March 2005 Archives
Cord Blood Transplant Recipients Call on Senate to Pass Cord Blood Stem Cell Act of 2005; Photo Available
To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor, Photo Editor
Contact: Rich Miller-Murphy of the New York Blood Center, 212-570-3101 or 917-439-1727, Gladwyn Lopez of Rubenstein Communications, Inc., 212-843-9231 or 917-763-5336
News Advisory:
-- First Patient Cured of Sickle Cell Disease and Adult Patient Cured of Leukemia With Unrelated Cord Blood Transplants Call on Senate to Help Save Lives of Thousands Each Year by Passing Cord Blood Stem Cell Act of 2005 (S681)
-- Briefing to Include Presentation from New York Blood Center Experts and Details of Cord Blood Transplant Recipients' Personal Stories of Survival
...Posted on March 31, 2005 11:46 PM | Comments (0)
Spanish Church Announces Campaign Against Stem Cell Research
The Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) stated this past Wednesday that it will start a campaign within churches throughout Spain with the goal to protest the governments role in stem cell research, calling it "science without a conscience."
The campaign is titled "We Were All Embryos," the campaign opposes any research that would use living or dead embryos. "It's not a mere mass of live cells, but the first state of the existence of a human being," said a statement from the conference, Spain's highest Catholic institution.
...Continue reading "Spanish Church Announces Campaign Against Stem Cell Research"
Posted on March 31, 2005 08:10 PM | Comments (0)
Massachusetts Senate Approves Stem Cell Bill 35-2
Despite the Governor's threatened veto, the Massachusetts state Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill this past Wednesday legalize embryonic stem cell research.
The 35-2 vote came after only two hours of debate. This on the same day Gov. Mitt Romney launched radio campaign to urge the bill's defeat.
The Republican governor has however vowed to veto the measure ...
...Continue reading "Massachusetts Senate Approves Stem Cell Bill 35-2"
Posted on March 31, 2005 08:01 PM | Comments (0)
Mesoblast moves towards adult stem cell human trials
Australian adult stem cell company, Mesoblast Limited, announced, on March 30 2005, that it is set to begin the first human clinical trials using its specialist adult stem cells for orthopaedic and cardiovascular diseases.
Mesoblast Founder and Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Silviu Itescu, said the human pilot trials would be one of the most significant steps undertaken by the company in proving its technology.
...Continue reading "Mesoblast moves towards adult stem cell human trials"
Posted on March 31, 2005 07:50 PM | Comments (0)
Key Stem Cell Pioneer Start Business in Madison, WI
Dr. Jamie Thomson, the original University of Wisconsin at Madison scientist who was the first to isolate and reproduced human embryonic stem cells, has officially leased space at the University Research Park and will be starting a stem cell company.
Greg Hyer, who is the associate director of the park, stated that Thomson has leased a 700-square-foot lab in the MG&E Innovation Center. The name of the new firm is going to be Cellular Dynamics International, Inc.
...Continue reading "Key Stem Cell Pioneer Start Business in Madison, WI"
Posted on March 31, 2005 07:45 PM | Comments (0)
Samaritan Updates Alzheimer's and HIV Drug Development
Samaritan Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AMEX:LIV) a developer of innovative drugs announced today it has updated its Alzheimer's and HIV drug development programs.
Samaritan's Alzheimer's technology features: four promising therapeutics, SP-04, SP-04m, SP-08, and SP-233; two neural stem cell differentiation therapies, SP-sc4 and SP-sc7; a predictive diagnostic; and an animal model...
...Continue reading "Samaritan Updates Alzheimer's and HIV Drug Development"
Posted on March 31, 2005 07:39 PM | Comments (0)
StemCells, Inc. Issues FDA Update on Proposed Clinical Trial
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 2005--StemCells, Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM) today announced recent, positive progress towards its goal of initiating Phase I clinical testing of its proprietary neural cell therapy product - HuCNS-SC - in Batten disease.
On February 1, 2005, StemCells announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had orally informed it that the proposed trial had been placed on clinical hold. On February 25, 2005, the Company received a letter from the FDA confirming that fact and detailing the Agency's specific comments, questions and requests for additional information.
...Continue reading "StemCells, Inc. Issues FDA Update on Proposed Clinical Trial"
Posted on March 31, 2005 07:25 PM | Comments (0)
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Appoints Dr. Robert Shorr to the Board of Directors; Renowned Scientist, Entrepreneur and Business Development Veteran to Add Significant Value in Creating Alliances, Financing And Development
TEL AVIV, Israel-(BUSINESS WIRE)-March 31, 2005-BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (OTC BB: BCLI.OB), an emerging company in stem cell therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that Dr. Robert G.L. Shorr was appointed to the Board of Directors.
Dr. Shorr has great stature in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical space, having participated in the financing, business growth and development of multiple companies. His expertise varies from technological innovation, to strategic planning and implementation of research and business development, to the founding, financing and guiding of full commercialization of biotechnology ventures.
...Posted on March 31, 2005 06:55 PM | Comments (0)
Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc. and Roche Announce Co-promotion of MYCAMINE(TM)
DEERFIELD, Ill. and BASEL, Switzerland, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc. and Roche Pharmaceuticals today announced a partnership for the U.S. co-promotion of MYCAMINE(TM) (micafungin sodium) injection, Fujisawa's newly approved product for the treatment of patients with esophageal candidiasis and for the propylaxis of Candida infections in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
MYCAMINE, an antifungal in the echinocandin class, was approved by the US FDA on March 16, 2005. It is the first echinocandin approved for prophylaxis of Candida infections in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
...Continue reading "Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc. and Roche Announce Co-promotion of MYCAMINE(TM)"
Posted on March 31, 2005 06:04 PM | Comments (0)
U.S. BioDefense Files for Stem Cell Research Center of Excellence with National Institutes of Health with Research Collaborators from Los Alamos, CHOC, UCLA, and UCI and Liver Regeneration Technology from UCL Biomedica University College London
CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 30, 2005 - U.S. BioDefense, Inc. (OTCBB:UBDE) CEO David Chin is pleased to announce today that the company has filed a proposal in response to an RFA: "Center of Excellence in Translational Human Stem Cell Research" with the National Institutes of Health.
NIH components participating organizations include the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
...Posted on March 31, 2005 05:58 PM | Comments (0)
BrainStorm Appoints Prof. Jeffrey Kordower to its Scientific Advisory Board; World Renowned Neurologist and Specialist in Gene and Neural Transplantation to Provide Company Invaluable Guidance
TEL AVIV, Israel - BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (OTCBB:BCLI), an emerging company in stem cell therapeutics for neurological diseases, today announced that Prof. Jeffrey Kordower, globally renowned neurologist scientist has joined the Company's Scientific Advisory Board, bringing a wealth of experience in gene therapy and neural transplantation.
Dr. Kordower presently holds a joint appointment at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center as Professor of Neurosurgery and the Jean Schweppe-Armour Professor of Neurological Sciences.
...Posted on March 31, 2005 05:53 PM | Comments (0)
Verispan StateLine Issue Reports Monitor Legislative Activity Related to Specific Topics, Such as Stem Cell Research
YARDLEY, Pa. - Stem cell research has emerged as one of the most controversial and complex issues facing state lawmakers.
As the level of attention and controversy has increased, states are introducing and passing legislation in record numbers.
For example:
- California passed a November 2004 ballot measure providing $3 billion in state funding for stem cell research activities...
...Posted on March 31, 2005 05:49 PM | Comments (0)
Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Developing Parkinson's Treatment
Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics is currently developing a new stem cell therapy specifically to treat Parkinson's Disease. The research includes using a patient's bone marrow stem cells to produce the missing chemical that enables restoration of motor movement.
This process has shown to successfully alleviated symptoms of Parkinson's in rats. It will further be tested on monkeys next year. If all goes as planned, human clinical trials are scheduled for the following year.
