Frequently Asked Questions
The Answers You Need
Why do we need to treat Down Syndrome in utero? Why not postnatally?
Research has shown that the neurodegeneration that occurs in Down Syndrome patients is a result of malformation of critical structures in the brain that are developed at birth. By treating these brains while they are developing, we can prevent such symptoms from ever occurring. Also, the fetal brain is incredibly elastic, meaning that treatments in the womb are much more effective because it is growing and changing at such a fast rate.
Wouldn't gene editing be a more natural solution to Down Syndrome?
Although Down Syndrome is caused by a well-understood mutation - an extra copy of Chromosome 21 - given the fact that adults with Down Syndrome are three times happier and five times more satisfied with their appearance than other Americans, it is clear that most people with Down Syndrome don't wish they had been born without it. By preserving the typical Down Syndrome phenotype and not interfering with the parts of the brain that determine personality, Infastem conserves the positive aspects of Down Syndrome while eliminating the negative health effects.
Is amniocentesis safe?
Amniocentesis has a very low risk of miscarriage—between 0.1 and 0.3%. Infastem does not perform amniocentesis before week 15 of pregnancy to insure the greatest possible degree of safety for you and your child.
Are there any side effects to the prenatal treatment?
Infastem prenatal stem cell therapy is very safe. Because the amniotic fluid actually contains the fetus's DNA, there is no risk of the fetus rejecting the cells. There is also no risk of cancer, as the stem cells used cannot form brain tumors. The only known side effect is fetal brain bleeding, which is extremely rare, and will most likely be caught by a post-treatment ultrasound before any brain damage can occur.
What about other neurological diseases?
Currently, we are only treating Down Syndrome. In the future, Infastem Therapeutics will expand treatments to include other congenital neurological disorders including Tay-Sachs, Spina Bifida, and Fragile X Syndrome.