F.D.A. Approves a Stem Cell Trial

News Type: Event — Seeded on Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:06 AM EST

Article Source: The New York Times

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Seeded by JCAtom

In a research milestone, the federal government will allow the world's first test in people of a therapy derived from human embryonic stem cells.

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2.5

{"commentId":4957919,"authorDomain":"jcatom"}

JCAtom

Geron’s therapy involves using various growth factors to turn embryonic stem cells into precursors of neural support cells called oligodendrocytes, which are then injected into the spinal cord at the site of the injury.
The hope is that the injected cells will help repair the insulation, known as myelin, around nerve cells, restoring the ability of some nerve cells to carry signals. There is also some hope that growth factors produced by the injected cells will spur damaged nerve cells to regenerate.
The therapy was developed in collaboration with Hans Keirstead of the University of California, Irvine. He has shown videos of paralyzed rats that were able to walk again, albeit imperfectly, after receiving the therapy...
The main safety concern is that if raw embryonic cells are put into the body, they can form tumors. Even though most such tumors do not spread like other cancers, any unwanted growth in the spinal cord can further damage nerves.
“It’s not ready for prime time, at least not in my mind, until we can be assured that the transplanted stem cells have completely lost the capacity for tumorogenicity,”said Dr. Steven Goldman, chairman of neurology at the University of Rochester.

{"commentId":4957919,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"jcatom"}

2 votes

#1 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:11 AM EST

{"commentId":4958467,"authorDomain":"lkessler41"}

Lkessler

Man, this is so, so overdue! Thank you FDA--although I am sure it wasn't without pressure...

{"commentId":4958467,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"lkessler41"}

3 votes

#2 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:44 AM EST

{"commentId":4958589,"authorDomain":"jcatom"}

JCAtom

Sounds like the worry now is that they're rushing it.

{"commentId":4958589,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"jcatom"}

2 votes

#2.1 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:50 AM EST

{"commentId":4958811,"authorDomain":"lkessler41"}

Lkessler

JCAtom: I agree--don't rush it. Now that we have the permission, let's do it right.

{"commentId":4958811,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"lkessler41"}

3 votes

#2.2 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:01 AM EST

{"commentId":4959068,"authorDomain":"Nic-24"}

Nic-24

Thomas B. Okarma, Geron’s chief executive, said Thursday that he did not think that the Bush administration’s objections to embryonic stem cell research played a role in the F.D.A.’s delaying approval. “We really have no evidence,” Dr. Okarma said, “that there was any political overhang.” But others said they suspected it was more than a coincidence that approval was granted right after the new administration took office.

Of course it was political. Yet another positive change we are already seeing with the new administration. And I agree with the remarks above... let's do this right.

{"commentId":4959068,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"Nic-24"}

2 votes

#3 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:14 AM EST

{"commentId":4959069,"authorDomain":"djantechnyc"}

Antech

FINALLY!!!!!!!!

{"commentId":4959069,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"djantechnyc"}

1 vote

#4 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:14 AM EST

{"commentId":4959646,"authorDomain":"trueautism"}

Aimee Franc

Indeed!

{"commentId":4959646,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"trueautism"}

2 votes

#4.1 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:41 AM EST

{"commentId":4960432,"authorDomain":"spaceyhippie"}

spaceyhippie

the worry here
n it's... not an unreasonable one...
is that the source o this great science
can only be obtained from fetal tissue
...n then a market for that sorta thingy
...but i have faith in science, enough
that this is just the tip o the iceberg
we really will figure it out eventually
...n in the free world market enough
that this has been researched elsewhere already
n those who have the means would do so anyway
n that's... without... knowing... anything
but jus because research is promising
is no reason to go hellfire bent toward sucha thingy
n so too, jus because ramifications are extenuating
is no reason to blindly prohibit outright sucha thingy
...so, the sane parental response would naturally be...
"those are valid concerns, o course we'll take steps to prevent em"
but the response to that is "there's no way to ensure that perfectly"
still for banning it outright n don even wanna think about it anymore
so it's guilty o the same thing it claims to be afraid of
...n fear as the only tool left to prevent a real progress
the argument hasta be approached thoroughly n comprehensively
right up science's alley
but politics is averse to such things
more comfy in the domain o sound-bytes
...n fortune cookie solutions to everything
so this argument falls to those who see things that way
...a clear right or wrong answer for just about everything
n you can't argue with that kinda logic
so the issue stubbornly refuses to go away
i wanna see superman walk again
i wanna heal aids n cancer etc in my lifetime
forbidding entry into god's domain
that's for god to do... he's revealed this thing
n it's not the tree o knowledge or anythingy
that's... actually... something else, entirely
but with knowledge comes responsibility
n knowing that is wisdom
staples o a happy society

