Cardiovascular Stem Cell Therapy Patient
On March 27, 2007, Mr. Robinson of Georgia, then 58 years old, suffered a severe heart attack. He felt stabbing pains between his shoulder blades and a scan verified substantial heart muscle damage.
Arshed Quyyumi, M.D., of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, explained to Mr. Robinson that such weakness of the heart can lead to congestive heart failure and possibly death. With that grim knowledge, Don enlisted in a Phase I clinical trial of a product candidate called AMR-001, sponsored by the biotechnology company Amorcyte(now a wholly owned subsidiary of NeoStem). The therapy used his own adult stem cells to try to prevent further heart damage. Clinicians extracted bone marrow from Mr. Robinson’s hip, purified it, isolated the cells intended to enhance blood vessel formation, and administered the cells back into his damaged artery via a catheter, thereby preserving at-risk muscle tissue and protecting it from further damage.
The overall outcome was that there appeared to be improved blood supply to the area affected by the heart attack. Six months later, a scan showed additional active muscle. Now, 6 years after the treatment, Don has energy and can feel the difference. He now describes his post-heart attack lifestyle by saying that aside from the normal effects of aging; it is no different than before the heart attack.
Mr. Robinson has owned and managed Laurel Mountain Cabins, a vacation rental business in Hiawassee in the North Georgia Mountains, for 12 years. He is married with two children.