...Continue reading "Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Developing Parkinson's Treatment"
Posted on March 31, 2005 12:13 PM | Comments (0)
Massachusetts Govenor Romney's Radio Ads Blast Stem Cell Pending Legislation
The political pressure on undecided lawmakers, hit a new pitch when Governor Mitt Romney launches a radio ad today describing the state Senate's stem cell measure as a "radical cloning bill" and urging its defeat.
"Cloning would mean creating new human life, new embryos, just for experimentation," Romney says in the 60-second ad, which will run on stations statewide, paid for by his political committee. "If like me you support stem cell research but you oppose cloning human embryos, please tell your legislator. Help me oppose the radical cloning bill now on Beacon Hill."
...Continue reading "Massachusetts Govenor Romney's Radio Ads Blast Stem Cell Pending Legislation"
Posted on March 30, 2005 07:56 PM | Comments (0)
ViaCell to Present at Lehman Brothers Eighth Annual Healthcare Conference
BOSTON, March 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ViaCell, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIAC - News), announced today that Marc D. Beer, President and CEO, is scheduled to give a corporate update at the Lehman Brothers Eighth Annual Healthcare Conference. The presentation is scheduled to occur on Thursday, March 31, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. Interested parties may access the live audio webcast of the presentation and replay it by visiting the ViaCell website at http://www.viacellinc.com. The webcast replay of the presentation will be archived on ViaCell's website until April 14, 2005.
...Continue reading "ViaCell to Present at Lehman Brothers Eighth Annual Healthcare Conference"
Posted on March 30, 2005 05:46 PM | Comments (0)
Research on Primate Embryonic Stem Cells Is Crucial For Developing Human Therapies According to Cloning and Stem Cells
LARCHMONT, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 29, 2005--Studying the embryonic stem (ES) cells of primates in parallel with ongoing research on human ES cells will accelerate the knowledge gained, improve techniques for working with ES cells, and maximize the potential for developing powerful new therapies to treat human degenerative diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, according to a provocative report to be published in the Summer 2005 (Volume 7, Number 2) issue of Cloning and Stem Cells, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The paper was published online ahead of print and is available free online at www.liebertpub.com/clo.
The great promise of embryonic stem cells for treating a range of human diseases will only be realized through combined research on human ES cells and studies in animal models. Intensive research and protocol development using ES cells derived from rhesus monkey embryos would greatly contribute to and accelerate the optimization of techniques for transforming human stem cells into safe and functional cells, tissues, and organs for replacement therapy....
...Posted on March 30, 2005 01:37 PM | Comments (0)
Cord Blood Effective Treatment For Heart Attacks
Stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood are shown to be an effective treatment heart attacks in an animal study.
Cardiologist Robert J. Henning, MD, and colleagues at the University of South Florida and James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital injected human umbilical cord blood (HUBC) directly into the hearts of rats soon after a heart attack. This treatment reduced the size of the overall heart damage and further restored pumping function.
Addtionally, the treatment required no additional drugs for preventing the rats' immune system from rejecting the human cells.
The study at USF will be published online this week in the journal Cell Transplantation. Further, it will be accompanied by an editorial discussing the progress of stem cell and cord blood therapy in treating heart attacks, or myocardial infarctions....
...Continue reading "Cord Blood Effective Treatment For Heart Attacks"
Posted on March 30, 2005 11:47 AM | Comments (0)
Research on Primate Embryonic Stem Cells Is Crucial For Developing Human Therapies According to Cloning and Stem Cells
Studying the embryonic stem (ES) cells of primates in parallel with ongoing research on human ES cells will accelerate the knowledge gained, improve techniques for working with ES cells, and maximize the potential for developing powerful new therapies to treat human degenerative diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, according to a provocative report to be published in the Summer 2005 (Volume 7, Number 2) issue of Cloning and Stem Cells, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
...Posted on March 30, 2005 12:33 AM | Comments (0)
Stem Cells Into Brain Cells?
Researchers are announcing that they have found a way to coax adult hair follicle stem cells into becoming brain cells. The research means these potentially precious cells may be everywhere there's hair.
Digging around a bit, I believe these are also what are known as neural crest stem cells. Will need to verify this one ...
The researchers at AntiCancer, Inc. in San Diego have coaxed adult stem cells in mice into turning into neurons. Writing in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the authors say, the results of their work suggests a new "source of undifferentiated multi-potent stem cells."
...Continue reading "Stem Cells Into Brain Cells?"
Posted on March 29, 2005 02:51 PM | Comments (0)
Maryland House Passes Stem Cell Research Bill!
The House of Delegates finally approved the legislation this past Monday that would provide roughly $25 million a year in funding for research which is performed in Maryland on embryonic stem cells.
The bill was approved on an 81-53 roll call. This bill now goes on to the State Senate, where it has already been approved by one committee. It is however waiting on a vote in a second committee.....
...Continue reading "Maryland House Passes Stem Cell Research Bill!"
Posted on March 29, 2005 02:43 PM | Comments (0)
Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Announced Today It Is Evaluating CAD/CAM Designs for Its Stem Cell Instruments, Anticipating Near Term Mold Completion and 510k Testing
Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Inc. (BMXG) announced today that it is evaluating its CAD/CAM designs for stem cell and tissue management instrumentation.
The Company anticipates submitting a 510(k) filing for its stem cell and tissue management instruments toward the end of May 2005.
...Posted on March 29, 2005 02:38 PM | Comments (0)
Asahi Kasei Medical and ThermoGenesis also expand distribution agreement
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., March 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- THERMOGENESIS CORP. (Nasdaq: KOOL - News) announced today that Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd. (Asahi), a premier supplier of medical products and disposables and the exclusive licensed distributor of the CryoSeal System in Japan, has completed their Pre-Market Approval (PMA) submission to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) following completion of their clinical trial on cardiovascular, orthopedic, neurosurgery and esophageal surgery patients. The clinical trial was designed to study efficacy, safety and usefulness of the "All-Autologous" CryoSeal Fibrin Sealant System. The fibrin sealant market in Japan is currently about $130 million/year.
Kevin Simpson, President and COO of ThermoGenesis commented, "This is a key milestone in the development of the CryoSeal System as a new safe alternative source of surgical sealant for Japan, the world's largest market for conventional fibrin sealants. Conventional fibrin sealants are prepared from 'pools' of thousands of units of purchased plasma and bovine lung tissue. The recent reports in Japanese medical journals have identified these 'pooled' products as a source of parvovirus B19 when transmitted to patients and is a cause of hemolytic anemia."
...Continue reading "Asahi Kasei Medical and ThermoGenesis also expand distribution agreement"
Posted on March 28, 2005 07:56 PM | Comments (0)
Unrelated: But Another 8.2 Earthquake Has Hit Indonesia
Sad as it is, another earthquake has hit Indonesia. 8.2 is what is being reported right now.
Man what a tragedy, as the rebuilding process was VERY much still underway.
CNN is reporting it, not sure if the site is updated yet on this
...Posted on March 28, 2005 07:27 PM | Comments (0)
Cord Blood Transplant in New Jersey Stops Krabbe Disease Progression
Ashleigh Gwin was diagnosed at 7 months old with Krabbe (krahb-AY) disease. Krabbe Disease is a genetic disorder that is usually fatal by the age of 2 unless treated successfully.
Ashleigh, who is now 28 months old, has since undergone a cord blood transplant. The goal of the transplant is to halt the disease's progression. However, unfortunately this procedure cannot undo the damage the disease had caused already.
Currently, new born babies are not routinely tested for Krabbe disease unless their parents have had another child with the illness before. Krabbe disease hinders development of the myelin sheath, the covering that protects the brain's nerve fibers. Unless it is treated, Krabbe Disease causes children to lose mental and motor function.
Most children are left blind and deaf, usually unable to move or speak....
...Continue reading "Cord Blood Transplant in New Jersey Stops Krabbe Disease Progression"
Posted on March 28, 2005 07:11 PM | Comments (0)
What Is Cord Blood? or What Is Umbilical Cord Blood?
Based on queries we are getting, we need make sure it is clear what cord blood actually is.
