June 2005 Archives
StemCells, Inc. Added to Russell 3000 Index
PALO ALTO, Calif. ( June 29, 2005) – StemCells, Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM) today announced its inclusion in the Russell 3000® Index. The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization.
Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for both passive and active investment strategies.
...Continue reading "StemCells, Inc. Added to Russell 3000 Index"
Posted on June 29, 2005 09:35 PM | Comments (0)
A Step Forward in Stem Cell Research
NEW YORK, June 27, 2005 - According to research published today, investigators from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) have used new techniques in the laboratory that allowed them for the first time to derive unlimited numbers of purified mesenchymal precursor cells from human embryonic stem cells (HESCs).
Mesenchymal precursor cells are capable of giving rise to fat, cartilage, bone, and skeletal muscle cells, and may potentially be used for regenerative stem cell therapy in bone, cartilage, or muscle replacement.
...Continue reading "A Step Forward in Stem Cell Research"
Posted on June 29, 2005 03:36 PM | Comments (0)
Korea Again Makes Stem Cell Therapy Breakthrough
Researchers in Korea have taken another leap forward advancing technologies revolving around the growth of stem cells into specific cells.
This latest breakthrough was headed by Seoul National University professor Moon Shin-yong, and his team. They said yesterday that they have found a method of coaxing human embryonic stem cells into insulin-secreting cells, essentially one step before making the beta cells that are in the pancreas.
...Continue reading "Korea Again Makes Stem Cell Therapy Breakthrough"
Posted on June 29, 2005 03:28 PM | Comments (0)
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Gives Old Animals Youthful Immune Cells
WORCESTER, Mass., June 29 -- Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (OTC BB: ACTC), and its collaborators reported today the long-term transplantation of clone-derived stem cells in an animal model of aging. Cells generated by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) offer the potential for treatment of a wide range of degenerative diseases.
The research, which was conducted by ACT and its collaborators at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Mayo Clinic, and the University of Pennsylvania, will appear in the June 2005 issue of Cloning and Stem Cells, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The paper demonstrates that cloned blood-forming stem cells are capable of long-term multilineage engraftment in an aged large animal model.
...Continue reading "Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Gives Old Animals Youthful Immune Cells"
Posted on June 29, 2005 10:35 AM | Comments (0)
American Diabetes Association Urges Fast Senate Action on Stem Cell Research Legislation
ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 28 -- The American Diabetes Association (the Association) today urged the U.S. Senate to take up and pass the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005" (S.471), legislation that would accelerate stem cell research by easing existing restrictions and supporting research that uses embryonic stem cells. In May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the stem cell legislation with clear, bipartisan support, and public opinion polls show a strong majority of Americans support stem cell research. The Association has been a strong supporter of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act because it would advance the search for better treatment and a cure for diabetes, one of the nation's most prevalent, debilitating and deadly diseases.
...Posted on June 29, 2005 10:29 AM | Comments (0)
Cambridge To Be New HQ for Scottish Stem Cell Company
Cambridge is to become the UK headquarters and a key hub in a global growth strategy for a Scottish stem cell company that will float on AIM in the next fortnight.
Stem Cell Sciences in Edinburgh will use some of the funding from the IPO to set up in Cambridge as a South East operations centre.
Continue reading "Cambridge To Be New HQ for Scottish Stem Cell Company"
Posted on June 29, 2005 01:37 AM | Comments (0)
Agilent Technologies Introduces Advanced Zebrafish, Mouse Microarrays for Stem Cell and Developmental Biology Research
Company Expands Portfolio of Model-Organism Genome Arrays Using Up-to-Date Content
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 28, 2005 - Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today introduced the industry's most up-to-date microarray to provide genome-wide coverage of the zebrafish (Danio rerio), and the first commercial whole mouse genome microarray based on the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Mouse Gene Index. The zebrafish and mouse microarrays were developed in collaboration with Icoria (a member of the Toxicogenomics Consortium) and the NIA, respectively.
...Posted on June 29, 2005 01:32 AM | Comments (0)
Johns Hopkins Scientists Use Gene Therapy To Prevent Heart Arrhythmias From Stem Cell Transplants
Heart specialists at Johns Hopkins believe they have figured a way around a persistent barrier to successful adult stem cell therapy for millions of Americans who have survived a heart attack but remain at risk of dying from chronic heart failure.
