Replies to post #51 on Stem Inc (STEM)

[EZ2]

Genetic Engineering News Reports on Stem Cell Fact and Fiction

5:45 p.m. 07/13/2005


NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., Jul 13, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Scientists around the world are employing a variety of methods to translate human stem cell research into bona fide therapies for a host of diseases, reports Genetic Engineering News (GEN) ( www.genengnews.com ). However, technical and, particularly in the U.S., societal questions need to be addressed before stem cell technology can reach its full potential, according to the July issue of GEN.

"The bottom line is that stem cell research is young," says John Sterling, Editor-in-Chief of GEN. "But this fact is often overlooked as a result of some of the hype over stem cells and because of the intense controversy the topic has engendered in a number of religious and political circles."

While the U.S. is engaged in a debate over reinstituting the use of federal funds to support new embryonic stem cell research, scientific matters remain to be resolved. These include gaining more knowledge about the stages of cellular differentiation, the numbers of stem cells needed for therapeutic applications and the types of delivery systems that will be required, the length of time that stem cells can function in animal models, and the optimal combination of growth factors and cell culture conditions for stem cells.

Some companies, such as Aastrom Biosciences (ASTM) and MultiCell Technologies (MCET), are working with adult stem cells. For example, in a clinical trial involving long bone non-union fractures, all patients treated with Aastrom's tissue repair cells exhibited both clinical and functional healing and, at six months, five of the six showed bone regeneration at the fracture site. MultiCell Technologies won a patent this spring that incorporates hepatocytes with stem cells that can differentiate into mature, functioning, hepatocyte or bile duct cells that eventually may treat degenerative liver diseases or inherited functional deficiencies in the liver.

Cytori Therapeutics (Frankfurt:XMP), formerly MacroPore Biosurgery, sees a future in fat, which is an excellent source of stem cells. The company, which works with large animals at several academic centers in the U.S. and abroad and, in collaboration with UCLA, with small animals, has published data showing the benefits of fat-derived stem cells.

Geron Corp. (GERN) demonstrated proof of concept injecting oligodendrocytes and dopaminergic neurons derived from human embryonic stem cells directly into injured spinal cords in rats and found motor improvement. An early study to repopulate heart tissue was also successful.

Stem cell research at ReNeuron and BioE is also covered in the GEN article.

Genetic Engineering News is published 21 times a year by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. For a copy of the July issue, please call 914-740-2122, or email: [e-mail]

Mary Ann Liebert, New Rochelle John Sterling, 914-740-2196

Copyright Business Wire 2005

[mick]

hi ez, three stem astm and gern all going to be winners should OB win.