Cord Blood is short for Umbilical Cord Blood.
Right after the birth of a baby, the umbilical cord cut and usually discarded along with the placenta. Cord Blood is in short the blood and tissue collected from the umbilical cord after it is severed from the baby.
It is now known that this blood is a highly rich source of stem cells. The specific cells that are the most sought after are known as hematopoietic stem cells, which are also found in bone marrow, and are the foundation of the many types of blood cells. These cells further be used to treat various genetic disorders that affect the blood and the immune system.
To date, more than 45 disorders can be treated with stem cells from umbilical cord blood. Also, many other treatments are being researched that specifically use cord blood.
There are many commercial companies ramping up to provide services to parents to store their newborn baby’s cord blood, as well as several organizations in place to take donations of Cord Blood.
Finally, there are several congressional level bills pending that involved Cord Blood, one such bill can be found here: Cord Blood Stem Cell Act of 2003. There are many other State level actions as well.
Will try to gather them and post them here as well.
Posted on March 28, 2005 06:53 PM | Comments (0)
National Health Insurance Bureau in Taiwan May Cover Costs of Cord Blood Transplants
The National Health Insurance Bureau (NIHB) may cover the costs of cord blood transplants performed on young patients suffering from severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). SCID is a primary immune deficiency and could be fatal if not treated properly.
The Department of Health has agreed to study the insurance program that would cover the costs after the Chang Gung Children's Hospital successfully performed such operations on 10 children afflicted with thalassermia and other blood-related diseases. However, special funds would need to be allocated on a case-by-case basis by the department...
...Posted on March 28, 2005 05:04 PM | Comments (0)
Cord Blood America Reports 167% Increase in 2004 Revenues
LOS ANGELES, CA - (MARKET WIRE) - 03/28/2005 - Cord Blood America Inc. (OTC BB: CBAI) announced today revenue results for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004. Revenues in 2004 were $751,850, which is a 167% or $470,675 increase over revenues of $281,175 in 2003. Cord Blood America, Inc. also reported 225% growth for 2004 of enrollments in its umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation program as compared to enrollments in 2003.
All reported revenues reflect organic growth of Cord Partners, Inc., subsidiary of Cord Blood America, and do not include the revenue from Cord Blood America's latest acquisitions or subsidiaries.
...Continue reading "Cord Blood America Reports 167% Increase in 2004 Revenues"
Posted on March 28, 2005 04:51 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cell Research Bill Causes Even More Debate in Massachusetts
The "Massachusetts Stem Cell Call To Arms" debate will hit Beacon Hill this week. Lawmakers will be voting on a bill that could allow researchers to use embryonic stem cells. Needless to say, the proposal is generating some strong feelings on both sides of the issue.
Rhondella Richardson from Newscenter 5, reported that stem cell research legislation which was unveiled by Senate President Robert Travaglini in January it will on the firing line beginning this Wednesday. Supporters, however, are stepping up their ad campaign to ratchet up their lobbying efforts....
...Continue reading "Stem Cell Research Bill Causes Even More Debate in Massachusetts"
Posted on March 28, 2005 03:14 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cell Opponents Target Sen. Saland In New York
In a March 4 mailing from the New York State Right to Life Committee, Inc. instructs recipients to call state Senator Steve Saland (R-41st) immediately and demand he withdraw his support for what the letter calls a "clone & kill" stem cell research bill.
The main problem is that Senator Saland has never actually seen the bill in question...
...Continue reading "Stem Cell Opponents Target Sen. Saland In New York"
Posted on March 28, 2005 02:22 PM | Comments (0)
Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney Prepared to Veto Stem Cell Bill
Gov. Mitt Romney is in stare down mode with legislators over a stem cell research bill the Senate is set to debate this week because early changes in the controversial measure are unlikely to ease his objections.
"If it permits cloning of embryos for research, I think (a veto is) a safe bet," Romney's communications director, Eric Fehrnstrom, said regarding the bill filed by Senate President Robert E. Travaglini (D-East Boston)...
...Continue reading "Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney Prepared to Veto Stem Cell Bill"
Posted on March 28, 2005 02:19 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cell Research Bill Passed by Maryland State House Panel
A Maryland bill which provides state money for embryonic stem cell research will move onwards to the floor of the House of Delegates this morning after clearing the House Appropriations Committee last night.
Starting in 2007, this legislation would provide $23 million annually for research that potentially holds the promise for numerous debilitating conditions, including diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Opponents currently argue that the research, which is currently restricted on the federal level, is also unethical, because it involves the destruction of a viable human embryo...
...Continue reading "Stem Cell Research Bill Passed by Maryland State House Panel"
Posted on March 28, 2005 02:05 PM | Comments (0)
Researchers at USCD Produce Stem Cells Without Contaminated Animal Feeder Layers
More on the growth of embryonic stem cells without animal product related contamination:
Growth and maintenance of human embryonic stem cells without the use of contaminated animal products has also been demonstrated by University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine researchers in the Whittier Institute, La Jolla, California.
In the April 2005 issue of the journal Stem Cells, the latest study shows that laboratory culture media which is then enriched with a human protein called activin A is capable of maintaining human embryonic stem cells in a continuous undifferentiated state. This is the biggie. These cells can be kept in that state, to be used in effectively any number of different treatments .....
...Continue reading "Researchers at USCD Produce Stem Cells Without Contaminated Animal Feeder Layers"
Posted on March 28, 2005 02:00 PM | Comments (0)
Placenta Is A Rich Source Of Blood Stem Cells
Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute report a surprising finding about embryonic development: the blood system begins to form not only in the embryo itself, but also in the placenta, the organ that nurtures the baby in utero.
Meticulous experiments in mice revealed that the placenta harbors a large supply of hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells. These cells, which appear very early in development, are able to generate more blood stem cells and can give rise to a complete blood system when transplanted into an adult. Unlike other sites where blood stem cells are found during embryonic development, such as the liver, the stem cells in the placenta can increase in number without giving rise to mature, specialized cells.
...Continue reading "Placenta Is A Rich Source Of Blood Stem Cells"
Posted on March 28, 2005 11:36 AM | Comments (0)
U.K. Scientists Weigh in Behind MPs in Controversy over Stem Cell Research
Scientists in the United Kingdom have supported a controversial proposal by MPs that will allow the creation of human-animal hybrids for medical research.
They said that the use of such hybrids could potentially provide an answer to the shortage of human eggs. Further, that these kinds of developments had the potential to speed up stem cell research on debilitating and incurable diseases such as Parkinson’s and diabetes...
...Continue reading "U.K. Scientists Weigh in Behind MPs in Controversy over Stem Cell Research"
Posted on March 26, 2005 11:23 PM | Comments (0)
Johns Hopkins Begins Human Trials With Donor Adult Stem Cells To Repair Muscle Damaged From Heart Attack
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have begun what is believed to be the first clinical trial in the United States of adult mesenchymal stem cells to repair muscle damaged by heart attack, or myocardial infarct.
The so-called Phase I study is designed to test the safety of injecting adult stem cells at varying doses in patients who have recently suffered a heart attack.
An estimated 7 million Americans alive today have suffered at least one heart attack and so are at greater risk for chronic heart failure, sudden cardiac death or another, potentially fatal, heart attack.
“This is an important milestone on the journey to better cardiovascular care and to realization of the promise of adult stem cell research,” says lead study investigator and cardiologist Joshua Hare, M.D., professor of medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and its Heart Institute.
...Posted on March 26, 2005 02:47 PM | Comments (0)
Bioheart, Inc. Expands in Sunrise - Biologics Laboratory Focused on Regenerating Damaged Heart Muscle With Adult-Derived Muscle Stem Cells
SUNRISE, Fla., March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Howard J. Leonhardt, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Bioheart, Inc., and Sara Misselhorn, Representative from the Governor's Office of Tourism Trade and Economic Development, today announced the grand opening of Bioheart, Inc.'s new 6,015-square-foot state- of-the-art biologics research facility in Sunrise (13794 NW 4th Street).