Two clinical trials since 2002 using transplanted adult stem cells successfully led to tissue regrowth in damaged hearts, but 11 of 18 patients later developed potentially fatal heart rhythm disturbances, including one who required cardiac resuscitation. “It was a potential case of the cure being worse than the disease,” says senior researcher and cardiovascular physiologist Eduardo Marbán, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chief of cardiology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and its Heart Institute. “It was very discouraging to know that these patients developed arrhythmias, yet not know if it was the muscle stem cells at fault or simply a progression of the patients’ heart disease.”
...Posted on June 29, 2005 01:27 AM | Comments (0)
New Life Scientific, Inc. and InvaPharm LLC Announce Joint Venture
FREEHOLD, N.J., June 24, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- New Life Scientific, Inc. (OTCBB:NWLF) and InvaPharm LLC ("InvaPharm") today jointly announced the formation of a joint venture whereby the two companies will operate under the name Invamed Pharma, Inc. ("Invamed Pharma").
InvaPharm has extensive experience in the technical development of pharmaceutical products. The company is the licensee of one pharmaceutical compound which is in Phase II clinical trial and has the rights to other compounds and certain applications for unique drug delivery systems.
...Continue reading "New Life Scientific, Inc. and InvaPharm LLC Announce Joint Venture"
Posted on June 29, 2005 01:15 AM | Comments (0)
Scientific America On Geron and Stem Cell Research Patents
Scientific America has a great article covering the rise of Geron in the stem cell research field. Essentially, Geron mades its name as a result of its patent might.
Geron for a long time held exclusive rights to many embryonic stem cell lines developed at the University of Wisconsin. The share in that was so large that many of its biotechnology rivals believed the company was in line to establish a stem cell monopoly. My how things change, much like the entire field of biotechnology.
...Continue reading "Scientific America On Geron and Stem Cell Research Patents"
Posted on June 28, 2005 05:59 PM | Comments (0)
Harvard Researcher Develops New Method Similar to Dedifferentiation
Technically speaking, I don't think this is full blown dedifferentiation, as we know thats a method of causing an adult cell to revert back to a stem cell. However, this is close on the heels of that kind of research.
Nature is reporting on new a research project being run by Kevin Eggan of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Recently he told an international scientific meeting that his lab has fused a human embryonic stem cell to an adult skin cell. Eggan further showed that the embryonic stem cell effectively "reprogrammed" the skin cell's nucleus, which then caused the skin cell to start behaving like an embryonic stem cell.
Eggan's research gives rise to the possibility that researchers may be able one day to develop human embryonic stem cell lines genetically matched to individual patients without first having to create an embryo clone of the patient. The theory is that researchers could reprogramme a patient's skin cells to behave like stem cells.
...Continue reading "Harvard Researcher Develops New Method Similar to Dedifferentiation"
Posted on June 28, 2005 01:22 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cell FAQ Over at Wired
Wired, as always has a really good article which provides us with a pretty simple breakdown on some of the questions most stem cell novices have. Now many of us here may not find this as useful, but for those of you who are here for the first time and are wondering .. here are some of the questions Wired is adding. We may have to add to this as well:
- What are embryonic stem cells?
- Why do scientists want to use stem cells?
Continue reading "Stem Cell FAQ Over at Wired"
Posted on June 28, 2005 01:07 PM | Comments (0)
PhereSys Therapeutics Corp. Sheet
Corporate Summary (site quote):
PhereSys Therapeutics is a privately held company founded to become the premier therapeutic apheresis and cellular therapies provider in the United States. Therapeutic Apheresis or 'blood filtering' is a medical procedure where whole blood is separated into its components in order to remove disease-causing substances for therapeutic purposes.
...Continue reading "PhereSys Therapeutics Corp. Sheet"
Posted on June 27, 2005 05:43 PM | Comments (0)
Molecular Mechanism Found for Stem Cell Therapies To Treat Eye Disorders
In discovering a protein that helps organize the development of the retina, UC Irvine researchers have found a new molecular mechanism that may allow for stem cell-based therapies to treat eye disorders such as retinal degeneration.
The finding also reveals how the retina's own stem cells can be directed to aid the growth of new cells to replace diseased or dying ones in the eye. Study results appear in the June 24 issue of the journal Science.
Anne L. Calof in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and her UCI colleagues have identified how a protein called GDF11 controls a key component of retinal-cell differentiation during development, which makes GDDF11 an attractive therapeutic target.
