ALS advocate. NurOwn Works and should already have FDA approval.

Joined October 2013
139 Photos and videos
Kandy Simons retweeted
Brainstorm announced its 15 Phase 3B trial sites in US. ALS Trial called "ENDURANCE" clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT… I know multiple people who HALTED their progression on #NurOwn in Phase 2, Phase 3A and EAP. It may not work on everyone, but it has given many people more time to spend with their families. If I were newly diagnosed with #ALS, I would move heaven & earth to enroll in this trial. TRIAL DETAILS: • 24 wk Trial • 50-50 placebo • 24 wk Open Label Extension where everyone gets the therapy LOCATIONS: • AZ- Barrow Neuro (Phoenix) • CA - UC San Diego • CA - USC (Los Angeles) • CA - California Pacific Medical Center • CA - UC San Francisco • CO - U Colorado Anschutz • FL - Nova Southeastern U (Ft. Lauderdale) • FL - Mayo (Jacksonville) • FL - U of South Florida (Tampa) • IL - Northwestern Medicine (Chicago) • MA - Healey Ctr at MassGen (Boston) • MA - UMass Medical School (Worcester) • MN - Mayo Clinic (Rochester) • OR - Providence ALS Center (Portland) • PA - Temple (Philadelphia) Trial is NOT yet recruiting. Anticipated start date June 30, 2025 Anticipated completion date = 2029 Thank you @BrainstormCell for never giving up on the ALS Community. NurOwn is an autologous mesenchymal stem cell therapy (made from your own stem cells) derived from a bone marrow aspiration. They are sent to a lab and treated with neurotrophic factors then reinjected directly into the CSF where it can work directly on the damaged motor neurons. #EndALS $BCLI #MND #alsawarenessmonth #ALSAwareness #LouGehrigsDisease #Neurotwitter #Neurology #Neurodegenerative #stemcells #RegenerativeMedicine #stemcelltherapy
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Kandy Simons retweeted
"We are not data & numbers & spreadsheets. We are human beings with no hope to survive. #ALS is 100% fatal. If you have the power to change that, there should be no hesitation." ~ @JamieRoseBerryy Delays have consequences. 💔Jamie died on November 9, 2022 -- without ever getting to #NurOwn, the mesenchymal stem cell therapy that has given so many others years more time with their families. #LivingLongerLivingBetter #EndALS #ALSAwarenessMonth #ALSawareness #LouGehrisDisease @MartyMakary @DrMakaryFDA @VPrasadMDMPH @SecKennedy @POTUS
“Never has so much been owed to so few, by so many.” youtu.be/dj86R_EpvMc The crazy thing is that #NurOwn would turn “few” into “many”, over time..it seems like a no-brainer. Retweet this video. It’s time for change. Doing NOTHING will get us all killed. #DyingWaiting
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Kandy Simons retweeted
Anguished words from my dear friend @KandySimons. Her 27 yr old son Kade died of #ALS because he couldn't get more of the #stemcell therapy that was helping him live. "We knew #NurOwn worked for Kade when he was in the trial in 2019. When the trial was unblinded in December 2023, #Mayo confirmed he did in fact receive NurOwn. The FDA has done all it can to keep this promising treatment out of dying bodies. Imagine knowing a treatment worked for you and you have no way to access it. It’s wrong and inhumane. Kade died waiting for this treatment and I will never be able to forget those in powerful positions making these deadly decisions as if we didn’t matter. They wouldn’t listen. They ignored us. We don’t need drugs in bodies tomorrow in 'rare' diseases. We needed drugs in bodies yesterday." regulations.gov/comment/FDA-… Kandy spoke at the FDA AdComm for 3 minutes... 3 minutes to fight for her son's life. She also filed this detailed Public Comment -- with videos -- all of which the FDA ignored. An NCAA college baseball player, Kade was diagnosed with #ALS at just 21 yrs old. So when @MLB celebrates #LouGehrig's Day on June 2nd, remember that Kade died at 27 because the FDA blocked his access to the therapy he knew was helping him live. @MartyMakary @SecKennedy @HeidiOverton @vincehaley @theomerkel @ScottCentorino #JuvenileALS #EndALS #neurotwitter #Neurology $BCLI #SomeIsEnough #RareDiseases #stemcells @SenatorLankford @SenMullin @TomColeOK04 @SenAmyKlobuchar @SenatorWicker @ChrisCoons @lisamurkowski @LeaderJohnThune @SenBillCassidy @SenLBR @RepDianaDeGette @RepGuthrie @DorisMatsui @DrNealDunnFL2 @RepGusBilirakis @RepSchakowsky @RepMikeQuigley @BioCentury @biospace @TheWeekendMSNBC @ChrisCuomo @AC360 @andersoncooper @TheView @Alyssafarah @ananavarro @60Minutes @Nightline @TheTodayShow @jimmykimmel @RealEricDane @ReeseW @lindseyvonn @youralsnetwork @iamalsorg @LG4Day @Kurkjian_ESPN @ChuckHabz @pjgreen @MandyBell02 @DHallDbacks @SlangsOnSports
