Stem Cell Clinic

Scientists Find New Way to Up Safety Factor of Stem Cell Therapy by Causing Contaminated Cells to Purge Themselves

By Stem Cell Clinic

Reporting in the October issue of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, researchers at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., think they might have found a low-cost, highly-effective way to detect and then purge at-risk cells during an early stage in the differentiation process.

Durham, NC (PRWEB) September 27, 2012

Now, researchers at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., think they might have found an answer. Reporting in the October issue of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, they detail a low-cost, highly-effective way to detect and then purge at-risk cells during an early stage in the differentiation process.

Strategies to improve the safety of stem cell therapy have generally focused on separating or depleting damaged cells after the cells have differentiated. However, while this method was able to diminish the number of tumors formed as well as significantly reduce their size, the technical burdens and cost of specialized reagents and equipment needed to do so remain a challenge for widespread clinical applications, says lead investigator Timothy J. Nelson, M.D., Ph.D. He directs the cell biology group within the clinics Regenerative Strategies team.

Instead, the Mayo team turned to a relatively simple protocol that involves pre-treating cultured stem cells with a genotoxin an agent that sniffs out gene mutations or chromosomes changes in contaminated cells and kills them after first priming the cells through the up-regulation of Puma protein, which can be activated to send a series of signals leading to cell suicide. They tested their theory using stem cells taken from a mouse model.

The results showed that not only did the contaminated cells die off, At the same time, it didnt affect the remaining healthy cells capability to differentiate nor did it have any negative consequence on their genomic stability, Nelson says. And it worked on stem cells derived from both natural and bioengineered sources.

This novel strategy, based on innate mechanisms of pluripotent stem cells, is primed for high-throughput and cost-effective clinical translation.

The potential for tumor formation has been a significant drawback to therapeutic use of certain cell populations, said Anthony Atala, M.D., Editor of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine and director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The strategy outlined in this manuscript shows promise for avoiding the risk of uncontrolled cell growth upon transplantation.

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The full article, Apoptotic susceptibility to DNA damage of pluripotent stem cells facilitates pharmacologic purging of teratoma risk, can be accessed at: http://www.StemCellsTM.com.

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Scientists Find New Way to Up Safety Factor of Stem Cell Therapy by Causing Contaminated Cells to Purge Themselves

Celprogen Obtained US Patent (US8,236,297B2) Method of Treating Lactose Intolerance Utilizing Genetically Engineered …

By Uncategorized

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Celprogen Inc., a leader in the Stem Cell Research and Therapeutics industry for the development of stem cell technologies for regenerative medicine, today announced that they obtained a Patent for Treating Lactose Intolerance Utilizing Genetically Engineered Bacteria US8,236,297B2. Acquired lactase deficiency is the most common disorder of complex carbohydrate absorption throughout the world, affecting 75% of world population. In the United States 15% of Caucasians, over 50% of Hispanics and over 80% of African-Americans suffer from lactose intolerance.

The present invention relates to genetically engineered bacteria that are able to colonize the mammalian intestine and actively produce mammalian lactase. This lactose-digesting enzyme is stable and active under the conditions normally found in the mammalian small intestine. Experimental subjects colonized with the genetically engineered bacteria show improved ability to digest lactose in dairy foods.

About Celprogen Inc.

Celprogen Inc. is a global Stem Cell Research & Therapeutics company which is developing a proprietary portfolio of unique therapeutics products and life science research tools that includes genetic engineering technologies, stem cell technologies for regenerative medicine, as well as bio-engineering products for tissue & organ transplants. Headquartered in San Pedro, California, Celprogen is committed to the research, development, and manufacture of quality Stem Cell, Cancer Stem Cell and Primary Cell Culture products to serve our global community. Additional information about Celprogen is available at http://www.celprogen.com.

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Celprogen Obtained US Patent (US8,236,297B2) Method of Treating Lactose Intolerance Utilizing Genetically Engineered ...

