The TransEuro open-label trial of human fetal ventral mesencephalic transplantation in patients with moderate Parkinson’s disease

• DOI: 10.1038/s41587-025-02567-2
• Publication Date: 2025-05-02T11:03:58Z
• Authors: Roger A. Barker; Nicholas P. Lao-Kaim; Natalie Valle Guzman; Dilan Athauda; Hjalmar Bjartmarz; Anders Björklund; Alistair Church; Emma Cutting; Danielle Daft; Viswas Dayal; Stephen Dunnett; Amy Evans; Shane Grealish; Naomi Hannaway; Xiaoling He; Sam Hewitt; Zinovia Kefalopoulou; Philipp Mahlknecht; Antonio Martín-Ba...; Krista Farrell; Sarah Moore; Harry Bulstrode; Tagore Nakornchai; Jenny Nelander-Wa...; Linnea Roupé; Gesine Paul; Kathryn Peall; Anne Rosser; Adriana Roca-Fern...; Sophie Rowlands; Anne-Marie McGorrian; Caroline Scherf; Ngoc Nga Vinh; Victoria Roberton; Claire Kelly; Mariah Lelos; Eduardo Torres; Kate Shires; Rachel Hills; Debbie Williams; Andreas-Antonios ...; Krista Sibley; Pamela Tyers; Ruwani Wijeyekoon; Caroline Williams...; Thomas Foltynie; Paola Piccini; Robert Morris; Stanley E. Lazic; Olle Lindvall; Malin Parmar; Hakan Widner; ; Hakan Widner; Hjalmar Bjartmarz; Anders Björklund; Olle Lindvall; Jenny Nelander-Wa...; Linnea Roupé; Malin Parmar; Gesine Paul
• Keywords: Fetal Tissue Transplantation

Abstract Transplantation of human fetal ventral mesencephalic tissue in individuals with Parkinson’s disease has yielded clinical benefits but also side effects, such as graft-induced dyskinesias. The open-label TransEuro trial ( NCT01898390 ) was designed to determine whether this approach could be further developed into a clinically useful treatment. Owing poor availability tissue, only 11 were grafted at two centers using the same preparation protocol different implantation devices. No overall effect seen for primary endpoint 3 years after grafting. major dyskinesias seen, we observed differences outcome related transplant device and/or site. Mean dopamine uptake improved 18 months seven according [ F]fluorodopa positron emission tomography imaging restored near-normal levels one individual. Our findings highlight need stem cell source neurons potential therapy and provide critical insights how studies should approached.