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Kandy Simons retweeted
Replying to @DrCatharineY
"Lives lost every month that we are delayed." Agreed. NIH funding must be restored immediately. But we also must stop blindly trusting the FDA and instead start asking how many lives are lost because of the delay caused by the FDA's Type II errors? Tragically, over 6,000 people with 100% terminal #ALS have died waiting each year since 2015 because of the hubris & paternalism of @FDACBER. People at the FDA -- with ZERO expertise in ALS: • Ignored the opinions & clinical observations about efficacy from PI neurologists Tony Windebank of Mayo & Bob Brown of UMass who collectively have 500 peer reviewed studies and h-index scores of 92 & 133. • Ignored the opinion of the top ALS biomarker expert in the US, Bob Bowser of Barrow Neuro with 120 peer-reviewed studies ... a researcher so esteemed that he just received a one year $16.7M grant from NIH to create a national ALS research consortium. • Ignored the opinion of renowned biostatistician Lee Jen-Wei of Harvard who innovated a "totality of the evidence methodology appropriate for rare disease drug trials.... combined with his 300 peer-reviewed studies, this methodology earned him the Wilks Memorial award in 2009. • Failed to allow top biostatistician Don Berry to testify about adaptive Bayesian methodology in rare diseases. Dr. Berry has authored 400 peer-reviewed studies, and has an h-index of 133. He consulted with FDA’s CDRH to set scientific & quality standards for using a Bayesian approach -- but CBER's Celia Witten & Peter Marks didn't deem his opinion worth hearing. • Failed to allow Jesse Cedarbaum, a Yale neurologist, to testify about the flaws in the COA used for ALS trial endpoints -- even though Dr Cedarbaum designed the COA. Dr Cedarbaum has 30 yrs of drug development & trial experience, serves on the @NINDS ALS Common Data Elements Project & the @NIH Neuroscience Biomarkers Steering Committee.... but CBER's Celia Witten & Peter Marks didn't deem his opinion worth hearing. Meanwhile some people with ALS regained function with just 1 dose of a mesenchymal #stemcell therapy in the P2 in 2015... with 3 doses in the P3 in 2019-2020... with 7 doses via RTT in 2019-2020 ... and with 6 more doses in EAP in 2021-2022. And once again, CBER's Celia Witten & Peter Marks didn't deem their experiences worth believing. That's 54,000 lives lost prematurely -- so far -- because of the FDA's delay. @MartyMakary @SecKennedy @HeidiOverton @vincehaley @theomerkel @ScottCentorino @SenBillCassidy @ChrisCoons @SenTomCotton @SenWhitehouse @SenatorDurbin @lisamurkowski @SenatorWicker @SenAmyKlobuchar @SenTinaSmith @SenWarren @SenMarkey @SenMarkKelly @SenRubenGallego @SenatorBennet @SenBlumenthal @SenatorWarnock @ChrisVanHollen @SenatorShaheen @SenLBR @SenJackyRosen @SenJeffMerkley @SenSchumer @SenatorCantwell @SenAngusKing @JohnBoozman @SenJohnKennedy @SenatorCollins @MarshaBlackburn @SenCapito @johnthune @RepGuthrie @RepDianaDeGette @RepAndyHarrisMD @DrNealDunnFL2 @RepJohnJoyce @RepGregMurphy @RepMikeQuigley
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Kandy Simons retweeted
My Boy!! ❤️❤️💪👊🙏
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Kandy Simons retweeted
He passed so peacefully with Kandy and Kruz and my hands all on him in a beautiful place over looking the Vail mountains. He passed on his terms. He will be forever loved and missed. I can’t imagine going a day without him. I love you son.
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Kandy Simons retweeted
It is with the deepest sadness that I say my oldest son Kade has passed away this morning in Vail, Colorado. He was the most beautiful and toughest person that I have ever known. It gives me peace to know that he is in a much better place and not suffering anymore.