...Continue reading "Molecular Mechanism Found for Stem Cell Therapies To Treat Eye Disorders"
Posted on June 27, 2005 03:01 PM | Comments (0)
Singapore Pursuing Biotechnology
Singapore is pushing to be seen as a biotechnology center for world-class research and development where laboratory findings are rapidly converted into working clinical applications.
"We are seeing more companies with a strong interest to locate their R&D facilities in Singapore in order to leverage on Singapore’s capabilities in biomedical sciences research," said Mr Yeoh Keat Chuan, who is the Deputy Director of Biomedical Sciences Group part of the Singapore Economic Development Board. "Three of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis have established corporate R&D centres in Singapore, alongside numerous other biotechnology companies."
...Continue reading "Singapore Pursuing Biotechnology"
Posted on June 27, 2005 12:26 PM | Comments (0)
UK Stem Cell Firm Struggles With European IPO Market
Stem Cell Sciences stated last Wednesday it intends to float on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market. This move that would make the Scottish company one of the first embryonic stem cell related firms in the world to go public.
The company is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and sells cultures of embryonic stem cells to drug companies for use in screening potential medicines in early-stage preclinical trials. Stem Cell Sciences has provided the U.K. regulatory authorities with the required 10 day notice of its intended IPO.
...Continue reading "UK Stem Cell Firm Struggles With European IPO Market"
Posted on June 27, 2005 12:23 PM | Comments (0)
Bone Marrow Program Now Pushes Cord Blood Donations
The Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation, which is based in Boca Raton, Florida but is an international network, has just launched a new program working to convince Jewish familes to donate their babies’ umbilical cord blood.
"The blood is frozen and stored at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester," said Executive Director Jay Feinberg, who is himself a bone marrow recipient.
...Continue reading "Bone Marrow Program Now Pushes Cord Blood Donations"
Posted on June 24, 2005 05:33 PM | Comments (0)
PharmaFrontiers Completes $5.08 MM Financing
THE WOODLANDS, TX (June 20, 2005) -- PharmaFrontiers Corp. (OTCBB:PFTR), a company involved in the development and commercialization of cell therapies, has completed a private placement to institutional and other accredited investors of approximately 3.38MM units at $1.50 per unit; each unit is comprised of one share of newly issued common stock and three separate types of warrants to purchase a total of 2.75 shares of common stock at stated exercise prices for each type of warrant. Aggregate gross proceeds to the Company were $5.08MM. In connection with the private placement, PharmaFrontiers has agreed to file a registration statement on Form SB-2 by July 15, 2005 to register the re-sale of the shares of common stock and the shares underlying the warrants.
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Posted on June 23, 2005 11:41 PM | Comments (0)
Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Classified by "MicroRNA" Expression
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, U.S.A. – June 23, 2005 – In conjunction with the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual Meeting, Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, and the University of Colorado today presented data using a preliminary version of Applied Biosystems TaqMan® MicroRNA Assays to profile microRNA (miRNA) expression in mouse stem cells.
The collaborative research study shows embryonic stem cells can be classified according to miRNA expression profiles, potentially having implications in determining optimal stem cell lines. Using TaqMan miRNA assays, researchers were able to accurately determine expression levels across a large panel of miRNAs and reveal precise changes in individual miRNA expression during stem cell differentiation. The assays discriminated between miRNAs differing by as little as a single nucleotide and between mature miRNAs and their precursors, even in single cells.
Increasing evidence indicates miRNAs, a recently discovered class of small RNA molecules, play a powerful gene regulatory role in cell differentiation and developmental biology, cancer, and other diseases.
...Continue reading "Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Classified by "MicroRNA" Expression"
Posted on June 23, 2005 07:26 PM | Comments (0)
Cord Blood America Chairman and CEO Matthew Schissler Addresses Investors Through Webcast
LOS ANGELES, June 23, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Cord Blood America, Inc. (OTCBB:CBAI), an umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company, is pleased to provide shareholders and prospective shareholders with an executive address from Chairman and CEO Matthew Schissler.
...Posted on June 23, 2005 07:21 PM | Comments (0)
New Investment Report Reveals Rapid Growth of Stem Cell Technology Research
Investment into stem cell technology is continuing apace despite public controversy and legal and regulatory barriers, according to a report by Marks & Clerk, one of the world’s leading firms of patent and trade mark attorneys. In its Biotechnology Report 2005, Marks & Clerk explores worldwide patent activity related to stem cell technology, bionanotechnology and cancer therapeutics.