New Edition of Definitive (Two-Volume) Resource in Stem Cells Released Today

By Uncategorized

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACT; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that its chief scientific officer, Robert Lanza, M.D. and Anthony Atala, M.D., W.H. Boyce Professor and Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, have released the second edition of Handbook of Stem Cells (Academic Press/Elsevier), the widely-recognized definitive resource in the field of stem cells. It includes a Forward by Professor Sir Martin Evans, Ph.D., FRS, co-winner of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2007. Sir Martin is credited with discovering embryonic stem cells and is considered one of the chief architects of the field of stem cell research. The two-volume set also includes contributions from dozens of stem cell pioneers, including James Thomson, Shinya Yamanaka, Doug Melton, Janet Rossant, and Robert Langer (a member of ACTs board of directors), among others, as well as patient advocate Mary Tyler Moore.

Handbook of Stem Cells, Second Edition follows a very successful edition published in 2004. The first edition was the first comprehensive body of work dedicated entirely to the stem cell field. The two-volume set quickly became the most relevant textbook in the stem cell arena. Now, several years later, major advances have occurred, with entirely new classes of stem cells being described. The description of induced pluripotent cells in the last few years brought many more avenues of research and discovery. In 2012, the first paper reporting results of two patients treated with human embryonic stem cells was published by ACT and its collaborators. It might seem that we have waited too long to finally see pluripotent stem cells in the clinic. However, this has been accomplished with incredible speed when it is considered that hESCs were first isolated just 14 years ago. Handbook of Stem Cells integrates this exciting area, combining in two volumes the requisites for a general understanding of both adult and embryonic stem cells. Organized in two volumes, Pluripotent Stem Cells and Adult & Fetal Stem Cells, this work contains contributions from the world's experts in stem cell research to provide a description of the tools, methods, and experimental protocols needed to study and characterize stem cells and progenitor populations as well as a the latest information of what is known about each specific organ system.

The Handbook of Stem Cells, edited by Robert Lanza and colleagues, is an ambitious new text that achieves extraordinary completeness and inclusiveness, wrote Steve Goldman of University of Rochester Medical Center in NATURE CELL BIOLOGY about the first edition. [...] the editors have succeeded in putting together a reference that is broad enough in scope, but sufficiently detailed and rigorous, to be of real interest to both new and seasoned investigators in the field [...] In providing this treatise, which covers the history, biology, methods and applications of stem cells, the editors and authors have succeeded in establishing a conceptual framework and a common language for the field. In so doing, they have ensured that this two-volume set will serve as a benchmark reference in stem cell biology for years to come.

Writing about the first edition in the Times Higher Education Supplement, Ian Wilmut added, These books make an invaluable contribution to the education of researchers and clinicians both of the present day and of the future. They should be available in libraries of all biology and medical schools as well as those of companies and research institutions.

About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit http://www.advancedcell.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release regarding future financial and operating results, future growth in research and development programs, potential applications of our technology, opportunities for the company and any other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words will, believes, plans, anticipates, expects, estimates, and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including: limited operating history, need for future capital, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, protection of our intellectual property, and economic conditions generally. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the companys periodic reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the companys management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the companys management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. There can be no assurance that the Companys clinical trials will be successful.

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New Edition of Definitive (Two-Volume) Resource in Stem Cells Released Today

Medistem and Superview Biotechnology Co. Ltd. Initiate Collaboration on Therapeutics Development Using Antibody and …

By Uncategorized

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Medistem Inc (Pink Sheets:MEDS) announced today the initiation of a collaboration with Superview Biotechnology Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of Yinhuan Holding Co from Yixing, China. The joint work will be aimed at using proprietary stem cell lines developed by Medistem for screening of monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic activity in the area of regenerative medicine. As part of the collaboration, the two companies will evaluate various candidates jointly, as well as apply for grants and share research data.

To date, the majority of stem cell companies are focusing on the stem cell itself being a product. By collaborating with Superview Biotechnology, we aim to assess the feasibility of developing antibodies that can modulate the activity of stem cells that already exist in the body, said Thomas Ichim, CEO of Medistem. This approach not only provides methods of activating stem cells but also allows for the development of stem cell adjuvant therapies that could be used to resurrect stem cell candidates that failed in clinical trials.

