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Hey...Soccer Boy...as soon as I get the rest of the iboxes updated I'll pull information and add it to this ibox.
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
It's been moving nicely...;)
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
FACTBOX-Experiment gets science past stem cell stageBy: AFX | 27 Jan 2010 | 01:15 PM ET Text Size Jan 27 (Reuters) - U.S. researchers said on Wednesday they had transformed ordinary mouse skin cells directly into nerve cells in an experiment bypassing the stem cell stage. Scientists had been working to transform cells into stem cells first to accomplish this and a whole industry has arisen out of the technology, but so has considerable political debate. Following are some facts about stem cells: * Stem cells are the body's master cells, the source of all cells and tissue, including brain, blood, heart, bones and muscles. * Embryonic stem cells come from days-old embryos and can produce any type of cell in the body. * Scientists hope to harness the transformational qualities of stem cells to treat a variety of diseases, including injuries, cancer and diabetes. The experiment described in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature bypasses this step. * The use of embryonic stem cells has been controversial because some people believe the destruction of any human embryo is wrong. * President George W. Bush restricted the use of federal funds to only a few batches of already-existing human embryonic stem cells in 2001. President Barack Obama lifted the restriction in March and asked the National Institutes of Health to decide which embryonic stem cells could be used in federally funded research. * States including California, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Illinois, Massachusetts and New Jersey acted on their own to fund this research during the years of the Bush restrictions. The latest experiment was done at an institute at California's Stanford University set up under one such program. * A whole new industry is pursuing stem cell research, including companies such as Geron Corp, Stemcells Inc , Advanced Cell Technology, NeuralStem , Aastrom Biosciences Inc, Reneuron Group Plc , Osiris Therapeutics Inc, Neostem Inc, Cytori Therapeutics Inc, iZumi Bio Inc and International Stem Cell Corp. * Shinya Yamanaka and colleagues at Kyoto University in Japan discovered how to make embryonic-like cells from ordinary cells, called induced pluripotent stem cells, first in mice in 2006 and then using human cells in 2007. * Opponents of embryonic stem cell research say research can focus on iPS cells and adult stem cells, but most experts in the field agree that all approaches must be pursued. (Reporting by Maggie Fox in Washington; Editing by David Storey) ((For the main news story click on)) Keywords: STEMCELLS TRANSFORMATION/ (Maggie.Fox@ThomsonReuters.com; Washington bureau newsroom 202-898-8492) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved.
The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
NEWS:
ThermoGenesis Corp. to Announce Second Quarter Fiscal 2010 Results on February 4, 2010; Company Will Provide Update on Distributor Relationships
48 minutes ago - Pr Newswire
ThermoGenesis Corp. (Nasdaq: KOOL), a leading supplier of innovative products that process and store adult stem cells, announced today it will report financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended December 31, 2009, on Thursday, February 4, 2010. The Company will also provide an update on the status of its distributor relationships.
Company's Conference Call and Webcast
Management will host a conference call Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 2:00 PM Pacific (5:00 PM Eastern) to review the fiscal second quarter financial results.
The call can be accessed by dialing 1-800-860-2442 within the U.S. or 1-412-858-4600 outside the U.S. and referencing, "ThermoGenesis." Mr. J. Melville Engle, Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Matthew Plavan, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer will host the call to discuss the second quarter results and other corporate events, followed by a Q&A session. Participants are asked to call the assigned number approximately 5 minutes before the conference call begins.
To listen to the audio webcast of the call during or after the event, please visit: http://www.thermogenesis.com/investors-webcasts-and-calls.aspx.
Replay
A replay of the conference call will be available two hours after the call for the following five business days by dialing 1-877-344-7529 within the U.S. or 1-412-317-0088 outside the U.S. and entering the following account number when prompted '385107'.
About ThermoGenesis Corp.
ThermoGenesis Corp. (www.thermogenesis.com) is a leading supplier of innovative products and services that process and store adult stem cells for treatment of disease and injury.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, and such statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Several factors, including timing of FDA approvals, changes in customer forecasts, our failure to meet customers' purchase order and quality requirements, supply shortages, production delays, changes in the markets for customers' products, introduction timing and acceptance of our new products scheduled for fiscal years 2010, and introduction of competitive products and other factors beyond our control, could result in a materially different revenue outcome and/or in our failure to achieve the revenue levels we expect for fiscal 2010. A more complete description of these and other risks that could cause actual events to differ from the outcomes predicted by our forward-looking statements is set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K and other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, and you should consider each of those factors when evaluating the forward-looking statements.
ThermoGenesis Corp.
Web site: http://www.thermogenesis.com
Contact: Investor Relations
1-916-858-5107, or
ir@thermogenesis.com
Advancing Stem Cell Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis
UKSCF partners with MS Society to financially support clinical development.
Click to enlarge
Studies presented at LRMN’s conference detailed an immunomodulatory approach to treating MS and the possibility of targeting the Wnt pathway. (Orkhan Aslanov/Fotolia.com)
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Susan Aldridge, Ph.D.
The UK Stem Cell Foundation (UKSCF) and the Multiple Sclerosis Society joined forces to accelerate the transfer of stem cell science into the clinic to help patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Up to £1 million of seed funding is to be made available to applicants starting in September. The hope is to get Phase I/II trials of stem cells in MS under way over the next year or so, with initial results expected in 2012.
This is the first disease-specific collaboration for UKSCF, whose mission is to fund the gap between promising stem cell research and clinical trials. It was announced at a special meeting of the London Regenerative Medicine Network (LRMN) on January 14. “MS and advanced stem cell-based therapies—an ABC guide” was the first of a series of new disease-themed meetings to be hosted by LRMN.
“Everyone thinks there is potential for stem cell therapy in MS, but there have been some studies of dubious worth,” noted Mary Archer, UKSCF trustee and chairman of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. “Benefit will only be seen from long-term clinical trials. There is no shortcut, but we are seeking to accelerate the process by joining with the MS Society.”
Stem cell therapies for MS aim to prevent or repair the demyelination of nerve fibers, which is the hallmark of the disease. Two different approaches were described at the LRMN meeting. Professor Robin Franklin, director of the MS Society Cambridge Centre for Myelin Repair, explained that a major problem in MS is that the inherent regenerative process, which would otherwise remyelinate nerve fibers, is not sustained. Therapy could be based on either transplanting myelinogenic oligodendrocytes into the patient or on promoting remyelination by endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs).
Targeting the Wnt Pathway
As long ago as 1993, Franklin and colleagues were able to show remyelination in animals by transplanting NSCs. “We thought we were not far from transplantation, but there was a problem in obtaining cells from humans.” It was not until 2008 that Steve Goldman of the University of Rochester Medical Center showed that human NSCs can remyelinate the entire brain in a mouse model of a genetic demyelinating disease.
MS, however, is not genetic. It is an autoimmune disease, and transplanted cells are not likely to patch up damaged areas in this way. “We should be able to get the brain to repair the damage itself rather than use a transplant,” Franklin pointed out.