- Investment into stem cell technology continuing despite difficult regulatory environment
- UK leads the way in European stem cell research
- Large pharmaceutical companies falling behind on frontline research & development
- China biggest growth area for research and development in cancer therapeutics
...Continue reading "New Investment Report Reveals Rapid Growth of Stem Cell Technology Research"
Posted on June 23, 2005 02:18 PM | Comments (0)
Wake Forest Researchers Grow Stem Cells From Skin
Researchers at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine are announcing that they have successfully isolated stem cells from human skin. Further, they have grown them in the lab and then finally caused them to differentiate into fat, muscle and bone cells.
This latest study, is one of the first studies to show that a single adult stem cell can actually differentiate into multiple tissue types.
"These cells should provide a valuable resource for tissue repair and for organs as well," said Anthony Atala, M.D., director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and senior researcher on the project. "Because these cells are taken from a patient’s own skin, there would not be problems with organ or tissue rejection."
...Continue reading "Wake Forest Researchers Grow Stem Cells From Skin"
Posted on June 23, 2005 01:19 PM | Comments (0)
Geron Announces Publication Describing Hematopoietic Cells Derived From Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs )
Menlo Park, CA – June 22, 2005 – Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) announced today a publication showing that hematopoietic cells can be derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) maintained in a simple culture system without feeders or conditioned medium. This work shows that hESCs can be propagated in a culture system appropriate for the efficient manufacture of therapeutically relevant cells.
In a report published in the June 15th issue of Blood, Dr. Mick Bhatia and his colleagues at the Krembil Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the Robarts Research Institute in London, Ontario demonstrated that hESCs can be grown in culture on an extracellular matrix with the use of a single growth factor in a serum-replacement medium.
...Posted on June 23, 2005 12:59 PM | Comments (0)
Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Manufactures First Complete Set of Stem Cell Disposable Devices
SAN DIEGO - (BUSINESS WIRE) - June 22, 2005 - Bio-Matrix Scientific Group Inc. (OTC: BMXP) announced today that it has manufactured its first complete set of disposable instruments for stem cell research and tissue transfer procedures.
The Company anticipates entering full manufacturing of these instruments sometime late August 2005, conditional to passing the FDA's 510(k) process.
...Posted on June 23, 2005 12:52 PM | Comments (0)
A.C.T. Holdings, Inc. Announces Name Change to Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.; Company Receives New Trading Symbol: OTCBB: ACTC
WORCESTER, Mass. - June 22, 2005 - A.C.T. Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB:ACTH) today announced a company name change from A.C.T. Holdings, Inc. to Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. In connection with the name change, the company's trading symbol has been changed from ACTH to ACTC.
These changes will become effective beginning on June 23, 2005.
...Posted on June 23, 2005 12:47 PM | Comments (0)
Serologicals Announces Accelerated Integration Program for Research Segment; Synergies & Progress Anticipated to Exceed Original Expectations
ATLANTA, GA - June 21, 2005 - Serologicals Corporation today outlined an accelerated integration program for its Chemicon and Upstate units that is anticipated to result in several accretive contributions to the Company's performance and operations. Specific objectives include:
• New product development-to-introduction time to be reduced from a current average of 9-12 months to 6-9 months;
• Number of new products introduced to increase from a level of 1200 in 2004 to over 1500 annually, beginning in 2005;
...Posted on June 23, 2005 11:24 AM | Comments (0)
Serologicals Corporation Announces Collaboration with CXR Biosciences
ATLANTA, GA – June 22, 2005 – Serologicals Corporation (NASDAQ: SERO) today announced that Upstate Group, its wholly owned subsidiary, has initiated a collaboration with CXR Biosciences to establish a battery of proprietary in vitro screens to select, at an early stage, candidate molecules for further development. The underlying principle of the platform is to enable the identification of compounds with the most optimal safety or bioavailability profiles as early in the drug development process as possible. The result of this will be to advance molecules most likely to succeed into clinical development, thereby reducing the overall time-to-market of life-enhancing therapies.
...Continue reading "Serologicals Corporation Announces Collaboration with CXR Biosciences"
Posted on June 23, 2005 11:13 AM | Comments (0)
Sangamo BioSciences ZFP Therapeutic(TM) Data to Be Presented at the 3rd Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research
RICHMOND, Calif., June 21 - Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO) today announced the Company will present data from its programs to develop novel zinc finger DNA-binding protein (ZFP) Therapeutics(TM) at the third Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). The meeting will take place in San Francisco from June 23rd through June 25th.