Superview Biotechnology has developed proprietary methods of rapidly generating monoclonal antibodies to esoteric protein targets. Medistem has a history of success in the area of stem cells, being the only company to take a stem cell product from discovery to FDA clearance in the short span of 4 years.

One of the significant driving forces behind our company is to develop innovative targets for our monoclonal antibodies. Although monoclonal antibodies have generated sales of billions of dollars in areas ranging from rheumatoid arthritis, to cancer, to preventing blindness, we feel that the potential of this therapeutic tool is only beginning to be recognized, said Jiong Wu, CEO of Superview Biotechnology. Our opinion is that the barriers to entry for monoclonal antibody-based therapies modulating endogenous stem cells is lower than stem cell based therapies. We are eager to work with the Medistem team at exploring this hypothesis.

A joint grant is expected to be filed with the National Natural Science Foundation of China to support part of the proposed collaboration by end of October, 2012.

Cautionary Statement

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of our securities. This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking information. Factors which may cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements are discussed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Medistem and Superview Biotechnology Co. Ltd. Initiate Collaboration on Therapeutics Development Using Antibody and ...

Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) Product Market Fastest Growing Area of Stem Cell Research

By Stem Cell Treatment

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) September 30, 2012

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types, including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myocytes, adipocytes, beta-pancreatic islets cells, and even neural cells. MSCs are of intense therapeutic interest because they represent a population of cells with the potential to treat a wide range of acute and degenerative diseases and are immuno-privileged, which makes them an advantageous cell type for allogenic transplantation.

In the market research report Mesenchymal Stem Cells Advances & Applications, trend analysis of grant activity, publications, and patent applications reveals that global research activity involving MSCs increased by 112% from 2009 to 2010, and by 116% from 2010 to 2011. This rate accelerated throughout 2011, positioning mesenchymal stem cells as the fastest growing area of stem cell research for 2012.

While competitors are guessing, this report divulges exactly where to focus R&D and marketing spend to create the most profitable MSC research products. A key element of this report is survey findings from a large population of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) researchers that reveals:

It is also important for bio-pharmaceutical and pharma companies interested in MSC therapy applications to understand underlying market forces, and in particular, to consider progressive areas of MSC research as opportunistic areas for drug and therapy development. The report presents a range of topics of interest to these companies as well, including how advances in MSC research can reveal potential new drug targets, improve methods of drug delivery, and provide personalized treatment strategies.

Highlights include:

It was compiled using a broad range of sources, including:

To summarize, the market intelligence report Mesenchymal Stem Cells Advances & Applications identifies recent advances in MSC research applications, explores research priorities by market segment, highlights individual labs and end-users of MSC research products, explores the competitive environment for MSC research products, and provides 5-year growth and trend analysis. It is your guide for how to profit from the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) product market the fastest growing area of stem cell research.

Buy your copy of the report @ http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/10598-mesenchymal-stem-cells-advances-applications.html.

Explore more reports on the Stem Cell Market and Biotechnology Industry.

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Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) Product Market Fastest Growing Area of Stem Cell Research

Jamie Inglis undergoes pioneering stem cell treatment

By Stem Cell Treatment

Jamie Inglis undergoes pioneering stem cell treatment

10:06am Saturday 29th September 2012 in News By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk

Jamie Inglis smiles from his hospital bed in Germany

JAMIE INGLIS would love to join the children in the colourful playroom on the other side of the hospital corridor.

He would like to play with his new friend, Ryan, who he has painted a picture for and who has waved at him from the doorway but who wasnt allowed to come in. He would like to spend longer looking for spiders outside.

Instead, to guard against possible infection and to stay near to medical treatment, the seven-year-old spends every day in the sunny bedroom that could belong to any boy if it wasnt for the drip, monitors and medical equipment standing alongside his Batman posters, bright paintings, action models and cuddly toys.