For this, we need a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of remyelination. There are two stages: recruitment of NSCs to the site of the injury, followed by the differentiation of the recruited cells into myelinating cells. “In MS, the cells get stuck and fail to differentiate into oligodendrocytes, which could repair the damage by producing myelin,” Franklin explained. He has therefore been looking at the two major pathways that play a role in this failure.
The well-known Wnt pathway inhibits NSC differentiation, and all the transcription factors involved have now been identified. One of these factors, Tcf4, looks like a significant player in MS. There is also a novel, lesser known pathway that induces NSC differentiation.
Franklin believes that small molecules might be able to drive these pathways toward differentiation and that candidates could come from oncology programs within pharma. Most colon cancers have a mutation within the Wnt pathway making it more active than it should be. “We do not need to start from ground zero in looking for a pharmacological approach to regenerative medicine; in MS we can move sideways,” Franklin commented. “We have become much more optimistic in the last 18 months.”
He added that human embryonic stem cells probably have more of a role in testing MS drugs compared to their therapeutic potential. “The U.K. is pretty much at the forefront in this,” according to Franklin. “Academia must now engage with industry, and this is starting to happen.”
Immunomodulatory Method
Professor Gianvito Martino, director of the division of neuroscience at the San Raffaele Research Institute, Milan, described an immunomodulatory approach to MS using stem cells, which relies on the fact that stem cells produce many different substances that promote tissue homeostasis. “Instead of mere cell replacement, we should focus on these properties,” Martino asserted.
A key issue is which stem cells to use for this purpose. More than 400 MS patients worldwide have received autologous bone marrow cells with the aim of modulating or re-setting the immune system. But the mortality rate in trials is still 1–2%. As a consequence, hematopoietic stem cell therapy in MS can be considered, so far, only as rescue therapy for the most aggressive forms of the disease, Martino explained. Autologous mesenchymal stem cells are being tested in Phase I in the U.K., Israel, and Germany.
NSCs can be obtained from fetal, embryonic, and adult sources, and Martino believes the former is currently the most promising. The timing and administration route of these fetal NSCs is crucial. They express many immune system molecules and therefore migrate in a similar way to immune cells. “We can use these properties and inject the cells into blood or cerebrospinal fluid, and they will find their way to the MS lesion,” Martino stated. Then the NSCs seek out inflammatory cells, producing substances that kill the latter.
“Ten years ago the approach was to replace oligodendrocytes and repair damage,” Martino said. “Now the focus is upon changing the microenvironment around the damaged area and making the endogenous cells remyelinate through an NSC-mediated bystander, or paracrine, activity.”
Martino has been carrying out his work in mice and monkeys. “We now face the problem of getting enough material for human trials.” Scaling up might mean going to an academic center with a cGMP facility or maybe to a CMO. Martino emphasized that we don’t yet know what the ideal cell to transplant in MS will be or what the best delivery route will be. Nor is it known how best to obtain long-lasting integration of transplanted cells into the host tissue. Resolving these questions will be essential for the success of MS therapies based on stem cell transplantation.
Talking to GEN after the meeting, Professor Chris Mason, Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, UCL, and co-founder of the LRMN, said that the Foundation’s funding model is a good one. Similar partnerships with, for instance, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, have been shown to work well. He is confident that promising projects will be funded promptly under the new agreement. “This whole area of MS has suddenly become very exciting. In particular, the immunomodulatory approach could be very powerful.”
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Susan Aldridge, Ph.D. ( saldridge@genengnews.com saldridge@genengnews.com), is a freelance science and medical writer specializing in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, chemistry, medicine, and health. Web: www.aldridgeassociates.co.uk.
StemCells, Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM, STEM message board) started the week with a launch of their stem cell derivation medium called GS1-R. According to the announcement this is the first commercially available method used to extract, grow and maintain true embryonic stem cells derived from rats.
The purpose of such a technology is to enable scientist to quickly and efficiently manipulate the artificial human like diseases caused in rats and in turn test various drugs and methods for their treatment. Rats are used to create models for human disease studies because they are psychologically closer to humans than mice.
The technology will add to the vide variety of StemCells' other products, and might even affect the company's income statement for the better because of its fundamental usefulness and demand. Other products weren't too successful in pushing the business forward.
Despite registering as a clinical stage biotechnology company, StemCells has to make a living with only modest revenues and most of their operating costs go to R&D. To force a positive cash flow the company is constantly issuing additional stock, which partially explains the low share price and illiquidity.
The pharmaceutical stocks are usually about the potential of the drugs they develop. In this case the SG1-R release to the market had no positive effect on the stock as all the effect was already counted in the stock valuation when it turned out to be a successful medium. We'll just have to wait and see the actual financial performance of the SG1-R before it can make an impact on the equity market.
International Stem Cell Corporation joins Information Portal StockProfile.com
OCEANSIDE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB: ISCO), www.internationalstemcell.com, announced today that it has expanded its market awareness program by joining www.StockProfile.com, a customized web-based platform showcasing emerging growth stocks.
“This is another important step ISCO is taking to ensure that its shareholders and the investment community have continued access to information about our latest announcements, products and services. We're pleased to add StockProfile.com to our market awareness program and we will continue to explore additional market outreach strategies.”
.StockProfile.com provides the investing public with a free unique information portal for investors who like to conduct their own research and make their own investment decisions. The platform allows users to review and investigate dynamic publicly traded companies in a user-friendly environment.
International Stem Cell Corporation is pleased to provide corporate information to StockProfile.com’s independent investors seeking information about new growth companies. The profile is listed at www.StockProfile.com and can be viewed by searching under the stock symbol ISCO.
Brian Lundstrom, President of ISCO said, "This is another important step ISCO is taking to ensure that its shareholders and the investment community have continued access to information about our latest announcements, products and services. We're pleased to add StockProfile.com to our market awareness program and we will continue to explore additional market outreach strategies.”