{"commentId":4960432,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"spaceyhippie"}

1 vote

#5 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:11 AM EST

{"commentId":4960827,"authorDomain":"djantechnyc"}

Antech

That's not true. Recent research suggests that stem cells can be created from mucus and turned into any kind of cells for the human body.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/m756t08371241613/

If you can find better links, please post them...

{"commentId":4960827,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"djantechnyc"}

1 vote

#5.1 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:27 AM EST

{"commentId":4961715,"authorDomain":"cathyg-1"}

Justme-517872

Just curious here if anyone has some really good knowledge on the subject. Where do they get the empryonic stem cells from? Please skip obvious answers like "the human body". We were almost able to get my father into a clinical study on using stem cells to generate new heart muscle. It would be amazing if he would have the chance to live longer.

{"commentId":4961715,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"cathyg-1"}

1 vote

#6 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:01 PM EST

{"commentId":4962777,"authorDomain":"trueautism"}

Aimee Franc

aborted fetuses, unused embryos.

{"commentId":4962777,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"trueautism"}

1 vote

#6.1 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:44 PM EST

{"commentId":4965729,"authorDomain":"cathyg-1"}

Justme-517872

Thanks Aimee. At least the abortions can then go toward saving lives. Good stuff!!

p.s. Sorry for the seriously bad typing on the first comment lol. I just now noticed.

{"commentId":4965729,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"cathyg-1"}

1 vote

#6.2 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:49 PM EST

{"commentId":4973591,"authorDomain":"spaceyhippie"}

spaceyhippie

the resistance from this is from the dark-pharm-star-chamber... insidiousness... thingy...
a revolutionary healing process that makes conventional methods obsolete... demonized
in the before time, crowds were rabble roused to tar n feather similar interlopers wit ideas
n maybe there's no way to verify that presumptive paranoia
still, conscientious allowances in the "as if" category
might prove to be the more... reasonable approach
than whatever method we're conveniently already used to
...see, we're really the center... sane, rational... sober, etc...
...being scared away from our conservative cautious side...
embarrassed to show our pilgrim undergarments in public
we need to be seen as set apart... the positioning reason...
the mob seldom burns at the stake... one o their very own...
...i'd daresay: follow the money... outlaw lobbying n bribery
big money has far too much influence on its own already
but the magic pill to this festering blemish
is simply show everybody what it really is
getting the message out... is truth's best defense
isn't this why the prosecution typically goes first ?
the charge has been made... a new thing is bad
answer unequivocally... set calm minds to rest
oh
everybody pay attention
=oP

{"commentId":4973591,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"spaceyhippie"}

1 vote

#6.3 - Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:44 PM EST

{"commentId":4979163,"authorDomain":"txtj1"}

txtj1

good it can help people in the end

{"commentId":4979163,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"txtj1"}

1 vote

#7 - Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:47 PM EST

{"commentId":10644043,"authorDomain":"noanimaltesting"}

B.W.Darcy

A stem cell company called international Stem Cell(that does not use embryonic stem cells) is working on producing lab grown corneas for drug companies to test products on. It seems the lab grown corneas will have to be inspected by the FDA for approval. Here is the link with an article concerning the matter: http://www.zimbio.com/Stem+Cells/articles/SSjgsbiH5ek/ISCO+Eyes+See+Path+Huge+Profits+Patrick+Cox

{"commentId":10644043,"threadId":"479090","contentId":"2345938","authorDomain":"noanimaltesting"}

#8 - Thu Nov 12, 2009 3:49 PM EST

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"479090","isPrivate":false}

Green light for US stem cell work	BBC News	Fri Jan 23	6
US approves 1st stem cell study for spinal injury	Associated Press	Fri Jan 23	16
Stem-cell trial spotlights sector's prospects	Associated Press	Fri Jan 23	0

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