Jamie has a little more freedom than a few weeks ago when, for a month, he was kept in isolation in a sealed room, which his parents had to be disinfected and wear gowns to enter.

Now, as long as he puts on a mask and a hat to protect him from the cold, he is allowed to slowly pad through the hospital corridors on legs weak from not walking, and travel the short distance to the hospital-owned Elternhaus where his parents, Vicky and John, are staying close to the childrens hospital in Tubingen, near Stuttgart.

Jamie is undergoing pioneering treatment that could save his life, but which is unavailable in the UK. The medical trial, led by world expert Professor Peter Lang and his colleagues, has seen Johns stem cells transplanted into his sons system in order to create a new immune system to help his body fight the cancer he was first diagnosed with at the age of three and which returned this year.

There can be fewer more charming children than Jamie, whose beaming smile wins the hearts of everyone he meets, from his nurses to the hospital teacher.

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Jamie Inglis undergoes pioneering stem cell treatment

Gazette.Net: Names & Faces

By Stem Cell Medical Center

Howard

Osiris Therapeutics of Columbia named Hans Klingemann a director, succeeding Gregory H. Barnhill, who died. Klingemann is director of the bone marrow and stem cell transplant program at Tufts Medical Center in Boston and a professor of medicine at Tufts University Medical School.

Chrysalis Holdings of Fulton named Joseph J. Murin chairman, succeeding Paul Thompson III, who remains on the board. Chrysalis also named Murin president of its NewDay USA. Previously, Murin was president of the Government National Mortgage Association, CEO at National Real Estate Information Services, and co-founder and vice chairman of the Collingwood Group.

The Maryland Association of Realtors named David McIlvaine Sr. its 2012 Realtor of the Year. McIlvaine is an associate broker for Keller Williams Select Realtors in Ellicott City.

CCS Mid-Atlantic of Columbia named Roxann Gardner of Ellicott City an account manager. Previously, Gardner was sales director at Fairfield Inn & Suites and president of Network Referral Group. CCS also named Win Anderson a sales representative for Virginia.

Mount St. Mary's University of Emmitsburg named William E. Davies of Harrisburg, Pa., vice president for business and finance. Previously, Davies was CFO and treasurer at the Milton Hershey School and Hershey Trust, and also worked for Hershey Entertainment & Resorts.

Capital Bank of Rockville named Edward Barry CEO, succeeding Stephen Ashman, who remains chairman. Previously, Barry worked for Capital One Bank, Bank of America and Ernst & Young.

Miller, Miller & Canby of Rockville named Helen Whelan a principal in its estates and trusts practice group. Previously, Whelan practiced with Elville & Associates.

Insurance Associates of Rockville named Lexi Stock marketing manager and William Westner claims consultant. Previously, Westner was a claims adjuster at Banner Life.

Ballard Spahr named Debbie A. Klis of counsel and a member of its business and finance department and its investment management, mergers and acquisitions/private equity, securities and tax groups in its Bethesda office.

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Gazette.Net: Names & Faces

FDA Approves Stemedica IND Application for Stemedyne(TM)-MSC In Cutaneous Photoaging

By Stem Cell Treatment

SAN DIEGO, Calif., Sept. 28, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc., a leader in adult allogeneic stem cell manufacturing, research and development, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its application for an Investigational New Drug (IND) to assess the safety, tolerability and clinical effects of Stemedyne-MSC (Stemedica's human bone marrow-derived ischemia tolerant mesenchymal cells) in subjects with cutaneous photoaging resulting from overexposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Curt M. Littler, M.D., F.A.A.D., dermatologist at Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, Inc., is the principal investigator of the study. Dr. Littler commented, "This study is an important step forward in the field of dermatology. Photoaging is a universal condition. Damage from the sun's rays alters the skin's underlying structures, such as collagen, elastin, and blood vessels, and contributes to the creation of abnormal epidermal cells, which can become precancerous. By administering stem cells systemically, this study has the potential to target skin damage throughout the body and promises to pave the way for new treatment approaches for photoaged skin."

