BELMONT, Mass. — Oryon Cell Therapies, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing autologous neuron replacement therapies, reported new Phase 1b/2a clinical and neuroimaging data demonstrating sustained motor improvements in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
The study, conducted in collaboration with the Neuroregeneration Institute at McLean Hospital within Mass General Brigham, evaluated Oryon’s autologous dopaminergic neuron replacement therapy. Participants received unilateral neuronal implants, with results showing improved motor function and imaging evidence consistent with restoration of dopaminergic signaling in the treated regions of the brain.
The findings were presented in an oral session at the AD/PD 2026 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and Related Neurological Disorders in Copenhagen by Dr. Penelope Hallett, Co-Director of the Neuroregeneration Institute at McLean.
According to the company, the therapy has been well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported to date. All participants demonstrated early and meaningful motor improvements, with continued gains observed beyond six months. Imaging data showed increased dopaminergic activity on the implanted side of the brain, aligning with functional improvements, and patients also reported improved quality of life as measured by the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39.
Interim results from the first five participants showed reductions in OFF-state MDS-UPDRS Part III motor scores ranging from approximately 29 percent to 62 percent from baseline at six to 18 months following treatment. Improvements were observed across key motor symptoms, including bradykinesia, rigidity, and gait. Several participants also experienced reductions in levodopa equivalent daily dose, indicating decreased reliance on standard dopamine-replacement therapies.
“These results provide encouraging evidence that replacing dopaminergic neurons may restore biological function in Parkinson’s disease,” said Dr. Hallett. “The alignment of clinical improvements, imaging evidence of dopaminergic activity, and reduced medication use suggests that the implanted neurons are integrating into the brain’s circuitry and helping restore function lost to the disease.”
Neuroimaging using dopamine transporter DaT-SPECT showed marked increases in dopaminergic signal within transplanted brain regions. In one patient, signal in the implanted putamen increased more than five-fold at six months compared to baseline, while the untreated side showed a decline.
“We are encouraged by these data from the first cohort in this clinical trial who received unilateral neuronal implants,” said Nikola Kojic, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Oryon. “In collaboration with the team at Mass General Brigham, we expect to begin bilateral implantations in a second cohort this quarter to test the hypothesis that outcomes will improve even further compared to those seen with unilateral implants.”
Oryon’s therapy is derived from a patient’s own blood cells, which are reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells and then differentiated into dopaminergic neurons. These cells are implanted into the putamen, a brain region central to Parkinson’s motor symptoms. Because the therapy uses autologous cells, it does not require immunosuppression.
