(Reuters) - BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc received approval from Israel's Health Ministry for a clinical trial of its adult stem cell therapy for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

"The trial represents a significant step forward in our goal of using stem cells with neuro restoration capabilities to treat ALS," Adrian Harel, acting CEO of BrainStorm, said on Tuesday.

BrainStorm expects to begin treating patients in the coming weeks and will work with Jerusalem's Hadassah Medical Center.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February granted orphan drug designation to the company's NurOwn adult stem cell product for the treatment of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

The initial phase of the study is designed to establish the safety of NurOwn and will later be expanded to assess efficacy.