...Posted on June 23, 2005 10:59 AM | Comments (0)
Stem Cell Research Takes New Twist In Blood Development
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed a new way to study human blood development using human embryonic stem cells grown in a lab rather than using the embryos themselves.
This latest process gets around much of the the ethical and technical hurdles involved in such research.
This new system involves the study of existing embryonic stem cell lines derived from in vitro fertilization, and as a result, doesn’t require the generation of new cloned embryos, like the technique recently reported by South Korean scientists.
Continue reading "Stem Cell Research Takes New Twist In Blood Development"
Posted on June 22, 2005 06:34 PM | Comments (0)
Lifebank Appoints Preeminent Hematologist to Advisory Board
Lifebank Cryogenics Corp. (TSX VENTURE:LBK) is pleased to announce that Dr. Pierre Laneuville, BSc, M.D., FRCP(C), has agreed to join its medical and scientific advisory board.
Dr. Laneuville is a senior physician in the division of hematology, department of medicine at Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital, and an associate professor in the department of medicine at McGill University. He is also the current vice-president and the next president of the Canadian Hematology Association.
Dr. Laneuville graduated in 1978 with honours in biochemistry from McMaster University and received his M.D. from the University of Ottawa in 1982. He completed his clinical training at Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University, in internal medicine in 1985 and in hematology in 1987. Since then, he has held numerous posts at both the Royal Victoria Hospital and McGill University.
...Continue reading "Lifebank Appoints Preeminent Hematologist to Advisory Board"
Posted on June 22, 2005 06:29 PM | Comments (0)
Timothy M. Mayleben Elected to Aastrom Biosciences' Board of Directors
ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASTM - News) announced today that Timothy M. Mayleben has been elected to the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Mayleben's election became effective June 20, 2005 per unanimous written consent of Aastrom's Board of Directors.
"Mr. Mayleben's broad expertise in both the financial and operational management of a successful biotechnology company will be of great value to Aastrom as we move through the development process," said R. Douglas Armstrong, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Aastrom. "We particularly look forward to his experience in the public biotechnology sector."
...Continue reading "Timothy M. Mayleben Elected to Aastrom Biosciences' Board of Directors"
Posted on June 22, 2005 06:04 PM | Comments (0)
Celgene's Revlimid Will Generate $321 Million in Sales for the Multiple Myeloma Drug Market in 2009
WALTHAM, Mass., June 22, 2005 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, Inc., one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and health care issues, forecasts that sales of Celgene's Revlimid, an oral immunomodulatory agent for the treatment of multiple myeloma, will generate $321 million in sales in 2009. According to the new Pharmacor study entitled Multiple Myeloma, the anticipated approval of Revlimid for second-line therapy will considerably expand the multiple myeloma drug market thanks to its oral formulation and favorable toxicity profile that will encourage significant off-label use in first-line and maintenance therapy.
The study also finds that approval of Millennium Pharmaceuticals/Johnson & Johnson's Velcade (bortezomib) for first relapse in the United States and Europe will result in many more patients receiving this agent. The launch of bortezomib in Japan will also enhance sales of this agent.
...Posted on June 22, 2005 06:00 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cell Research Company In Scotland Targetting July, 10 IPO
A stem cell research firm based in Scotland is trying to raise 10 million pounds ($18.3 million) by posting to London's junior stock market next month to help fund new research.
Stem Cell Sciences Plc stated that it plans to use the money in order to set up a subsidiary in the United States in addition to the one that is currently in Japan, Furthermore they hope to develop more research projects and establish yet another laboratory in England.
"We want to expand our opportunities," Chief Executive Peter Mountford was quoted as saying Wednesday. "This is one of the great opportunities in medical research."
...Continue reading "Stem Cell Research Company In Scotland Targetting July, 10 IPO"
Posted on June 22, 2005 05:59 PM | Comments (0)
Aastrom Biosciences Appoints New Chief Financial Officer
Ann Arbor, Michigan, June 20, 2005 -- Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASTM) announced today the appointment of Gerald ("Jerry") D. Brennan, Jr., JD, as Vice President Administrative and Financial Operations and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Brennan will assume his position with the Company effective July 2, 2005, following the retirement of Alan M. Wright, Aastrom's current CFO and Senior Vice President Administrative and Financial Operations.