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STEM CELL CORPORATION (ISCO.OB):
International Stem Cell Corporation is a California-based biotechnology company focused on therapeutic and research products. ISCO’s core technology, parthenogenesis, results in creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs). ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells with minimal immune rejection after transplantation into hundreds of millions of individuals of differing sexes, ages and racial groups. This offers the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell™, while avoiding the ethical issue of using fertilized eggs. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology. More information is available at ISCO’s website, www.internationalstemcell.com
To subscribe to receive ongoing corporate communications please click on the following link: http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1468&to=ea&s=0.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Statements pertaining to anticipated future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development and potential joint venture and other opportunities for the company and its subsidiary, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as “will,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,”) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, application of capital resources among competing uses, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the company's business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Key Words: Stem Cells, Biotechnology, Parthenogenesis
Cytori Issued U.S. Patent for Cell-Enriched Fat Grafting; New Patent Protects Key Cytori Market
Date : 01/26/2010 @ 7:00AM
Source : Business Wire
Stock : Cytori Therapeutics (CYTX)
Quote : 8.12 -0.05 (-0.61%) @ 7:22AM
Cytori Issued U.S. Patent for Cell-Enriched Fat Grafting; New Patent Protects Key Cytori Market
Cytori Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CYTX) today received U.S. Patent No. 7,651,684 (the ‘684 patent) which covers the Company’s methods for delivering adipose-derived stem and regenerative cell-enriched fat grafts into patients. The ‘684 patent specifically covers cell-enriched fat grafts to treat soft-tissue defects and urinary incontinence. In addition, the ‘684 patent covers methods for delivering cell-enriched fat grafts to a patient’s breast, wrinkles, lips, under the eyes, cheeks, chin, and other parts of the body
“Today’s announcement broadens our current expansive patent portfolio covering adipose-derived cell therapies. The patent covers many significant applications for stem and regenerative cell-enriched fat grafting, allowing us to freely develop future generation therapeutics and pursue solutions for patients with unmet medical needs in tissue damage indications, including breast reconstruction,” said Christopher J. Calhoun, CEO of Cytori Therapeutics
Within the Cytori family of products, the Company markets the Celution® 800/CRS System that creates adipose tissue-derived stem and regenerative cell-enriched autologous fat grafts, in the EU and elsewhere throughout the world. The ‘684 patent is designed to protect the Celution® 800/CRS System, as well as future generations of the device, when approved for marketing and sale in the U.S
The ‘684 patent expands upon the Company’s previously issued U.S. Patent No. 7,429,488 relating to automated methods of creating cell-enriched fat grafts. Cytori Therapeutics' intellectual property portfolio currently includes 19 issued U.S. and international patents and 100 pending applications worldwide relating to the devices, methods and uses of adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells
About Cytori Cytori is an emerging leader in regenerative medicine, providing patients and physicians around the world with medical technologies that harness the potential of adult regenerative cells from adipose tissue. The Celution® System family of medical devices and instruments is being sold into the European and Asian cosmetic and reconstructive surgery markets but is not yet available in the United States. Our StemSource® product line is sold globally for cell banking and research applications. www.cytori.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding events, trends and business prospects, which may affect our future operating results and financial position. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and financial position to differ materially. Some of these risks and uncertainties include our history of operating losses, the need for further financing, inherent risk and uncertainty in the protection of intellectual property rights, regulatory uncertainties regarding the collection and results of, clinical data, dependence on third party performance, and other risks and uncertainties described under the "Risk Factors" in Cytori's Securities and Exchange Commission Filings, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. Cytori assumes no responsibility to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect events, trends or circumstances after the date of this press release
Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor and Israeli Chief Scientist Visit BrainStorm
Date : 01/26/2010 @ 8:00AM
Source : Business Wire
Stock : BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI)
Quote : 0.25 0.0 (0.00%) @ 11:40AM
Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor and Israeli Chief Scientist Visit BrainStorm
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.(OTCBB:BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell technologies and therapeutics, is pleased to announce that it received a visit today by the Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor, Mr. Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and the Israeli Chief Scientist, Dr. Eli Opper. The purpose of the visit was to review BrainStorm’s progress towards the start of its first clinical trials in ALS. Minister Ben-Eliezer and Dr. Opper met with BrainStorm’s management and scientific team during their visit and received a detailed presentation of the Company’s science from Professor Eldad Melamed, BrainStorm’s Chief Medical Advisor and Professor Daniel Offen, BrainStorm’s Chief Scientific advisor
“We are very pleased with the visit by Minister Ben-Eliezer and Dr. Opper,” stated Rami Efrati, CEO of BrainStorm. “This is the first visit to BrainStorm by the Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor as well as the Israeli Chief Scientist. Over the last three years the Company has received grants for its continued development of its stem cell therapeutic products from the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Israel Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. The visit by Minister Ben-Eliezer and Dr. Opper signals the importance of the work we are doing at BrainStorm. We look forward to their continuing support as we prepare to begin our clinical trials in ALS this year.” About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Inc. BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is an emerging company developing adult stem cell therapeutic products, derived from autologous (self) bone marrow cells, for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The patent pending technology is based on discoveries made by the scientific team led by Professor Eldad Melamed, former Head of Neurology at Rabin Medical Center, and cell biologist Prof. Daniel Offen, Head of the Neuroscience Laboratory at the Felsenstein Medical Research Center of Tel-Aviv University. The technology allows for the differentiation of bone marrow-derived stem cells into functional neurons and astrocytes, as demonstrated in animal models. The Company holds rights to develop and commercialize the technology through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd., the technology transfer company of Tel-Aviv University. The Company's current focus is on ALS, although its technology has promise for treating several other diseases including MS, Huntington's disease and stroke
Safe Harbor Statement Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute "forward-looking statements" and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'s actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include risks associated with BrainStorm's limited operating history, history of losses; minimal working capital, dependence on its license to Ramot's technology; ability to adequately protect the technology; dependence on key executives and on its scientific consultants; ability to obtain required regulatory approvals; and other factors detailed in BrainStorm's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q available at http://www.sec.gov. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements made by us
Geron Forms Collaboration to Investigate GRNOPC1 in Alzheimer’s Disease Models
Date : 01/26/2010 @ 7:30AM
Source : Business Wire
Stock : Geron Corporation (GERN)
Quote : 5.71 0.0 (0.00%) @ 7:22AM
Geron Forms Collaboration to Investigate GRNOPC1 in Alzheimer’s Disease Models
Geron Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) today announced that it has entered into a collaboration jointly funded by Geron and a University of California Discovery Research and Training Grant to investigate the therapeutic potential of its human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based product, GRNOPC1, for Alzheimer’s disease. The company is currently developing GRNOPC1 for the potential treatment of spinal cord injury
Collaboration Under the collaboration, GRNOPC1 will be evaluated in models of Alzheimer’s disease. The study is designed to assess whether memory, which is impaired in the rodent models as it is in human patients, shows recovery after transplantation of GRNOPC1. The research will be led by Professor Frank M. LaFerla, Director of the Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia at the University of California, Irvine