Local officials and community leaders including Joseph Scuotto, Deputy Mayor, City of Sunrise; Ben Graber, Vice Mayor, Broward County; and James Tarlton (JT), President/CEO, The Broward Alliance, welcomed Bioheart to Broward County. The laboratory's main focus will be on developing and commercializing biologics to treat heart and cardiovascular diseases, in part, through the innovative use of adult-derived muscle stem cells. The new operation is expected to help spur the creation of many new high-value, high-wage jobs in Florida over the next decade.
...Posted on March 26, 2005 01:10 PM | Comments (0)
Embryonic Stem Cell Research in Australia Gets the Green Light
Australia - Prime Minister John Howard has abandoned an effort to extend restrictions on the scientific use of excess IVF embryos after finally failing to obtain state and territory consensus.
This decision means embryos created after April 5, 2002, may now be used in stem cell research.
As a result, the push to extend for another year a three-year moratorium is due to expire next month. This had raised fears among scientists that he may have been softening his previous solid support for embryo and stem cell research....
...Continue reading "Embryonic Stem Cell Research in Australia Gets the Green Light"
Posted on March 25, 2005 06:04 PM | Comments (0)
House Leaders In Washington Agree to Vote on Relaxing Stem Cell Limits
Representatives in the House have agreed to permit a floor vote on a bill that would loosen the restrictions on human embryonic stem cell research imposed by President Bush back in 2001.
The vote, which is expected to take place within the next two to three months, would be the first of its kind on the politically charged topic since Bush declared much of the research off-limits to federal funding.....
...Continue reading "House Leaders In Washington Agree to Vote on Relaxing Stem Cell Limits"
Posted on March 25, 2005 05:58 PM | Comments (0)
More Push for Stem Cell Research Funding in New York
Scientists from New York area universities and biotech companies joined with local activist Brooke Ellison and Rep. Steven Israel (D-Huntington) yesterday to demand that New York approve funding for medical research using embryonic stem cells.
Througough this month, legislation has been introduced within the State Assembly to create the New York State Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine.....
...Continue reading "More Push for Stem Cell Research Funding in New York"
Posted on March 25, 2005 05:54 PM | Comments (0)
Dr. Robert Lanza of Advanced Cell Technology Receives Wired Magazine's 2005 Rave Award for Medicine
- Lanza Recognized for Commitment to Finding Cures
WORCESTER, Mass., March 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dr. Robert Lanza, Vice President of Medical and Scientific Development at Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACTH) has been awarded the 2005 Rave Award for Medicine by Wired Magazine.
Wired Magazine recognized Dr. Lanza's for his commitment to finding cures through stem cell research and his recent work in coaxing stem cells to develop into retinal cells, showing that researchers may look at the transcriptome, or pattern of mRNA expression, to help more quickly identify cells that will mature into specialized tissue. According to Dr. Lanza, the retinal cells that grow could lead to a cure for some forms of blindness...
...Posted on March 25, 2005 05:46 PM | Comments (0)
University of Connecticut Nears Creation of Embryonic Stem Cells
The University of Connecticut has announced it is poised to become one of the first colleges in the country to actually launch a program for the development of human embryonic stem cells.
Xiangzhong "Jerry" Yang, who is a cloning expert and who directs the University's Center for Regenerative Biology, stated this past Thursday that his laboratory had become the first to create embryonic stem cells from cloned cattle embryos.
The work was done in a partnership with the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences...
...Continue reading "University of Connecticut Nears Creation of Embryonic Stem Cells"
Posted on March 25, 2005 05:43 PM | Comments (0)
Ohio State Researchers Develop Process For Mass Production Of Stem Cells
More on the researchers at Ohio State University who have developed a method for mass-producing embryonic stem cells.
That's important because traditional laboratory methods used to grow these cells are costly and don't produce cells fast enough to respond to increasing demands for human embryonic stem cells, said Shang-Tian Yang, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Ohio State University.
"We have to find a way to mass-produce them because traditional cell culturing methods can't meet the projected high market demand for stem cells," Yang said...
...Continue reading "Ohio State Researchers Develop Process For Mass Production Of Stem Cells"
Posted on March 25, 2005 12:17 PM | Comments (0)
Willie Terpstra Able To Speak Following Stem Cell Treatment
Willie Terpstra is finally able to speak again. This following a controversial stem-cell transplant in China on Monday.
The Rotorua, New Zealand woman suffers from incurable motor neurone disease. She appeared on television last Tuesday communicating actually with her voice rather than the talking machine she has used since the disease impaired her speech.
The 64-year-old's voice was hoarse and her words were difficult to understand but her family, who have been with her in Beijing, were overjoyed at her progress.
"Even if she can talk like this and the disease stops right here and the improvement stops right here, it'll be great. Now we can understand her again," her daughter Renske said on TVOne.
...Continue reading "Willie Terpstra Able To Speak Following Stem Cell Treatment"
Posted on March 25, 2005 11:58 AM | Comments (0)
BrainStorm Appoints Prof. Ole Isacson to Scientific Advisory Board; Award Winning Neurologist and Advisor to Michael J. Fox Foundation to Provide Compelling Research Direction
TEL AVIV, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 24, 2005 - BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (OTCBB:BCLI), an emerging company in stem cell therapeutics for neurological diseases, today announced that Prof. Ole Isacson, internationally renowned neurologist and pioneering innovator in cell therapeutic strategies for neural regeneration, was appointed to the Company's Scientific Advisory Board.
Dr. Isacson is a Professor of Neurology (Neuroscience) at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Center for Neuroregeneration Research and the McLean Hospital/Harvard University Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center of Excellence, and a Chair of the Regeneration and Repair Program, Harvard Center for Neurodegeneration and Repair. Professor Isacson, together with his team at the Harvard Medical School affiliated laboratory, works on scientific models and new concepts for therapies for neurodegenerative diseases including cell replacement, regeneration and protection, which have resulted in discoveries that led to clinical trials for Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases.
...Posted on March 24, 2005 06:36 PM | Comments (0)
Multicell Comments on CNN Story on Adult Stem Cells; Findings of Australian Scientists Highlight Potential for Company's Technology
WARWICK, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 24, 2005 - MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (MultiCell): (OTCBB: MUCL) commented today on an article which appeared on CNN.com that highlighted the potential for use of adult stem cells in having the same life-saving ability as those taken from embryos. The story noted that Australian scientists have found that stem cells taken from adults could have the same life-saving potential as those taken from embryos, a discovery that could potentially end the contentious debate over embryonic research.
...Posted on March 24, 2005 06:28 PM | Comments (0)
Pluristem Obtains Notice of Allowance from U.S. Patent Office Providing Broad Coverage of Proprietary Stem Cell Expansion Technology
HAIFA, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 24, 2005 - Pluristem Life Systems, Inc. (OTC BB: PLRS), a biotechnology company dedicated to the expansion of stem cells from umbilical cord blood to address a myriad of fatal illnesses, today announced that it received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent Office for "Method of Producing Undifferentiated Hematopoietic Stem Cells Using a Stationary Phase Plug Flow Bioreactor."
The patent allowance provides coverage to Pluristem's concept of creating a three-dimensional bone-like environment that supports stem cell expansion without differentiation.
Additionally, the patent allowance protects the concept and the mechanism of action of the PluriX(TM) bioreactor. Unlike the two-dimensional conditions and the suspension cultures utilized by most of our competitors, Pluristem's technology mimics the three dimensional (3-D) human bone marrow environment in order to achieve significant stem cell replication without the utilization of artificial substances.
...Posted on March 24, 2005 06:23 PM | Comments (0)
Massachusetts Poll Shows Residents Support Stem Cell Research
Lobbying for stem cell research increase in pitch on Beacon Hill with yet another poll showing overwhelming support for such research and further a coalition of more than 20 advocacy groups, scientists and researchers launching their campaign in support.
This latest action comes as lawmakers continue to review legislation sanctioning embryonic stem cell research in Massachusetts that would allow for the creation of embryos for research purposes.
