more
2019-06-19
NextCell has treated the first patient in the ProTrans-Repeat trial
NextCell Pharma AB (NextCell) announces that earlier today the first patient was treated as part of the ProTrans-Repeat trial, which is NextCell’s second clinical trial. ProTrans-Repeat is a Phase IIa clinical trial which includes patients receiving active treatment with ProTrans and who have previously been treated in the ProTrans-1 study's dose escalation phase. This means that the participants receive their second treatment with ProTrans, just over a year after the first. The goal of the ProTrans-Repeat trial is to test whether repeated treatment can increase or maintain the effect of
NextCell Pharma AB (NextCell) announces that earlier today the first patient was treated as part of the ProTrans-Repeat trial, which is NextCell’s second clinical trial. ProTrans-Repeat is a Phase IIa clinical trial which includes patients receiving active treatment with ProTrans and who have pre...
Read moreRead more
2019-06-11
Anders Essen-Möller subscribes to his entire stakes in NextCell Pharmas right issue
The two largest owners of NextCell Pharma AB (“NextCell” or “The Company”) Anders Essen-Möller and Diamyd Medical AB, fully subscribe for their respective shares in NextCells ongoing rights issue. This means that both parties consolidate their ownership interests and that Essen-Möllers ownership in NextCell after the investments increases from approximately SEK 3.6 million to 6.0 million. Regarding the ongoing rights issue in NextCell, the principal owner Anders Essen-Möller, also the chairman of the company, has chosen to fully utilize its allotted subscription rights, which means that he
The two largest owners of NextCell Pharma AB (“NextCell” or “The Company”) Anders Essen-Möller and Diamyd Medical AB, fully subscribe for their respective shares in NextCells ongoing rights issue. This means that both parties consolidate their ownership interests and that Essen-Möllers ownership ...
Read moreRead more
2019-06-05
Selected to participate in the EIT Health Start.Smart.Global (SSG) programme.
NextCell Pharma AB (publ) ("NextCell") has been chosen as one of a select group of companies to participate in the EIT Health Start.Smart.Global (SSG) programme. The programme focusses on helping European life science SMEs successful entries into Japan and South Korea. EIT Health is a Knowledge and Innovation Community established by the European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT) (https://eit.europa.eu/), an independent EU body set up to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe. The EIT Health Start.Smart.Global (SSG) programme, helps European life science SMEs
NextCell Pharma AB (publ) ("NextCell") has been chosen as one of a select group of companies to participate in the EIT Health Start.Smart.Global (SSG) programme. The programme focusses on helping European life science SMEs successful entries into Japan and South Korea. EIT Health is a Knowledge a...
Read moreRead more
2019-05-17
NextCell now has two parallel running clinical trials, ProTrans-1 and ProTrans-Repeat which was initiated today
NextCell Pharma AB (NextCell) announces that the initiation meeting for ProTrans-Repeat was held today at Karolinska University Hospital in Huddinge. ProTrans-Repeat is a completely independent trial and has no effect on the ProTrans-1 study. NextCell now has two ongoing clinical trials that run parallel and according to plan. ProTrans-Repeat's Principal investigator Professor Per-Ola Carlsson and the study team from Karolinska Trial Alliance, together with NextCell, went through the last practical details, which means that the new study has now been formally initiated. ProTrans-Repeat means
NextCell Pharma AB (NextCell) announces that the initiation meeting for ProTrans-Repeat was held today at Karolinska University Hospital in Huddinge. ProTrans-Repeat is a completely independent trial and has no effect on the ProTrans-1 study. NextCell now has two ongoing clinical trials that run ...
Read moreRead more
2019-05-17
Rectification: Six out of nine patients in the first part of the phase I/II trial, ProTrans-1 have completed treatment
NextCell Pharma AB (NextCell) announces that six out of the nine patients included in the dose escalation part of ProTrans-1, the trial with the drug candidate ProTrans, now have completed treatment and left the study. Earlier this week, the last of the three patients in the so-called medium-dose-cohort visited for their 12-month follow-up, the final part of the trial, which means that all three now have completed their part of the trial. In early March, the three patients in the low-dose cohort had already completed the trial. This means that six out of nine patients in the phase I part
NextCell Pharma AB (NextCell) announces that six out of the nine patients included in the dose escalation part of ProTrans-1, the trial with the drug candidate ProTrans, now have completed treatment and left the study. Earlier this week, the last of the three patients in the so-called medium-dose...
Read moreRead more
2019-05-17
Six out of nine patients in the phase-II part of the ProTrans-1 study have completed treatment
NextCell Pharma AB (NextCell) announces that six out of the nine patients included in ProTrans-1, the trial with the drug candidate ProTrans, now have completed treatment and left the study. Earlier this week, the last of the three patients in the so-called medium-dose-cohort visited for their 12-month follow-up, the final part of the trial, which means that all three now have completed their part of the trial. In early March, the three patients in the low-dose cohort had already completed the trial. This means that six out of nine patients in the phase II part have now successfully
NextCell Pharma AB (NextCell) announces that six out of the nine patients included in ProTrans-1, the trial with the drug candidate ProTrans, now have completed treatment and left the study. Earlier this week, the last of the three patients in the so-called medium-dose-cohort visited for their 12...
Read moreRead more