“We are exploring a number of potential applications for GRNOPC1 in neurological disease in addition to spinal cord injury,” said Jane S. Lebkowski, Ph.D., Geron’s senior vice president and chief scientific officer, regenerative medicine. “There are striking parallels between recent data on mouse stem cells in Alzheimer’s disease models and what we know about GRNOPC1. We are looking forward to testing GRNOPC1 in Alzheimer’s models.” In recent published studies, Professor LaFerla and his colleagues have demonstrated that defects in memory were improved by glial cells derived from mouse neural stem cells transplanted into the hippocampus of rodent models of Alzheimer’s disease
“We are excited about this collaboration with Geron,” said Frank M. LaFerla, Ph.D. “Our recent studies with mouse neural stem cells have shown that a cell therapeutic approach may have application for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, our studies have provided insight into the potential reparative mechanism and the properties that are likely to be required of a human therapeutic cell population. GRNOPC1 meets these criteria so we will now test this human cell product in Alzheimer’s models.” The transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease that will be used in the study were developed by Professor LaFerla’s research group. Alzheimer’s mouse models have been used extensively for investigating potential therapeutic approaches because they recapitulate key pathologies that are associated with progressive loss of memory in the human disease, including the extensive loss of neurons in the hippocampus
Rationale for the Approach The results from Professor LaFerla’s previous studies provide a strong rationale for the potential application of GRNOPC1 in Alzheimer’s disease. The most recent data were published in August of 2009 in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences
The studies were set up to investigate whether a stem cell-based therapy could potentially rescue or replace the cells that are lost in Alzheimer’s disease and thereby improve memory. Since past studies have shown that murine neural stem cells can differentiate into all mature cell types of the central nervous system, in the LaFerla studies murine neural stem cells were transplanted into the brains of Alzheimer’s disease models. The models reproduce impaired memory, which can be assessed using standard behavioral tests
Professor LaFerla’s studies showed that memory improved in the models after neural stem cell transplantation. When the brains of the transplanted Alzheimer’s mice were analyzed, an increase in neuronal synaptic connections was found. Importantly, mature glial cells derived from the injected stem cells were found to be the predominant cell type in the transplanted area. New neurons were very rare. GRNOPC1 contains the precursors to human glial cells, which have been shown to mature and repair the lesion site in rodent models of spinal cord injury
In addition, the improvement in memory and the increase in synaptic density observed after injection of neural stem cells were found to be mediated, at least in part, by the neurotrophic factor BDNF, which is secreted from the transplanted cells. GRNOPC1 has been found to secrete BDNF as well as other neurotrophic factors
About Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, fatal, degenerative disorder that attacks the neurons in the brain, resulting in loss of memory, cognitive function such as reasoning and language, and behavioral changes. The disease starts with the loss of neural connections, called synapses, in the hippocampus, affecting memory, and progresses to the cortex affecting language and thought
Currently there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Treatments can provide some relief of symptoms but do not stop progression or prevent the disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly and the most significant and costly neurological disorder. An estimated 5 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s disease with nearly 500,000 new cases predicted each year. As our population ages, the number of new cases is expected to rise significantly
About Geron Geron is developing first-in-class biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer and chronic degenerative diseases, including spinal cord injury, heart failure and diabetes. The company is advancing an anti-cancer drug and a cancer vaccine that target the enzyme telomerase through multiple clinical trials in different cancers. For more information, visit www.geron.com
This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release regarding potential applications of Geron’s human embryonic stem cell technology constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, uncertainty of clinical trial results or regulatory approvals or clearances, need for future capital, dependence upon collaborators and maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Geron’s periodic reports, including the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009
NEWS Out!Cord Blood America Announces $6 Million in Notes Retired
Press Release Source: Cord Blood America, Inc. On Tuesday January 26, 2010, 6:00 am
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cord Blood America, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CBAI), the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company (http://www.cordblood-america.com) focused on bringing the life saving potential of stem cells, a biological insurance policy, to families nationwide and internationally, today said that it has retired almost $6 million worth of notes which had been provided by Enable Capital Management, LLC and their affiliates between 2007 and 2009.
"It is important for shareholders to understand the importance of reducing debt and strengthening our balance sheet," said Matthew Schissler, CEO and co-founder, Cord Blood America. "We truly appreciate Enable Capital Management for financing critical growth periods for CBAI. We are happy to report that all of our obligations with Enable Capital Management are paid in full." The total debt retired since January of 2009 is approaching $11 million.
Mr. Schissler also thanked the more than 200 investors and guests who attended the Company's Grand Opening in Las Vegas on Friday, January 22. "It was good to show our shareholders our laboratory, our storage facilities, and for them to meet our management team," Cord Blood America's co-founder and CEO said
StemCells, Inc. Launches First Cell Culture Medium to Enable Derivation and Maintenance of True Rat Embryonic Stem Cells
January 25, 2010: 09:00 AM ET
PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 25, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StemCells, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEM) announced today the launch of GS1-R™, the first commercially available medium to enable the derivation, maintenance and growth of true (germline competent) rat embryonic stem (ES) cells.  GS1-R, the latest addition to the Company's SC Proven® line of specialty cell culture products, is expected to have significant utility in the creation of genetically engineered rat models of human disease for use in academic, medical and pharmaceutical research.
The rat is a valuable tool in drug discovery. Both mice and rats are used by scientists as models for human disease. However, because rats are physiologically more similar to humans than are mice, rat models can be better suited for assessing drug efficacy and toxicity. To date, efforts to model certain human diseases using rats have been hindered by a lack of the true rat ES cells needed to genetically engineer precise disease models.  GS1-R will help scientists overcome this barrier as it provides the cell culture conditions necessary to consistently generate true rat ES cell lines.
"The use of GS1-R could open the door to new and more effective drug discovery methods," said Stewart Craig, senior vice president, development and operations at StemCells, Inc. "In the pharmaceutical industry, rats are regarded as the preclinical model of choice for studying the in vivo effects of drugs for a wide range of disease indications. By providing a route to true rat embryonic stem cell lines, GS1-R is expected to facilitate efforts to achieve new, more sophisticated disease models that could lead to better predictability of human responses to drugs."Â
President and CEO Martin McGlynn added, "The launch of GS1-R reflects our commitment to market cell culture products that are innovative and useful to the growing number of researchers in the stem cell field, and we look forward to launching additional SC Proven products in the coming year."Â Â Â Â
The proprietary, breakthrough technology behind GS1-R was first published in December 2008 in the peer-reviewed journal Cell 1,2 after academic researchers in the United Kingdom and the United States succeeded in deriving the first true rat ES cells. StemCells, Inc. owns exclusive rights to the rat ES cell technology described in this publication and the media formulation used to create these rat pluripotent cell lines.-
The defined, serum-free GS1-R media formulation contains selective small molecule inhibitors that act to eliminate differentiation-inducing signals and promote cell survival, enabling the long-term maintenance of true germline competent rat ES cells in a pluripotent state. For more information about GS1-R and SC Proven cell culture products, interested parties are invited to visit www.scproven.com.Â
About StemCells, Inc.
StemCells, Inc. is focused on the development and commercialization of cell-based technologies. In its cellular medicine programs, StemCells is targeting diseases of the central nervous system and liver. StemCells' lead product candidate, HuCNS-SC® cells (purified human neural stem cells), is in clinical development for the treatment of two fatal neurodegenerative disorders that primarily affect young children. StemCells also markets specialty cell culture products under the brand SC Proven®, and is developing its cell-based technologies for use in drug screening and drug development. The Company has exclusive rights to approximately 55 issued or allowed U.S. patents and approximately 200 granted or allowed non-U.S. patents. Further information about StemCells is available at www.stemcellsinc.com.