The IND approval allows Stemedica to initiate a clinical trial at medical centers within the United States. The clinical trial will be a Phase I/IIa multi-center open-label study involving 30-35 subjects with significant cutaneous photodamage.

"The FDA's approval of Stemedica's IND for the treatment of photoaging with our Stemedyne-MSCs is a significant milestone not only for Stemedica, but for the whole skin healthcare industry," said Nikolai Tankovich, M.D., Ph.D., Stemedica's President and Chief Medical Officer. "This is the first clinical trial approved for the systemic treatment of aging skin utilizing intravenous administration of stem cells. " Dr. Tankovich added "Our internal organ health is reflected in the appearance of our skin. In this clinical trial, we will be following systemic indicators such as liver panel and kidney function. We are encouraged that the FDA acknowledges cutaneous photoaging as a medical indication and that potential treatments should be regulated as a drug."

Lev Verkh, Ph.D., Stemedica's Chief Regulatory and Clinical Development Officer, commented, "With photoaging, we lose certain proteins that affect the health and appearance of our skin. For the first time in a clinical trial we can address the underlying biological changes of the skin to slow down this process and repair the changes of aging."

Stemedyne-MSC is one of the three adult allogeneic adult stem cell products developed by the Company. Other products include Stemedyne-NSC neural human stem cells and Stemedyne-RPE retinal progenitor epithelial cells available in early 2013. All Stemedica products are unique in their ability to tolerate ischemic conditions.

About Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc.

Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. is a specialty bio-pharmaceutical company that is committed to the manufacturing and development of best-in-class allogeneic adult stem cells and stem cell factors for use by approved research institutions and hospitals for pre-clinical and clinical (human) trials. The company is a government licensed manufacturer of clinical grade stem cells and is approved by the FDA for its clinical trial for ischemic stroke. Stemedica is currently developing regulatory pathways for a number of medical indications using adult allogeneic stem cells. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California.

For more information regarding Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc., contact Dave McGuigan at dmcguigan (at) Stemedica.com.

This article was originally distributed on PRWeb. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.prweb.com/releases/Stemedica-FDA-IND/stemedyne-photoaging/prweb9954537.htm

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FDA Approves Stemedica IND Application for Stemedyne(TM)-MSC In Cutaneous Photoaging

Purging Stem Cells To Make Therapy Safer

By Stem Cell Treatment

Featured Article Academic Journal Main Category: Stem Cell Research Also Included In: Biology / Biochemistry Article Date: 28 Sep 2012 - 1:00 PDT

Current ratings for: Purging Stem Cells To Make Therapy Safer

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The study appears in a 27 September issue of the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine.

iPS cells have properties similar to embryonic stem cells, which are "master cells" with an unlimited capacity to differentiate into any type of tissue in the body, such as brain, lung, skin, heart, and liver. Thus their potential in regenerative medicine, where damaged or diseased tissue can be repaired or replaced by growing new tissue, is huge, as senior author Timothy Nelson explains in a press release:

"Pluripotent stem cells show great promise in the field of regenerative medicine; however, the risk of uncontrolled cell growth will continue to prevent their use as a therapeutic treatment."

Nelson is Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology and works in the General Internal Medicine department and the Transplant Center at the Mayo.

The idea of using iPS cells is for doctors to be able to take some adult tissue, for example skin cells, from the patient who needs the treatment, and then turn the cells from that tissue into iPS cells.

Then, those iPS cells are coaxed to turn into the target type of cell, for instance lung cells. As a result of the coaxing the iPS cells turn into (differentiate) the target tissue type.

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Purging Stem Cells To Make Therapy Safer

The great stem cell dilemma

By Stem Cell Treatment

By Jeffrey M. O'Brien, contributor

Stem cells stored in liquid nitrogen at Advanced Cell Technology in Marlborough, Mass.

FORTUNE -- Imagine yourself the proud but rueful owner of an ancient Jaguar. Every day you dread the uncertainty that comes with trying to get from here to there -- there, more often than not, being the shop. No sooner does one ailment find repair than another appears. At best, it's a slow, uncomfortable ride. Lonely too. There's really no one around who fully understands your plight.

