...."It's only the efficacy data from the rat study that we can't recapitulate. All the safety data ... is complete and we have every confidence in that."
In addition, the therapy had been trialled in monkeys, producing "quite impressive efficacy. Within two weeks, we saw improvements in limb and cognitive symptoms in a Parkinson's model. That study was done by a contract research organisation so we have a much higher degree of confidence in the monkey studies. Monkeys are much more predictive of human outcomes than rats are."
A similar check of the monkey-trial data was almost finished and so far "everything is in order". Until that check was complete, "it was our decision to take the path of utmost patient safety - the lowest risk - and put patient recruitment on hold and make sure everything is in order before we start again".