The StemCells, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7014
References
(1)Â Li P, et al. Germline Competent Embryonic Stem Cells Derived from Rat Blastocysts. Cell 135(7):1299-310, 2008
(2)Â Buehr M, et al. Capture of Authentic Embryonic stem Cells from Rat Blastocysts. Cell 135(7):1287-98, 2008
Apart from statements of historical fact, the text of this press release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is subject to the safe harbors created therein. These statements include, but are not limited to, the ability of GS1-R to enable the derivation, maintenance and growth of true germline competent rat ES cells and to facilitate efforts to genetically engineer more sophisticated disease models; the timing and prospects associated with the launch of additional SC Proven products; the potential for the Company's cell-based therapeutics to treat neurodegenerative diseases and other diseases or disorders; and the future business operations of the Company, including its ability to conduct clinical trials as well as its other research and product development efforts. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. Such statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain assumptions that may or may not ultimately prove valid. The Company's actual results may vary materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties to which the Company is subject regarding the Company's ability to obtain the increased capital resources needed to continue its current operations and to conduct the research, preclinical development and clinical trials necessary for regulatory approvals; its ability to successfully compete with other products on the market; and other factors that are described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.
CONTACT: StemCells, Inc.
Investor Inquiries
Megan Meloni
650) 475-3100, ext. 105
Vida Communication, Inc.
Media
Tim Brons
(415) 675-7402
Sweet Thanks L2!
News on ISCO
Press Release Source: International Stem Cell Corporation On Monday January 25, 2010, 4:57 pm
OCEANSIDE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB: ISCO), www.internationalstemcell.com, announced today that it has signed up the first two in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics and engaged an experienced pharmaceutical industry executive to lead the establishment of the company’s universal stem cell bank, UniStemCell™. International Stem Cell Corporation has made breakthrough stem cell discoveries that result in unique advantages over the only two other proven methods of making human pluripotent stem cells. In particular, for the first time in industry history, this will enable the establishment of a bank containing a manageable number of stem cell lines that will be immunological matches for large patient populations of different ethnic origin.
The company uses unfertilized eggs (oocytes) to create human “parthenogenic” stem cells (hpSCs). Like embryonic stem cells (ESCs), hpSCs are pluripotent (i.e. have the capacity to become almost any cell type in the body), yet avoid ethical issues associated with use or destruction of viable human embryos. Unlike induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSs), hpSCs do not involve extensive gene manipulation, which may have unknown biological impact. Unlike both ESCs and iPSs, hpSCs can be created in a homozygous form such that each line will be an immunological match for millions of patients.
International Stem Cell Corporation has partnered with two IVF clinics in Southern California, California Center for Reproductive Medicine under the leadership of Dr. Lori Arnold and Acacio Fertility Center under the leadership of Dr. Brian Acacio. Both clinics provide exceptional clinical care for egg donors and IVF patients, not only regionally but across the US and abroad. California Center for Reproductive Medicine and Acacio Fertility Center provide a US source of oocytes under full regulatory and medical oversight that allow for the creation of the first clinical grade hpSC lines anywhere in the world. Dr. Acacio says: “We look forward to participating in this important research with the ultimate goal of each egg donation not only helping a single couple but millions of people with degenerative diseases.” Dr. Arnold says: “While we provide world-class care for our IVF patients, we are excited to add our clinical expertise and join International Stem Cell Corporation in this medical frontier of regenerative medicine.”
International Stem Cell Corporation has also engaged Dr. Simon Craw to implement the integrated process of oocyte donation and processing in coordination with the IVF clinics and under proper regulatory and medical oversight. The creation of hpSC lines will take place in the company’s central cGMP facility. In addition, Dr. Craw will oversee the expansion, tracking and storage of hpSCs for research and clinical development globally. Dr. Craw is an experienced pharmaceutical executive who has served in firms such as Novartis and AstraZeneca, and recently as head of Merck’s California operations and ACADIA’s information technology and regulatory operations (including FDA filings).
Brian Lundstrom, ISCO’s President, says: “International Stem Cell Corporation has already differentiated its hpSCs into functional cells of the eye (retinal pigment epithelium and corneal tissues), the liver (hepatocyte precursor cells) and other organs. While we and our external collaborators continue to advance these therapeutic applications, we are now formally launching the creation of a universal stem cell bank, UniStemCell. This collection of hpSC lines will enable researchers around the world to develop novel stem cell therapies knowing that, whatever non-embryonic, pluripotent hpSC line they use, there will be sister lines available that immunologically match almost any potential patient and will require only temporary immune suppression, if any.” He continues: “By combining the proven oocyte retrieval experience and clinical excellence of California Center for Reproductive Medicine and Acacio Fertility Center with the pharmaceutical and operational experience of Dr. Craw, International Stem Cell Corporation is well positioned to generate the world’s first cGMP quality hpSC lines in 2010.”
International Stem Cell Corporation will initially focus on oocyte-derived hpSCs from US population groups. However, the company offers its intellectual property, process and business experience to other companies for development and commercialization of universal stem cell banks targeting ethnic groups that are less represented in the US, e.g. Asians and Hispanics. Cell lines from each of these banks will be made available to government, academic and corporate researchers worldwide, thus enabling the global research community to develop therapeutic applications of their interest with the unique ethical, biological and immune-matching benefits of homozygous hpSCs.
NeoStem's Suzhou Erye Pharmaceutical Subsidiary Receives Approval to Manufacture Generic
Date : 01/25/2010 @ 8:00AM
Source : PR Newswire
Stock : (NBS)
Quote : 1.5899 0.0 (0.00%) @ 7:59AM
NeoStem's Suzhou Erye Pharmaceutical Subsidiary Receives Approval to Manufacture Generic
NEW YORK, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ --
NeoStem, Inc. ("NeoStem" or the "Company") (NYSE Amex: NBS), an international biopharmaceutical company with operations in the U.S. and China, announced that it recently was advised that its Suzhou Erye Pharmaceutical subsidiary ("Erye") received approval as of November 6, 2009 from the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) in China to manufacture and sell omeprazole 20mg capsules
Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), is the generic form of one of the most widely-prescribed drugs in the world for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). China is estimated to have a 5% incidence of GERD among their general population of 1.3 billion people. Omeprazole is on China's National Medical Reimbursement Insurance List as being eligible for reimbursement by the government's healthcare programs
NeoStem's Chairman and CEO, Robin Smith, commented, "omeprazole is the first of seven drugs in Erye's pipeline to be approved since the acquisition of our 51% interest in Erye and is an important addition to the company's product offerings. While there are many other manufactures in China approved to manufacture this generic, the large market in China is more than sufficient to provide a significant opportunity for Erye." "We are very excited about the omeprazole opportunity," said Madam Jian Zhang, Erye's General Manager, "It is an important part of our strategy to expand our offerings of generic drugs and we hope to be selling the drug during the summer."