According to survey results which was released on March 16, nearly four out of every five residents polled said they favored such legislation. According to the poll, which was commissioned by Results for America, 79 percent of respondents said they would favor the type of embryonic stem cell research allowed under the legislation that Gov. Mitt Romney believes crosses ethical boundaries.
...Continue reading "Massachusetts Poll Shows Residents Support Stem Cell Research"
Posted on March 24, 2005 04:37 PM | Comments (0)
California's Stem Cell Agency's Chairman Rejects Changes
The chairman of California's stem cell agency's oversight board has rejected every point in a petition seeking more open meetings, stricter conflict-of-interest rules and salary caps at the new research institute.
However, pressure has been mounting in the Legislature and in the courts to address each of these issues. The Independent Citizens Oversight Committee chairman Robert Klein II said yesterday the panel would hold hearings seeking solutions to a range of views on each issue - rather than limiting itself to the petitioners' views.....
...Continue reading "California's Stem Cell Agency's Chairman Rejects Changes"
Posted on March 24, 2005 03:18 PM | Comments (0)
California Court Dismisses Stem Cell Program Lawsuits
The California Supreme Court this past Wednesday dismissed two lawsuits that sought to block the state's publicly financed $3 billion stem cell research program approved by voters last year.
The court however, posted at its San Francisco headquarters, said the groups could refile their lawsuits in superior courts.
The two groups had filed their lawsuits directly in the state high court last month.
The first group, a nonprofit which includes conservative Christian and other organizations opposed to the stem cell program, argues that members of an oversight committee had conflicts of interest in deciding who should get state money for program grants and loans....
...Continue reading "California Court Dismisses Stem Cell Program Lawsuits"
Posted on March 24, 2005 01:38 PM | Comments (0)
Cord Blood Cells Differentiate Into Heart Muscle and Brain Cells
Researchers at Duke's Comprehensive Cancer Center have validated for the first time that stem cells in umbilical cord blood can infiltrate damaged heart tissue and further transform themselves into the kind of heart cells needed to halt further damage.
Duke physicians used cord blood to correct heart, brain and liver defects in children with rare metabolic diseases. Until now however, they lacked the molecular evidence to prove that the cord blood stem cells were actually part of a cure.....
...Continue reading "Cord Blood Cells Differentiate Into Heart Muscle and Brain Cells"
Posted on March 23, 2005 01:07 PM | Comments (0)
Scaffolding Allows Stem Cells To Become Functional Fat Cells
First off, I know .. not the sort of headline most Americans really want to hear .. but hey .. it does go deeper than that.
Researchers in Columbus, Ohio have used a new microscopic, three-dimensional scaffolding to get mouse stem cells to transform into fat cells. Then further to actually function identically to the way fat cells normally do in the body.
Other studies before have grown fat cells (adipocytes) in the laboratory, those cells never completely functioned the same way they do in normal tissue.
Specifically, they failed to produce the genetic and biologic components that cells require to work....
...Continue reading "Scaffolding Allows Stem Cells To Become Functional Fat Cells"
Posted on March 23, 2005 12:59 PM | Comments (0)
India's AIIMS to Give Proof of Stem Cell Research
The premier medical institute in New Delhi,India is all set to prove to the world the quality of its stem cell therapy which has conducted over the last 18 months on heart patients, with the help of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) technique.
"Positron Emission Tomography is being installed at AIIMS next month, through which we will get the final proof of our work on heart patients. All the patients would be screened for finding how viable our work was and would also study various heart tissues of the patients metabolically," Dr P Venugopal, director AIIMS, said....
Continue reading "India's AIIMS to Give Proof of Stem Cell Research"
Posted on March 23, 2005 12:18 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cell Therapeutics Announces Fiscal 2004 Year End Financial Results
Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp. (TSX-V: SSS) announced, on March 22, its financial results for the period ended December 31, 2004.
During the fiscal period ended December 31, 2004, SCT achieved several significant operational and financial milestones, including the following:
Established an operational presence by appointing key staff and seasoned board of directors....Continue reading "Stem Cell Therapeutics Announces Fiscal 2004 Year End Financial Results"
Posted on March 23, 2005 11:54 AM | Comments (0)
NJIT Presidential Award Winner Takes Stem Cell Research Another Step
Treena Arinzeh, a young professor who last year won a Presidential Award, the nation's highest scientific honor, is bringing the promise of stem cell research one step closer to reality.
Arinzeh, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at NJIT ( New Jersey Institute of Technology ), is researching the use of stem cells to induce bone repair.
Her research will help diabetics whose impaired bones will not properly heal...
...Continue reading "NJIT Presidential Award Winner Takes Stem Cell Research Another Step"
Posted on March 22, 2005 11:00 PM | Comments (0)
Majority of Brainstorm Shareholders Reaffirm Their Agreement to a 'Lock-Up' of Their Stock
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (OTC BB: BCLI.OB), an emerging company in stem cell therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that the Company has received signed confirmations from holders of 15,290,000 shares of Company Common Stock, representing 73.2 percent of the Company's issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock to a "lock-up" agreement with respect to their shares, which were purchased in July 2004.
...Posted on March 22, 2005 06:13 PM | Comments (0)
Legislation to Create a National Inventory of 150,000 Cord Blood Stem Cell Units Introduced in the Senate (S-681) and House (H.R. 596)
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., March 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ThermoGenesis Corp. (Nasdaq: KOOL) announced today that S-681 titled "Cord Blood Stem Cell Act of 2005" was introduced on March 17, 2005 in the Senate "to establish a National Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank network to prepare, store and distribute human umbilical cord blood stem cells for the treatment of patients and to support peer-reviewed research using such cells." This legislation follows the initial $19.4 million appropriation with extended funding which may exceed $150 million over five years.
Lead sponsor for S-681 was Senator Orrin Hatch (R, Utah) who was joined by four (4) co-sponsors; Arlen Specter (R, Pennsylvania), Sam Brownback (R, Kansas), Chris Dodd (D, Connecticut) and Tom Harkin (D, Iowa). This legislation is similar in intent to H.R. 596 which was recently introduced in the House of Representatives by lead sponsor, Representative Chris Smith (R, New Jersey) and 30 co-sponsors.
...Posted on March 22, 2005 04:51 PM | Comments (0)
Cord Blood Registry Reports Partial Victory: Competitor Viacord Removes Challenged Claims From Its Web Site Following Lawsuit for False and Misleading Advertising
SAN BRUNO, Calif., March 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cord Blood Registry (CBR), the leading provider of services for the storing and processing of newborn cord blood stem cells, announced today that within days of initiating its lawsuit against ViaCell, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIAC - News) and its wholly owned subsidiary Viacord, Inc. for false and misleading advertising, Viacord's Web site was modified to remove or address some of the offending claims.
The complaint, filed on February 25, 2005, in the Federal District Court in San Francisco, alleges that Viacord has disseminated and continues to disseminate false and misleading advertising to the public in an effort to promote their umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation services. Cord blood banking is a process that allows parents to have the stem cells from a newborn's cord blood cryopreserved for future medical uses.
...Posted on March 22, 2005 04:51 PM | Comments (0)
Chicken Embryos Used In Creating Nerve Cells
Scientists have transformed bone marrow stem cells into nerve cells by transplanting them into damaged chicken embryos. It appears that the embryos' internal repair mechanism reacted with the cells to significantly change their overall make up.
A team of researchers at the The University of Oslo hopes that the breakthrough could lead to a new source of cells to treat brain diseases like Parkinson's.
The details of the research are published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences....
Stem cells are master cells with the ability to form different kinds of tissue.
...Continue reading "Chicken Embryos Used In Creating Nerve Cells"
Posted on March 22, 2005 04:49 PM | Comments (0)
US Congress Bill Presented For the Creation of a Stem Cell Bank
ThermoGenesis Corp. said this past Monday that five U.S. senators have together introduced a bill to create a national bank of stem cells collected from the blood in umbilical cords.