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Kandy Simons retweeted
#ALS It’s not just for “old white men” any longer. Never will be. Never was. @HerALSStory #EndALS #SundayMorning 💐
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Kandy Simons retweeted
Steve Gleason honored at the ESPYs with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, introduced by Drew Brees
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Kandy Simons retweeted
Average person with #ALS loses 1 pt/mo in function on the ALSFRS-R scale. Before the 1st #NurOwn injection, this trial participant was a “fast progressor,” losing 1.43 pts/mo. After receiving NurOwn, this person almost immediately HALTED THEIR PROGRESSION -- consistent with the testimony & “Real World Evidence” of other EAP & trial participants and trial PI Tony Windebank of @MayoClinic. This person was also a “Responder” as measured by the Primary Endpoint, which assessed whether someone had a large magnitude 1.25-point change in ALSFRS-R slope PER MONTH. This person’s change in slope was 1.52 pts PER MONTH – a massive slowing in disease progression. The statutory test for efficacy is whether a therapy has a “clinically meaningful” impact on how someone ”feels and functions.” In ALS, where 50% die in 18 months, nearly 10 points of preserved function over 6 months is not just clinically meaningful, it is life-changing. #NurOwnWorks. Our regulatory process doesn't. People with ALS are #DyingWaiting. @POTUS @VP @SecBecerra @DrCaliff_FDA @SenatorBraun @ChrisCoons @RepAnnaEshoo @cathymcmorris @SenSanders @SenBillCassidy @SenJohnThune @SenatorLankford @SenMullin @RepAndyHarrisMD @rosadelauro @RepSchakowsky @RepMikeQuigley @DorisMatsui @SenatorWicker @SenAmyKlobuchar @SenSchumer @SenGillibrand @RepJasonCrow @RepBarragan @RepLBR @RepJohnCurtis @RepGusBilirakis @RepPaulTonko #EndALS #LouGehrig
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Kandy Simons retweeted
More proof that #NurOwn works in #ALS! Biomarker paper published in @MuscleAndNerve 🔹CSF samples taken 7x during 28 wk trial to analyze impact of 3 doses on 45 pre-specified #biomarkers 🔹3 biomarkers were predictive of clinical outcomes: 1️⃣ Galcetin-1 ... (p=0.01) 2️⃣ LAP/TGFb1 ... (p=0.05) 3️⃣ Neurofilaments light (NfL) ... (p=0.05) 🔹With just 3 doses, NurOwn caused "significant changes" in 64% of the 45 biomarkers analyzed: 1️⃣ 89% neuroprotection 2️⃣ 63% neuroinflammation 3️⃣ 50% neurodegeneration 🔹With just 3 doses, "Debamestrocel significantly reduced NfL from baseline compared with placebo (11% vs. 1.6%, p = .037)" 🔹Senior authors on the study were trial PIs & renown #ALS specialists: Dr. Merit Cudkowicz of the Healey Center at @MGHMedicine & Dr. Bob Brown of @UMassChan According to PI & renowned specialist in #regenerative medicine, Dr. Anthony Windebank of @MayoClinic: "The publication of these findings is important, because it demonstrates a potential biologic mechanism by which modified mesenchymal #stemcells (debamestrocel) may benefit patients with ALS.... "There was a STRONG SIGNAL in the phase III trial suggesting a benefit of these cells in a sub-group of patients with less advanced disease...." Bravo @BrainstormCell Thank you for being the 1st company that had the foresight to analyze CSF biomarkers in #ALS across a trial's duration. Thank you @Cylebo for your commitment to the ALS community & your impact on changing the future of ALS research & clinical trials. ⬇️READ PAPER: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/… #neurotwitter #Neurology #LouGehrig #LouGehrigsDisease #EndALS #motorneurondisease #neurodegenerative
$BCLI Announces Peer-reviewed Publication of #Biomarker Data from NurOwn's® Phase 3 Clinical Trial in #ALS . NurOwn treatment resulted in a positive impact on important CSF biomarkers relevant to ALS compared to placebo. Publication is open-access. ir.brainstorm-cell.com/2024-…
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Kandy Simons retweeted
Had a medical emergency on a flight. Lessons learned from an OB anesthesiologist: 1. It’s helpful to carry your medical license / proof of being a physician. 2. You only get TWO (2) 22 gauge intravenous catheters! Not sure if this is standard. Pick your veins wisely. 3. You get a BP cuff, pulse oximeter and emergency meds 4. We only had 1 bag of IV fluids (500 cc normal saline)- slow / titrate your drip to effect - you will need to find a creative way to hang the fluids. We used a zip tie. 5. You are connected to a physician who helps triage emergencies on the ground to give sign out etc. You will need to make a decision to land at nearest airport or continue to destination. Thank you to the @AmericanAir flight attendants, captains and crew for the incredible support! 👊
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Kandy Simons retweeted