NeoStem acquired its 51% interest in Erye through its acquisition of China Biopharmaceutical Holdings in October 2009
About NeoStem, Inc
NeoStem, Inc. is engaged in the development of stem cell-based therapies and building of a network of adult stem cell collection centers in the U.S. and China that are focused on enabling people to donate and store their own (autologous) stem cells for their personal use in times of future medical need. The Company is also the licensee of various stem cell technologies, including a worldwide exclusive license to VSELTM Technology which uses very small embryonic-like stem cells, shown to have several physical characteristics that are generally found in embryonic stem cells, and is pursuing the licensing of other technologies for therapeutic use. NeoStem's majority-controlled Chinese pharmaceutical operation, Suzhou Erye, manufactures and distributes generic antibiotics in China. For more information, please visit: http://www.neostem.com/
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations, as of the date of this press release, and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements include statements herein with respect to the market potential of omeprazole, about which no assurances can be given. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward- looking statements as a result of various factors. Factors that could cause future results to materially differ from the recent results or those projected in forward-looking statements include the "Risk Factors" described in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 19, 2010, as well as periodic filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's further development is highly dependent on future medical and research developments and market acceptance, which is outside its control
For more information, please contact:
NeoStem, Inc
Robin Smith, CEO Phone: +1-212-584-4180 Email: Web: http://www.neostem.com/
CCG Investor Relations, Inc
Lei Huang, Account Manager Phone: +1-646-833-3417 Email: Web: http://www.ccgirasia.com/
Crocker Coulson, President Phone: +1-646-213-1915 Email:
DATASOURCE: NeoStem, Inc
CONTACT: Robin Smith, CEO of NeoStem, Inc., +1-212-584-4180,
; Lei Huang, Account Manager, +1-646-833-3417,
, Crocker Coulson, President, +1-646-213-1915,
, both of CCG Investor Relations, Inc.
Web site: http://www.neostem.com/
http://www.ccgirasia.com/
sure, will have to screen shot them. will do later on.
Thanks Bert ! Could you keep us informed Im out for tonight long day left Vegas at 5 this morning.Locks
i got alerts for PARD and HNAB from Biomedreports on Friday
Stem Cell Assurance Announces a Financing and Marketing Partnership With MDwerks
Date : 01/21/2010 @ 9:30AM
Source : PR Newswire
Stock : (SCLZ)
Quote : 0.0165 0.0 (0.00%) @ 7:59AM
Stem Cell Assurance Announces a Financing and Marketing Partnership With MDwerks
BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Stem Cell Assurance, Inc. (PK: SCLZ) and MDwerks, Inc. (OTC:MDWK) (BULLETIN BOARD: MDWK) announced today a financing and marketing partnership today wherein MDwerks, through it's Xeni Finance subsidiary, has provided the first tranche of financing to Stem Cell for the purchase of various medical devices from Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. In addition, MDwerks, through its subsidiary Digital Pen Applications, Inc. (DPA), will assist in marketing Stem Cell products and services to the health care and medical community initially in Florida. Stem Cell also has expansion plans for New York, New Jersey, Texas and California
Stem Cell is a science based adult stem cell company that provides private stem cell collection, storage, treatment and preservation services. Storage (banking) preserves the age of stem cells and, therefore their potency and allows the individual to preserve their stem cells when they are healthy and later have access to them when needed. This also allows the patient's doctor to access the stem cells on multiple occasions if needed for more than one treatment. The regenerative cell technique promotes tissue survival, graft retention, and increased volume, making it more effective than traditional procedures. The use of the regenerative cells in the graft enables transplanted fat to successfully integrate with the surrounding tissue much better than with previous methods
DPA also specializes in the sale, leasing and maintenance of digital pens, related software and management systems that will create Electronic Medical Records (EMR's) and provides cost-effective data entry solutions using the digital pen process to eliminate the effort and expense of re-entering information already written on existing business documents. The Digital Pen Process can be easily customized and integrated into almost any IT system and automates the conversion of handwritten information into electronic data, resulting in immediate automated full image capture, time stamped point-of-service records and electronic image storage and retrieval that will satisfy legal and regulatory document retention requirements
DPA can supply solutions for almost any business field that relies heavily on handwritten forms including nursing homes, transportation, long-term care facilities, ambulance services, shipping and warehousing
Contacts: Richard Proodian, CFO David M. Barnes, CEO Stem Cell Assurance, Inc. MDwerks, Inc
561-362-4142 954-389-8300 http://www.stemcallassurance.com/ http://www.mdwerks.com/
DATASOURCE: Stem Cell Assurance, Inc
CONTACT: Richard Proodian, CFO, Stem Cell Assurance, Inc.,
+1-561-362-4142, or David M. Barnes, CEO, MDwerks, Inc., +1-954-389-8300
Web Site: http://www.stemcellassurance.com/
Entest BioMedical Projecting Near Term Start Up of Study on Stem Cell and Laser Treatment for COPD at Bio-Matrix Scientific Grou
Date : 01/22/2010 @ 9:00AM
Source : MarketWire
Stock : Entest BioMedical Inc. (BMSN)
Quote : 0.077 0.0 (0.00%) @ 2:05AM
Entest BioMedical Projecting Near Term Start Up of Study on Stem Cell and Laser Treatment for COPD at Bio-Matrix Scientific Grou
SAN DIEGO, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 01/22/10 --
Entest BioMedical Inc. (OTCBB: ENTB) announced that it has acquired the first of several photoceutical devices it will be using in the development of its proprietary laser device, ENT-576. This laser device will be used in conjunction with stem cell therapy to enhance efficacy in the regenerative treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
The Company's Chairman & CEO David Koos stated, "We are excited with this first step in moving towards a specialized laser device that will augment stem cell therapy for treating COPD. We believe the ENT-576 can be utilized to 'paint' damaged lung tissue with laser irradiation allowing stem cells therapeutic treatment to 'spot focus' on the damaged tissue resulting in not only a reduction of progression but also an actual reversal of the effects of COPD."
A spokesperson for Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Inc. (OTCBB: BMSN) noted that it is anticipated this research will start up shortly at its 15,000 sq. ft. stem cell research facility. The projected outcomes of this study will be the development of ENT-576, a specialized laser device, as well as an effective stem cell therapy for treating COPD
COPD is the 4th leading cause of death in the United States and there is currently no known cure
About Entest BioMedical Inc.:
Entest BioMedical Inc. (OTCBB: ENTB) is involved with the development of stem cell therapy treatments for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), immuno-cancer therapies, testing procedures for diabetes, stem cell research applications for diabetes and other illnesses. The Company also is involved with medical device development (including stem cell extraction instrumentation). ENT-576 is a proprietary laser device currently under development by Entest. The Company has filed 3 patent applications relating to the treatment of COPD
About Bio-Matrix Scientific Group:
Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Inc. (OTCBB: BMSN) is the majority owner of Entest BioMedical Inc. BMSN is a biotechnology company headquartered in San Diego, Ca. with a 15,000 sq. ft. facility that houses two secure cryogenic stem cell banks, three research laboratories, aseptic cellular/tissue class 10,000/100 processing lab, hematology, microbiology and flow cytometry laboratories. David Koos serves as Chairman & CEO concurrently for BMSN and ENTB
Forward-looking statements:
This news release may contain forward-looking statements. 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 statements. The risks and uncertainties to which forward-looking statements are subject include, but are not limited to, the effect of government regulation, competition and other material risks
Follow the Company's progress on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Entest_BioMed
Contact:
David R. Koos Chairman & CEO 619.702.1404 Direct 619.330.2328 Fax
Entest BioMedical Inc
Email Contact www.EntestBio.com
Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Inc
www.BMSN.us Email Contact
It's only a matter of time before humans benefit from these same technique's.