The creation of this cord blood bank has been one of ThermoGenesis' longstanding goals.
The Cord Blood Stem Cell Act of 2005 is sponsored by Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch. Further, the Act is co-sponsored by two Democrats and two Republicans.....
...Continue reading "US Congress Bill Presented For the Creation of a Stem Cell Bank"
Posted on March 22, 2005 11:18 AM | Comments (0)
UK Stem Cell Foundation Hopes To Find Funding In Scotland
David Macauley, who is the chief executive of the UK Stem Cell Foundation, believes that years from now people stem cell research will be "probably the single biggest medical breakthrough in the 21st Century".
The UK Stem Cell Foundation itself was effectively started by Sir Chris Evans, who is one of Europe’s top biosciences venture capitalists.
The aim of the foundation, is to try to prevent the UK from failing to capitalise is seen as a largely UK breakthrough.
...Continue reading "UK Stem Cell Foundation Hopes To Find Funding In Scotland"
Posted on March 22, 2005 11:10 AM | Comments (0)
Albany Medical Center Hires Ethics Ace
A British company wants to make rings out of human bone, by growing a loved one's cells into a keepsake to be worn by his or her mate. This same company, this week, asked Glenn McGee to serve on its board of directors.
The rapid growth of Biomedical technology has produced both lifesaving therapies and some outright bizarre products. With this growth, it has also created scores of ethical dilemmas, posing new twists on long held questions about life.
Further, it has put philosophers like McGee in spotlight, with him testifying before Congress and appearing on TV and radio to debate stem cell research, cloning and the Terri Schiavo case....
...Continue reading "Albany Medical Center Hires Ethics Ace"
Posted on March 21, 2005 06:00 PM | Comments (0)
SCTI Retains Stern & Co. to Provide Integrated Investor and Media Relations Campaign
NEW YORK-March 21, 2005-Stem Cell Therapy International Corp. (SCTI), a leading supplier of xeno stem cells, that is, stem cells derived from animals, for transplant procedures in humans, today announced it has retained New York-based Stern & Co. to initiate an investor and media relations program.
SCTI is the only company in the world that prepares stem cell transplants of animal fetal origin, of all 200 cell types, for human therapeutic use, and delivers the same worldwide.
...Posted on March 21, 2005 05:18 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cells Taken From the Nose Easily Grown in Lab Environment
The publication of Mackay-Sim's research on the Developmental Dynamics website that adult stem cells lack the multipotency of embryonic stem cells and might not be as useful for stem-cell therapies was abruptly reversed.
"Our experiments have shown adult stem cells isolated from the olfactory mucosa have the ability to develop into many different cell types if they are given the right chemical or cellular environment," explains Mackay-Sim.
New nerve cells, glial cells, liver cells, heart cells, muscle cells -- all were grown in a dish from stem cells from the human nose. Establishing the versatility of these adult stem cells was in itself a significant scientific achievement, but the Griffith University team's experiments also uncovered a raft of additional advantages.
...Continue reading "Stem Cells Taken From the Nose Easily Grown in Lab Environment"
Posted on March 21, 2005 05:02 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cell Company List Updated Again
We updated the Stem Cell Company List again to get the most active companies put in place, and updated the company pages with of the information regarding their most recent developments. Will add to this list as we go as well, but I think its a lot better organized now and should keep this format for a while.
We have however had very little time to get the more detailed investment information in place. We will try and remedy this soon, as the latest stem cell news has been a little thinner than usual. Getting a lot of legislation news, but not as much science news. Hopefully we will see some changes along those lines this week as well.
...Posted on March 21, 2005 04:48 PM | Comments (0)
Promising Line of Human Embryonic Stem Cells for Parkinson's Disease Studies
There is a great deal of interest in the potential uses of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) for therapeutic purposes, such as transplantation.
These cells can also be used as models to study how human nerve cells develop or how diseases progress. In Parkinson's disease for example, a way to study human dopaminergic neurons is potentially of great value.
Human ESCs can be transformed into such neurons, but there are considerable technical difficulties in the creation and maintenance of many lines of hESCs.
...Continue reading "Promising Line of Human Embryonic Stem Cells for Parkinson's Disease Studies"
Posted on March 21, 2005 11:38 AM | Comments (0)
Testimony of Barbara Atkinson, MD on House Bill 2355
Testimony of Barbara Atkinson, MD
Executive Vice Chancellor
University of Kansas Medical Center
On House Bill 2355
House Federal and State Affairs Committee, Room 313-S, Statehouse
March 16, 2005Thank you to Chairman Edmonds, Vice Chair Siegfried, and the entire Committee for inviting me here this afternoon.
Serving as the Executive Vice Chancellor for the University of Kansas Medical Center, I am here to testify against House Bill 2355, an Act which, as now drafted, would restrict important medical research in the State of Kansas.
My opposition to this bill has nothing to do with the bill's professed objective, the banning of human reproductive cloning. Rather, it is grounded in my belief that the specific language of this bill as currently written will have significant unintended consequences, notably the restriction of medical research in the State of Kansas that holds the potential to alleviate much human suffering.
The issues surrounding stem cell research and therapeutic cloning have become highly politicized in recent weeks and months. As a physician, an educator, a researcher and a leader in the health care community, I believe it is my responsibility and the responsibility of all scientists and educators to be a resource, both to the public and to you, the lawmakers to whom the people of Kansas have entrusted responsibility to decide crucial issues such as this. Thank you for inviting me to testify before your Committee today.....
...
Continue reading "Testimony of Barbara Atkinson, MD on House Bill 2355"
Posted on March 21, 2005 10:51 AM | Comments (0)
Harbor-UCLA Surgeon and LA BioMed Investigator To Secure Prop. 71 Funds For Collaborative Stem Cell Research
Dr. Rod White routinely installs a kind of artificial patch into patients whose abdominal arteries have developed a dangerous aneurysm that threatens to burst at any moment.
These days, however, the chief of vascular surgery at County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and an investigator for the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute is also looking into a different kind of "patch". THis one made from more organic materials that may be even more useful for people recovering from a heart attack...
White is hopeing to get funding from Proposition 71 funds to support research into how human stem cells might be able to repair damaged heart muscle....
...Posted on March 20, 2005 11:54 PM | Comments (0)
Lifesaving Cord Blood and Umbilical Cords...
One person's medical waste has become a potential lifesaver for Donna Chovan.
An anonymous woman's umbilical cord has provided the stem cells Chovan needs to battle a virulent form of leukemia.
"What it means to me is a second chance," Chovan said. "Without it, I would have nowhere to go but to slowly disintegrate. It's life-changing. I'm completely grateful to the person who had the ability to donate."...Continue reading "Lifesaving Cord Blood and Umbilical Cords..."
Posted on March 20, 2005 11:48 PM | Comments (0)
Son's Disease Motivates Stem Cell Pioneer
Douglas Melton was at the beginning of a brilliant career in science. Melton was looking at the mysteries of early frog development when life sent him a message that no parent wants to get.
Sam, his son, who was just 6 months old then, fell sick morning 14 years ago, was breathing fast and throwing up. By that afternoon, Melton and his wife, Gail, were at a Children's Hospital in Boston, as their young son slipped toward unconsciousness.....
...Continue reading "Son's Disease Motivates Stem Cell Pioneer"
Posted on March 20, 2005 11:36 PM | Comments (0)
Mycamine Received FDA Approval - Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc.’s Echinocandin To Fight Candida Fungal Infections From Stem Cell Transplant
Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of micafungin sodium, the antifungal product for prophylaxis of Candida infections in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the treatment of esophageal candidiasis. The newly approved agent will be marketed in the United States under the name Mycamine(TM) (micafungin sodium for injection).
"This is an important milestone in Fujisawa's commitment to develop novel compounds that help patients with serious diseases," said Hideo Fukumoto, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc. "Micafungin sodium will allow us to expand our depth in the anti-fungal market and offer patients another treatment option to fight or prevent a life-threatening candida infection." Currently, Fujisawa markets the anti-fungal AmBisome(R) (a liposomal formulation of amphotericin B) in the United States.