This is the Public Comment of CA's Eric Stevens talking about how NurOwn helped Eric halt his lethal progression. Eric's life depends on getting more NurOwn. regulations.gov/comment/FDA-… @stevens_nation @RepBarragan @SenAlexPadilla @Senlaphonza @espn @latimessports @ocregister @MaterDeiHS @MaterDeisports @MattBarkley @MattLeinartQB @_bryce_young @amonra_stbrown @ABCNewsLADesk @abc7 @abc7marc @ABC7Irene

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Kandy Simons retweeted
Too many young athletes being diagnosed with #ALS in their 20s & 30s, like @MaterDeiHS Coach Rodriguez. abc7.com/mater-dei-high-scho… He now joins young athletes like Eric Stevens, Kade Simons, Josh Smith, Matt Klingenberg, Ryan May, Coach Behan, Tyler Tidwell, Justin Rogers, Matt Bellina, Brian Wallach, Steve Gleason -- all diagnosed decades earlier than normal. Too many women under 35 like @SarahNauser, @SlangsOnSports, @ajcavaliere, Brooke Eby & the heroes in @HerALSStory. We need FDA to approve #NurOwn as it halted ALS progression in those who got it in Phase 3 & EAP. @MayoClinicNeuro Tony Windebank said he has never seen people stabilize like this in his 40 yr career. There is still hope to help Coach Rodriguez! abc7.com/mater-dei-high-scho…@espn @latimessports @MaterDeisports @MattBarkley @MattLeinartQB @_bryce_young @amonra_stbrown @ABCNewsLADesk @abc7 @abc7marc @ABC7Irene @stevens_nation @klink52 @KandySimons @Smithstrongmom1 @BridgetRebecca4 @limpbroozkit @BehanStrong @LorriCav @BellinaDeb @bsw5020 @TeamGleason @iamalsorg #EndALS #NurOwnWorks
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Kandy Simons retweeted
Good news! We know #NurOwn works. We're confident that a P3b trial will validate the #RealWorldEvidence that patients & Dr. Windebank shared at the September AdCom. #NurOwnWorks #stemcells #ALS #EndALS ir.brainstorm-cell.com/2024-…
We have submitted a (SPA) to the #FDA in connection with our Phase 3b study for #NurOwn for #ALS. The objective of this SPA request is to establish consensus with the FDA before the commencement of the study regarding the clinical trial design. bit.ly/49NiuuL
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Kandy Simons retweeted
To the few (real or alias) who ridicule, criticize, taunt and demean caregivers, advocates and pALS who want to live, I have a few comments and a question following: The reality is, @akjk, there are actually many pALS who choose to try and laugh every day. They choose to live each moment to its fullest, as best they can. They aren’t ready to give up and they choose to spend as much time with their loved ones or anyone who makes them happy, for as long as they could. Some want their loved ones to remember them for all the love, dignity, courage and strength they could muster, while fighting this monster. The sad and hard times are there of course, but shared privately. I’m sorry it’s not in you to do the same, but your seething anger and taunts in your posts make most people turn away, including the pALS and cALS who don’t need a reminder of how bad it really is. We all live with it, as well. In a disease fraught with heterogeneity, research has yielded very little. 165 years. I feel the blame is on the disease and its complexities, not the doctors….they just need to start changing course. Some dare to think outside the box and I applaud them and anyone in the community who makes a difference. Again, research will always be but let’s start using promisingly helpful treatments, if helpful even only to some. It’s time to change course. Question: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE HERE IN THE US, TO MOVE THE NEEDLE IN THIS DISEASE? @onein300 @VPResearch_ALS @kemenkhaus @BrownLN11 Finally, no one has a chance in hell of convincing us that the life of our kids, or ANYONE living with this disease, is worth sacrificing now, for what most likely, will never be. Fight your own fight while we will fight ours. Thank you again, @bsw5020 and @sabrevaya @iamalsorg @ALSMNDMamaBears @KandySimons @BellinaDeb @klink52 @BridgetRebecca4 @plainJaniexx @mattwoman @ginaGib68993499 @makerisafer @mustangshellyd @Smithstrongmom1 @nicolecimbura @FarberStacy @BartBaker @HaterAls @als_now @aVoice4ALS @MinoSean
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Kandy Simons retweeted
We are with you @sabrevaya. If you don’t have ALS, stay the hell out of this debate. We are one of the few who can say that Eric had NurOwn in his body. He wants & needs more. Let that be his choice, not yours. Until you’re dying, we don’t wanna hear from you. Just stop.
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Kandy Simons retweeted
RT: Today a committee with the @US_FDA will hear about a drug called #NurOwn It’s not only helped ALS patients, for some it’s REVERSED the progression. Once you watch my story you'll see why so many ALS patients are desperate to have access to this drug💔 wlwt.com/article/asl-treatme…
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