Btw, I have quite the long list of stems that I'm watching and only 3 went up today. As soon as I've done enough research to update all the iboxes I'll decide which one I enter next. ;)
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Good morning to you and everyone else. It looks like most stems are down a bit today, although a few are up.
GLTA...KarinCA ;)
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Not a stem company but worth a look
NNVC.OB
NanoViricides, Inc., a development stage nano-biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of anti-viral therapeutics primarily in the United States. It has licenses in perpetuity to develop drugs for the treatment of human viral diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Herpes Simplex Virus, Rabies, Influenza, and Asian Bird Flu Virus. The company?s products under development include FluCide-I for the treatment of common influenzas and avian influenza H5N1; AviFluCide-I against H5N1, the avian influenza strain; FluCide-HP against highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses; RabiCide-I, a nanoviricide against rabies; and HCV, a Hepatitis C nanoviricide. It also provides HivCide-I, a drug project against HIV-I; HivCide-II, a targeted nanoviricide against HIV strains; and EKCCide-I, a nanoviricide drug, which indicates efficacy and safety of a drug candidate against the severe pink eye disease caused by adenoviruses called epidemic kerato-conjunctivitis. NanoViricides, Inc. has a pre-clinical study agreement with Thevac, LLC for the evaluation of the company?s universal anti-influenza drug candidate FluCide. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in West Haven, Connecticut.
HTDS is starting to look good again ... I might jump back in soon!
Fighting Back Time
By JEANNE RAWDIN and COX 4
Updated 10:23 AM PST, Tue, Jan 19, 2010
Stem cell use in dogs is proving so successful, pet owners say it's like turning back the clock on their pet's life and a Poway laboratory is playing a key role in its development.
Bebe is eleven in dog years, that's 77 in human years but by the looks of her, you'd never know it. She was treated with stem cells about a year and a half ago and her quality of life has dramatically changed.
Gregg Miller talked about the therapy while watching his dog Bebe play at the dog park in Balboa Park, saying “I'm thrilled every time that she can do this.” It used to be that Bebe couldn't run or even walk very well - without limping. She had developed arthritis in her left elbow, and it just got progressively worse.
Miller had tried more than one anti-inflammatory, each in very large doses. “We were really searching for what we could possibly do,” he said. Then he heard of an alternative - stem cell treatment - but at a cost of $4,000, it was a tough decision.
Stem Cell Treatments Turn Back Clocks on Pet's Lives
WATCH
Stem Cell Treatments Turn Back Clocks on Pet's Lives
“We don't have any children, and Bebe's like our child since we had her since she was a puppy so we said you know, we want her to be around and we want her to be happy for the rest of her life,” he said.
Stem cell treatments have been approved for use in dogs since 2005. The procedure itself is almost as simple as spaying an animal.
"So we make a small incision in the abdomen and we remove that fat, the more fat the better because the more fat you remove the more chance you have of obtaining more stem cells,said Bebe's vet, Holly Mullen, D.V.M.
Those stem cells are sent to a lab in Poway called Vet Stem - the only lab of its kind in the country. The stem cells are then cultured and sent back to the vet.
“There's about a 48 hour turn-around time in which they ship it back to us and we then inject it into the patient,” said Mullen.
Overall, this treatment has a 95 percent success rate reported in dogs and it's relatively risk-free.
“Because the current stem cell treatment we're using is derived from the patient's own cells, we don't have to worry about rejection, and we don't have to worry about the moral concerns about using embryonic stem cells,” said Mullen. “These are not embryonic stem cells these are stem cells from the patient's own fat.”
In Bebe's case about two weeks after injection, both her owners and her vet could see some improvement and she continued to improve.
“She just stopped with the limping, she began to run again,” said Miller.
“To date, there have been no negative effects reported in stem cell treatment and it's great to have a treatment modality that seems to be extremely safe for the patients, with no serious side effects,” said Mullen.
Stem cell treatments were first used in horses, almost twenty years ago. In the last few years, there have also been treatments developed for cats.
But it is becoming more popular as more pet owners find out about
Re-Restricting Stem Cell Research in Michigan
Rick Pluta (2010-01-20)
LANSING, MI (MPRN)
The state Senate Health Policy Committee is expected to vote today on restrictions and rules surrounding embryonic stem cell research at Michigan clinics and universities.
A voter-approved amendment to the state constitution lifted a ban on state funded-research using stem cells from embryos discarded by fertility clinics. Opponents of the amendment say it is unclear in many areas and needs definition.
Doctor Sean Morrison is the director of the University of Michigan Center for Stem Cell Biology. He says the Senate bill would restrict the types of research that could be conducted using embryonic stem cells under Proposition Two.
"That's like me saying that we need an auto industry in Michigan," says Morrison, "but we're going to regulate it by making it illegal for cars to have wheels. This bill would block most of what voters approved under Prop Two."
Morrison says the measure would also make it harder to recruit researchers because they would fear being charged with a crime. © Copyright 2010, MPRN
Neurons Developed from Stem Cells Successfully Wired With Other Brain Regions in Animals
ScienceDaily (Jan. 19, 2010) — Transplanted neurons grown from embryonic stem cells can fully integrate into the brains of young animals, according to new research in the Jan. 20 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.
Healthy brains have stable and precise connections between cells that are necessary for normal behavior. This new finding is the first to show that stem cells can be directed not only to become specific brain cells, but to link correctly.
In this study, a team of neuroscientists led by James Weimann, PhD, of Stanford Medical School focused on cells that transmit information from the brain's cortex, some of which are responsible for muscle control. It is these neurons that are lost or damaged in spinal cord injuries and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). "These stem cell-derived neurons can grow nerve fibers between the brain's cerebral cortex and the spinal cord, so this study confirms the use of stem cells for therapeutic goals," Weimann said.
To integrate new cells into a brain successfully, the researchers first had to condition unspecialized cells to become specific cells in the brain's cortex. Cells that were precursors to cortical neurons were grown in a Petri dish until they displayed many of the same characteristics as mature neurons. The young neurons were then transplanted into the brains of newborn mice -- specifically, into regions of the cortex responsible for vision, touch, and movement.
Until now, making these proper cellular connections has been a fundamental problem in nervous system transplant therapy. In this case, the maturing neurons extended to the appropriate brain structures, and, just as importantly, avoided inappropriate areas. For example, cells transplanted into the visual cortex reached two deep brain structures called the superior colliculus and the pons, but not to the spinal cord; cells placed into the motor area of the cortex stretched into the spinal cord but avoided the colliculus.
"The authors show that appropriate connectivity for one important class of projection neurons can be obtained in newborn animals," said Mahendra Rao, MD, PhD, an expert in stem cell biology at Life Technology, who was unaffiliated with the study.