...Posted on March 20, 2005 11:36 PM | Comments (0)
Harvard Provost Approves Embryonic Stem Cell Procedure
A top Harvard University official has approved the cloning of human cells to make embryonic stem cells. This brings scientists here even closer to launching an audacious but controversial effort to battle juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and other maladies in powerful new ways.
The new Harvard project, which Governor Mitt Romney has attacked on ethical grounds, cannot proceed until a university committee finalizes the protocol for protecting the volunteers who will provide cells. However, Dr. Steven E. Hyman, Harvard provost, said that after more than a year of review, the university has come to the conclusion that the work is ethically sound, not to mention scientifically important.
"This research holds the promise of important benefits for the understanding and treatment of serious human diseases," Hyman said. "I want to see the science progress within acceptable ethical boundaries."......
...Continue reading "Harvard Provost Approves Embryonic Stem Cell Procedure"
Posted on March 20, 2005 01:46 PM | Comments (0)
Robot Used To Inject Stem Cells Into Heart
For the first time, the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) has used a robot to inject stem cells directly into a human heart, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Anbumani Ramadoss said here on Friday.
"Stem cell research, having huge potential to cure a variety of diseases, will benefit with the use of robot as it will extend precision to the research," Ramadoss said inaugurating a three-day international workshop on Minimal Access Surgery (MAS) here.
This new technique, which is used for the first time, will help inject stem cells with a significantly smaller incision as compared to that in traditional procedures, Director AIIMS P Venugopal said...
...Continue reading "Robot Used To Inject Stem Cells Into Heart"
Posted on March 20, 2005 01:31 PM | Comments (0)
Russian Researchers-Embryo Stem Cells Can Repair Retina
I have personally been waiting for more news about research in this field and, even if it has been a loooong wait ... russian researchers are reporting about an embryonic stem cell treatment that has been used to repair damaged retinas in rabbits. Further, they are suggesting that this same treatment could be used one day to treat blindness in humans. This made my day, for very personal reasons ....
They transplanted cultivated cells into rabbit retinas damaged by a laser, placing them into several sections of burnt tissue....
...
Continue reading "Russian Researchers-Embryo Stem Cells Can Repair Retina"
Posted on March 18, 2005 11:35 PM | Comments (0)
California Talk on human stem cell research open to public
Stem cell research will be a hot topic at the American Association of University Women in California.
Susan Fisher, who is a professor and co-director of the human stem cell biology program at the University of California, San Francisco, will speak Saturday on the subject at the Pleasanton Hotel.
Her speech, "Demystifying Human Stem Cell Research," will describe the current research on human embryonic stem cell lines — a strategy that may be able to help patients of cancer, diabetes and spinal cord injuries, according to the association....
...Continue reading "California Talk on human stem cell research open to public"
Posted on March 18, 2005 10:56 PM | Comments (0)
ViaCell Went Boom on News of Genzyme Deal
Shares of ViaCell Inc. (NasdaqNM: VIAC) shot up by more than 25 percent this past Tuesday after the newly public developer of stem cell therapies announced a deal with Genzyme Corp. to research diabetes treatments with transplanted pancreatic stem cells.
Furthermore, Viacell held onto those gains more or less throughout this past week.
More Stem Cell Corporate shake rattle and hum included moves by U.S. Biodefense Inc. (OTCBB: UBDE) ..
...Continue reading "ViaCell Went Boom on News of Genzyme Deal"
Posted on March 18, 2005 10:53 PM | Comments (0)
Illinois Stem Cell Bill Advances in State Senate Committee
The current plan for supporting embryonic stem cell research with Illinois tax dollars won approval from a Senate committee after the debate on Thursday.
With this legislation, voters will be able to decide in a November 2006 referendum whether to approve a 6 percent tax on elective cosmetic surgery, such as liposuction or Botox injections.
The tax revenue would support borrowing $1 billion to finance stem-cell research...
...Continue reading "Illinois Stem Cell Bill Advances in State Senate Committee"
Posted on March 18, 2005 02:34 PM | Comments (0)
European Patent Law and Ethics Project
The European Commission’s Sixth Framework Programme is supporting a study that will provide an analysis of ethical and legal issues in the EU patent system, as applied to biotechnological inventions in general and to human embryonic stem cells related technology in particular with a view to ascertain the legal effect of ethical or legal divergence on European Patent Law.
The diversity of legal regimes regulating human embryonic stem cell research in Europe together with the subsidiarity principle, which devolves competency on legislation concerning ethical questions to Member States, has created uncertainty as to the legal scope of the "moral exclusion" clause in Article 6 of Directive 98/44/EC of 6 July 1998 on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions (the Biotech Directive)...
...Continue reading "European Patent Law and Ethics Project"
Posted on March 18, 2005 02:11 PM | Comments (0)
Senator Timilty of Massachusetts Co-Sponsors Bill Sanctioning Stem Cell Research
Massachusetts State Senator Jim Timilty, of the Bristol and Norfolk District, has endorsed legislation recently filed by Senate President Robert Travaglini and Senator Cynthia Stone Creem that would open the door for stem cell research in the commonwealth.
Bill S 25 will clear up issues within existing statutes and promote research by the state's bio-tech industry.
Timilty has recently been appointed chairman of the joint committee on Municipalities and Regional Government...
...Continue reading "Senator Timilty of Massachusetts Co-Sponsors Bill Sanctioning Stem Cell Research"
Posted on March 18, 2005 01:00 PM | Comments (0)
At Illinois Church, Surgeon Speaks Out Against Stem Cell Bill
Representatives of a Catholic Church in Springfield and a group of plastic surgeons argued Wednesday against a proposal to establish a stem cell research program in Illinois.
The measure, which is an initiative of state Comptroller Dan Hynes, would use a 6 percent tax on elective cosmetic surgeries to fund a $1 billion Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute. This measure would award $100 million annually in stem cell research grants over the next decade.
The Rev. Stuart Swetland, who is the director of the University of Illinois' Newman Catholic Center, told a Senate committee that using embryonic stem cells for research is unethical because embryos are considered human life....
...Continue reading "At Illinois Church, Surgeon Speaks Out Against Stem Cell Bill"
Posted on March 17, 2005 04:37 PM | Comments (0)
UCLA Prepares to Launch $20million Stem Cell Research Program
UCLA officials announced this past Tuesday the formation of the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine which will conduct embryonic and adult stem cell research that may lead to better treatments for illnesses like HIV, cancer as well as neurological disorders.
"As one of the world's leading research universities, UCLA has long been engaged in adult and embryonic stem cell research with activities in areas ranging from the AIDS Institute to the Brain Research Institute to the UCLA College," said UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale....
...Continue reading "UCLA Prepares to Launch $20million Stem Cell Research Program"
Posted on March 17, 2005 04:21 PM | Comments (0)
Washington House Passes Bill Endorsing Stem Cell Research While Prohibiting Human Cloning
The state House in Washington passed a bill endorsing stem cell research after an long hours of emotional floor debate late Tuesday night in which opponents warned that lawmakers were crossing a dangerous line.
The state decided it would permit stem cell research, including the use of embryonic stem cells, while prohibiting human cloning under the measure that passed on a 59-36 vote and now heads to the Senate, where a similar bill is awaiting action.....
...Posted on March 17, 2005 04:13 PM | Comments (0)
Over Two-Thirds of New Jersey Voters Support Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Trenton, N.J., March 16 - By a wide margin of 61-31 percent, New Jersey registered voters back a statewide bond initiative to raise $250 million for stem cell research, according to a new Hart Research survey conducted for Results For America (RFA), which is a project of the nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute.
Over four out of five (83 percent) state residents said that they think voters should decide the question of state funding for stem cell research, compared to only about one in 10 (11 percent) preferring to have state lawmakers handle the question.