That is how Patricia Riley describes life in a 95-year-old body. Riley, who reached that milestone birthday last St. Patrick's Day, lives alone in the same 1,100-square-foot house in Plainfield, Conn., that she's called home for 64 years, having survived her husband (heart disease), a daughter (breast cancer), and every friend she ever had. "All the people I knew have all gone, Jeffrey," she says in a quivering voice laced with melancholy. "They've all died. I go to church and I never see people my age." Her remaining family includes two daughters, five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren, including my two young sons. In a nod to her French-Canadian heritage, we call her Mme.

Mme attributes her longevity to good genes, but she clearly owes a debt to modern medicine. Over the years she's had a cholecystectomy, a hysterectomy, esophageal surgery, a stroke, and ulcerative colitis. Lately she relies on a cane and a walker, and her daily regimen includes pain pills for arthritis, two inhalers for asthma, high-blood-pressure meds, a statin, vitamins, digestion aids, and an anti-anxiety drug that she calls "my nerve pill." Her vision also comes courtesy of medical science. Three years ago Mme was diagnosed with a form of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, a disease of the back of the retina that is the leading cause of vision loss in the developed world. The ophthalmologist gave her a choice: a needle into her eyeballs every six weeks, or blindness. Mme opted for the injections and now receives shots of an off-label cancer drug called Avastin, which has demonstrated efficacy in halting the progress of her type of AMD. Holding the ailment at bay is all she can hope for. "I'll have to go for as long as I live," she says. "It's just a treatment -- it's not a cure."

Treatments, not cures. This, in a nutshell, is the MO of our health care system, and it's precisely the reason that regenerative medicine -- and stem cell therapy in particular -- has been the subject of so much hope and hype over the past decade or so. Stem cell therapies promise to empower a body to fight ailments by enabling it to build new parts. Think about growing new neurons or heart tissue. Think about the difference between perpetually slathering that old Jag with Bondo and having it heal itself overnight in the garage.

MORE:Stem cell dollars: California leads the way

While stem cells have ignited plenty of religious outrage and political grandstanding, behind the headlines the underlying science has been advancing the way science often does -- by turns slowly and dramatically. To be clear, the earliest stem cell therapies are almost certainly years from distribution. But so much progress has been made at venerable research institutions that it now seems possible to honestly discuss the possibility of a new medical paradigm emerging within a generation. Working primarily with rodents in preclinical trials, MDs and Ph.D.s are making the paralyzed walk and the impotent virile. A stem cell therapy for two types of macular degeneration recently restored the vision of two women. Once they were blind. Now they see! Some experts assert that AMD could be eradicated within a decade. Other scientists are heralding a drug-free fix for HIV/AIDS. Various forms of cancer, Parkinson's, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and ALS have already been eradicated in mice. If such work translates to humans, it will represent the type of platform advancement that comes along in medicine only once in a lifetime or two. The effect on the economy would be substantial. Champions of stem cell research say it would be on the order of the Internet or even the transistor.

The obstacles along the road from lab rat to human patients are many, of course, but the biggest by far is money. With the dramatic events in the lab, you might think that a gold rush would be under way. That's far from true. Long time horizons, regulatory hurdles, huge R&D costs, public sentiment, and political headwinds have all scared financiers. Wall Street isn't interested in financing this particular dream. Most stem cell companies that have dared go public are trading down 90% or more from their IPOs. Sand Hill Road is AWOL. The National Venture Capital Association doesn't even have a category to track stem cell investments.

Big Pharma would seem to be the most obvious benefactor. The drug companies understand the complexities (and billion-dollar outlays) involved in bringing therapies to market. A few drug companies have kicked the tires on stem cells over the years, but waiting for them to undo the current model is akin to banking on Big Oil to rethink energy. They may do it, but it's unlikely to be by choice. Which leaves stem cell researchers begging for state and federal grants at a time scientific funding is under siege.

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The great stem cell dilemma

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