The researchers also compared two methods used to grow transplantable cells, only one of which produced the desired results. "The authors provide a protocol for how to get the right kind of neurons to show appropriate connectivity," Rao said. "It's a huge advance in the practical use of these cells."
Researchers will now explore whether the same results can be achieved in adult animals and, ultimately, humans. Weimann and his colleagues also hope to understand how the transplanted cells "knew" to connect in precisely the right way, and whether they can generate the right behaviors, such as vision and movement.
The research was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund, and The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
That would be a boon to companies doing stem cell related work, but, would be tough on private cord blood banking companies. The rejection issue is the primary reason for paying for private cord blood storage. But, I suppose the private companies could go for government contracts as public storage becomes more common.
Public cord blood storage would most likely become the norm. JMO
Re:
Stem Cell Transplant Hopes Lifted
Written by Staff and Wire Reports
Monday, 18 January 2010 11:08
In what leukemia researchers are saying could be the "holy grail" for doctors. It is hoped that "master cells" taken from umbilical cords could be used on any patient without rejection.
On Monday, the BBC reported that a technique which may eventually remove the need for matched bone marrow transplants has been used in humans for the first time.
It is hoped that "master cells" taken from umbilical cords could be used on any patient without rejection. The latest advance in the field is published in the journal Nature Medicine and it is said to offer some promise by greatly multiplying the tiny number of cells from the cord ready for a transplant.
The current system of bone marrow transplantation helps patients who have diseases, such as leukemia, which affect the stem cells in their bone marrow where new blood cells are grown. Their own bone marrow cells are killed off by aggressive treatment and cells from a matched donor are introduced in their place.
However, a matching donor cannot always be found, despite extensive donor registries and, even with a carefully matched donor, there is still a risk that the patient's body will reject the new cells.
Cells extracted from umbilical cords could overcome these problems - they do not have the characteristics which would normally trigger immune rejection, so it is likely that cells from a single baby's cord could be used in any patient, without the need for matching.
However, there is one big disadvantage - there are not enough cells in a single cord to meet the needs of an adult patient.
Scientists have been looking for ways to either combine the cells from more than one baby, or to "expand" the cell numbers in the laboratory.
In addition to possibly treating diseases such as leukemia. Stem cell transplant procedures also show promise for treating neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, but today's stem cell therapies usually rely on cells that are donated by another person. This raises the possibility of donor cell rejection by the patient's immune system.
Some of these newly reported techniques will take a great deal of laboratory time and research to fully develop, but companies like NeoStem, Inc. (AMEX: NBS) have already been working on the potential application of very small embryonic-like stem cells (using their VSEL™ technology) to make it possible for a person to use a sample of his or her own stem cells to treat various disorders and regenerate tissues, which would reduce or even eliminate the danger of rejection.
NeoStem's VSEL™ technology was the focus of two oral presentations at the prestigious American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in New Orleans in early December.
Based on recent insider buying and other related news items (such as today's report and other news items noted in recent company press releases), we believe shares of the company are currently undervalued and may begin to move up in the very short term.
BioMedReports has reached out and will explore these topics and others in an interview with NeoStem's Chairman and CEO, Robin L Smith, M.D., MBA. Look for our special report in this space within the next 24 hours.
New Era Begins for NeoStem Following China Acquisition
NeoStem Outlines to Shareholders Near-term and Long-term Business Strategies Following Acquisition of Chinese Pharmaceutical Company
NEOSTEM, Inc.
1.96 +0.19 (+10.94%)
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Only have a little of this Beauty!
Congrats! I'm envious.
Holy smokes, are you having fun yet? Nice entry.
I should have posted my buy here. I posted it on the SSS.V board itself on the 12th.
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=45410938
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Ah, you are in cold country. I used to live in upstate NY years ago and loved it, but, I need warmth these days. ;)
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Locks and I have quite a few stems we are modding on. I should be done updating all the iboxes over the next few weeks. By the time I'm done I'll know which ones to buy or stay away from. I've already found one I'm leary of. Just because it's a stem doesn't make it good. ;) But, it's a good sector to be in now.
Nice to meet you too! ;)
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
EST...just north of NYC in Westchester County
Yes, you are just seeing US volume with the ticker SCTPF. Go to the chart and you'll get a visual of the actual volume. SSS.V is 1.868m on my trading platform at this moment.
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
I'm showing the volume at about 106K. Is that US only like I see for ANGUF?
right on preciate it.))Lock gave me the heads up on it as he knows I love stemmie plays!))nice to meet ya!!
lol...yes, I'll happily take it... Canadian or US... up is up. ;)
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
It's probably Canadian. That's one issue with trading Canadian stocks. But up is up.
Btw, welcome to our little board. ;)
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
This board is primarily for companies into cord blood storage since control of inventory will control treatments in the future. Discussion of updates in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine will also be found.
Stem Cells – An overview
http://www.youtube.com/user/rorygirl#p/c/C9DB8E6493B73432/8/mUcE1Y_bOQE
Regenerative Medicine: Re-Growing Body Parts
http://www.youtube.com/user/rorygirl#p/c/C9DB8E6493B73432/16/GwcT1ViM-hw
Regenerative Medicine: Pathways to Cure - Version 2.0
http://www.youtube.com/user/rorygirl#p/c/C9DB8E6493B73432/15/tQ41GrOIbkE
The Stem Cell Stock Index
http://www.stemdex.com/2009/07/stem-cell-stock-index.html
The Stem Cell Tracker
http://www.stemcelltracker.com/
Diseases NOW Being Treated by Repair Stem Cells
http://repairstemcells.org/Treatment/Diseases-Treated.aspx
Global Cord Blood Stem Cells Market to Hit US$15 billion by 2015
http://www.prlog.org/10453315-global-cord-blood-stem-cells-market-to-hit-us15-billion-by-2015.html
Following are just a few of the companies in this arena. Listings are in alphabetical order by ticker:
ACTC - http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/board.aspx?board_id=5319
http://www.advancedcell.com/
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AMST, formerly SCII - http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/board.aspx?board_id=120
http://amsteminc.com/
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BCLI – http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/board.aspx?board_id=4829
http://www.brainstorm-cell.com/
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CBAI - http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/board.aspx?board_id=3650
Websites:
http://www.cordblood-america.com
http://www.cordpartners.com
http://www.cord-blood-video.com
http://www.curesource.net
http://www.corcell.com
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CCEL - http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/board.aspx?board_id=3965
http://www.cryo-cell.com
Cryo-Cell Mexico offers services in Mexico, Central America and Ecuador.
Asia Cryo-Cell Private Limited offers services in India.
C'elle distributor opportunity for doctors that specialize in female issues. See video:
http://www.celle.com/distributorVideo.aspx#
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CO - http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/board.aspx?board_id=16014
http://www.chinacordbloodcorp.com
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ISCO - http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/board.aspx?board_id=13281
http://www.internationalstemcell.com/index.html
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SSS.V - http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/board.aspx?board_id=11538
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Last update 4.20.2010
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