...Continue reading "Over Two-Thirds of New Jersey Voters Support Embryonic Stem Cell Research"
Posted on March 17, 2005 03:50 PM | Comments (0)
Cord Blood Registry (CBR) Corp. Sheet
Corporate Summary (site quote):
CBR is the world’s largest newborn stem cell bank. CBR has been collecting and processing newborn stem cells for family banking since 1995, with profitable operations since 1999.
...Continue reading "Cord Blood Registry (CBR) Corp. Sheet"
Posted on March 17, 2005 02:14 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cell Research and the Avalanche of State-Funded Initiatives
New York, March 16 - The New York Biotechnology Association (NYBA) announced today that its 2005 Annual meeting keynote luncheon program
would focus on the impact major state funded initiatives such as Proposition 71 in California could have on biotech industry development in New York and across the nation.The keynote panel, moderated by new NYBA chairman Jack Huttner, VP of Public Affairs at Genencor International, features experts from industry, academia and finance, and will take place on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 from 12:30PM - 2:00PM at the Grand Hyatt in New York, NY.
...Continue reading "Stem Cell Research and the Avalanche of State-Funded Initiatives"
Posted on March 17, 2005 01:09 PM | Comments (0)
David A. Dodd Awarded 2005 Oglethorpe Sword By British American Business Group of Atlanta
Atlanta - March 16, 2005 - Serologicals Corporation (NASDAQ: SERO) announced today that David A. Dodd, President and Chief Executive Officer, has recently been awarded the prestigious Oglethorpe Sword, a ceremonial broad sword given annually to an American or British businessperson who has contributed significantly to Anglo-Georgia business interests.
The award was presented by Michael Bates, British Consul General of Atlanta, during the annual Oglethorpe Ball, hosted by the British American Business Group of Atlanta (BABG).
...Posted on March 17, 2005 01:03 PM | Comments (0)
United Kingdom Scientists Funding Boost
The funding boost for research and development was welcomed by scientists and chancellor's in universities and industry today.
Gordon Brown used his regular budget speech to announce new partnerships in stem cell and energy research as part of the government's 10-year science and innovation investment framework. Although the details are not yet clear, he may further seek to involve industry with academic researchers in seeking solutions...
...Continue reading "United Kingdom Scientists Funding Boost"
Posted on March 17, 2005 01:00 PM | Comments (0)
Campaign Seeks Minorities' Aid In Cord Blood Donation
Many of our readers here know that the blood from a baby's umbilical cord is rich in stem cells. However, minorities make up only a small percentage of those who agree to donate their baby's cord blood.
A summit held yesterday in Secaucus, New Jersey focused on how to raise awareness among various racial and ethnic groups about the value of cord blood. Additional information includes its use when a matching bone-marrow donor cannot be found.
"Far more white couples than African-American or Latinos donate their baby's cord blood," said state Health Commissioner Fred Jacobs, who opened the summit at Meadowlands Plaza Hotel.
...Continue reading "Campaign Seeks Minorities' Aid In Cord Blood Donation"
Posted on March 17, 2005 01:03 AM | Comments (0)
Cord Blood America Expects Record First Quarter 2005 Revenues
LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 03/15/2005 -- Cord Blood America, Inc. (OTC BB: CBAI) announced today that it anticipates first quarter 2005 revenues to be its strongest yet. Cord Blood America, Inc., of Los Angeles, CA, is the parent company of Cord Partners, Inc., a family cord blood preservation company. On February 28, 2005, Cord Blood America acquired Rainmakers International, which provides direct response advertising for family based products and services.
The company anticipates combined revenues to exceed $725,000 for the first quarter of fiscal year 2005. It is estimated that $250,000 or 35% of combined revenues will come from Cord Blood America's subsidiary, Cord Partners, Inc. This is a 145% increase in revenues for Cord Partners compared to the same quarter last year. The remaining 65% of combined revenues is expected to come from Rainmakers International.....
...Continue reading "Cord Blood America Expects Record First Quarter 2005 Revenues"
Posted on March 17, 2005 01:00 AM | Comments (0)
StemEx from Gamida Cell gets FDA Orphan Drug Designation
Stem cell expansion developer Gamida Cell has announced that the FDA has granted orphan drug designation to the company’s flagship product StemEx for use as hematopoietic support in patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies (cancer of the blood system) who are receiving high dose therapy.
The orphan drug status is granted by The FDA Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD) to promote the development of products that demonstrate promise for the treatment of rare diseases or conditions. Orphan drug designation provides for various regulatory and economic benefits which includes seven years of market exclusivity in the U.S. to the first entity that obtains marketing approval in the designated indication...
...Continue reading "StemEx from Gamida Cell gets FDA Orphan Drug Designation"
Posted on March 16, 2005 03:33 PM | Comments (0)
Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Reaches Short List of CFO Candidates
March 16, 2005 - Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Inc. (OTC: BMXG) announced today that the Company has conducted numerous interviews and has reached a short list of candidates.
From this short list, the Company anticipates being able to announce the installation of a Chief Financial Officer during the next two weeks.
Chairman David Koos stated, "The significance of finalizing the selection of a CFO is extremely important. Once the Company fills this position, we can begin to assemble the financials and prepare for an auditing of our books. All this is necessary in order to transition to becoming a reporting company, which is a major goal of our management team."...Continue reading "Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Reaches Short List of CFO Candidates"
Posted on March 16, 2005 03:29 PM | Comments (0)
Researchers Devise Way to Mass-produce Embryonic Stem Cells
March, 15 — Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a method for mass-producing embryonic stem cells. That's important because traditional laboratory methods used to grow these cells are costly and don't produce cells fast enough to respond to increasing demands for human embryonic stem cells, said Shang-Tian Yang, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Ohio State University.
Federal rules forbid the federal funding of research on human embryonic stem cell lines that aren't listed on the National Institutes of Health's Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry. There are currently 22 embryonic stem cell lines on the registry, and the demand for these cells is steadily growing.
...Continue reading "Researchers Devise Way to Mass-produce Embryonic Stem Cells"
Posted on March 16, 2005 02:42 PM | Comments (0)
Mesoblast Limited Awarded $1.5 million Grant for Adult Stem Cell Research
Australian adult stem cell company, Mesoblast Limited (ASX: MSB), today announced that its chief scientific advisor and founder, Professor Silviu Itescu, has been awarded a $1.5 million grant for pre-clinical and clinical development of mesenchymal lineage adult stem cells.
The grant was awarded under the prestigious National Health and Medical Research Council’s Program Grants Scheme, with the $1.5 million allocation being made under a specific Memorandum of Understanding...
...Continue reading "Mesoblast Limited Awarded $1.5 million Grant for Adult Stem Cell Research"
Posted on March 15, 2005 12:05 PM | Comments (0)
New Zealander Willie Terpstra Awaits Word on Timing of Stem-Cell Surgery
News is expected today on when Willie Terpstra will have a stem-cell transplant in China in a bid to ease her condition. Willie Terpstra, from New Zealand, is a motor neurone sufferer.
The 64-year-old has been in Beijing with her husband Rein and her family for more than a week. She was hoping to move from their hotel into the hospital yesterday for an MRI scan in preparation for treatment.
The two-hour long procedure which is given with local anaesthetic involves transplanting around two million stem cells from aborted foetuses directly into the brain...
...Continue reading "New Zealander Willie Terpstra Awaits Word on Timing of Stem-Cell Surgery"
Posted on March 15, 2005 11:55 AM | Comments (0)
Genzyme and Viacell Team Up To Conquer Diabetes
Stem-cell upstart Viacell Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAC) and Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ-NM: GENZ) are team up to develop a possible therapy they claim has a real chance of curing juvenile diabetes within a few short years.
This collaboration with Genzyme one heck of an endorsement for Viacell, which just recently went public this past January.
Hopefully in the future we will see more biotech stem cell companies share resources like this to combat illnesses such as diabetes. So many stem cell companies are highly focused on one treatment strategy, yet find procedures that can help develop additional therapies for unrelated ailments.
The terms of this deal between the firms were not disclosed, however Genzyme did say it will pay for d