Mr. Brennan brings almost two decades of strong financial and operational expertise to Aastrom, gained from his experience in senior management level positions. He will come to the Company from Great Lakes Chemical Corporation, where he serves as Director New Ventures, and previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Great Lakes Fine Chemical Division and Monsanto Pharma Tech. Prior to that time, Mr. Brennan was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Capcom Coin-Op, Inc., and he served in various management positions at Tupperware including Vice President of Distributor Operations and Administration for Tupperware North America, President of Tupperware Canada and General Counsel of Tupperware Worldwide. He has also served as Tax Counsel at Premark and as a Tax Manager at Coopers & Lybrand. Mr. Brennan holds a BSBA in Accounting and Business Economics, from Marquette University, and a JD from the University of Illinois. Mr. Brennan is a member of the Illinois Bar, and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois.
...Continue reading "Aastrom Biosciences Appoints New Chief Financial Officer"
Posted on June 22, 2005 01:30 AM | Comments (0)
Geron Publication Describes Human Embryonic Stem Cells Propagated Using Defined Serum-Free Medium in the Absence of Animal-Derived Products or Feeder Cells
Menlo Park, CA – June 21, 2005 – Geron Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) announced today the publication of studies which show that human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can be cultured at scale in chemically defined serum-free medium without the use of animal-derived products or feeder cells. This achievement marks an important milestone in the development of high quality production systems for the manufacture of hESC-derived cells for therapeutic use.
Available online today in the journal Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Geron researchers published new procedures to culture hESCs which eliminate the need for media conditioned by feeder cells or for special products derived from animals. The new culture system utilizes a single recombinant human growth factor, a human extracellular matrix protein, and defined medium manufactured using current good manufacturing practices (cGMP). The hESCs produced using this method continue to express the markers characteristic of undifferentiated cells and will differentiate into all three developmental lineages of human tissue.
...Posted on June 21, 2005 10:54 PM | Comments (0)
Chemokine Therapeutics Discusses US Patent for novel cancer drug and its clinical developments with AudioStocks.com
Vancouver, BC (June 16, 2005) – Chemokine Therapeutics Corp. (the Company) (TSX: CTI, OTCBB: CHKT), a biotechnology company developing peptide-based therapies to treat cancer, blood disorders, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases, today announced the availability of an online interview with CEO Dr. Hassan Salari. Dr. Salari discusses the commercial prospects of the Company's multi-functional drugs that target stem cells to combat unmet medical needs.
...Posted on June 21, 2005 01:09 PM | Comments (0)
Stem cell research activist, Dr. Wise Young, tackles current issues
This is a pretty good article giving us the background of Dr. Wise Young, a Rutgers University neuroscientist who has a great deal of interest in stem cell research being done abroad, specifically China, Korea and Portugal.
As proof of this, he runs a site where in ten minutes following the announcement that South Korean scientists had discovered an a new and efficient way to produce stem cells, the world's largest website focusing on spinal cord related issues carried the story.
"It's unbelievable someone's trolling the literature and posting it right away like that," said Dr. Wise Young, administrator of www.sciwire.com.
Dr. Young recently spoke in Michigan to address an all-day symposium sponsored by the University of Michigan.
...Continue reading "Stem cell research activist, Dr. Wise Young, tackles current issues"
Posted on June 21, 2005 12:04 PM | Comments (0)
Advanced Cell Technology Expands Senior Scientific Team into California
Worcester, MA, June 17, 2005 – Michael West, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of A.C.T. Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB:ACTH.OB) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (collectively, "ACT") announced today the expansion of ACT’s senior scientific team with the addition of senior scientists that will add to the existing California team. California research is an increasing focus for ACT, given voters recently approved $3 billion in state funds for stem cell research.
...Continue reading "Advanced Cell Technology Expands Senior Scientific Team into California"
Posted on June 21, 2005 11:48 AM | Comments (0)
Breakthrough isolating embryo-quality stem cells from blood
Professor Josef Käs and Dr Jochen Guck from the University of Leipzig have developed a procedure that can extract and isolate embryo-quality stem cells from adult blood for the first time. This new technique could unlock the stem cell revolution and stimulate a boom in medical research using stem cells.
Stem cells are cells which have not yet differentiated into specialised tissues such as skin, brain or muscle. They promise a new class of regenerative medicine, which could repair apparently permanent damage such as heart disease or Parkinson’s. The cells are currently taken from aborted human foetuses, an issue which has led to controversy and opposition in many parts of the world. Any alternative source, such as voluntary adult donations, could spark a boom in new cures.
...Continue reading " Breakthrough isolating embryo-quality stem cells from blood"
Posted on June 20, 2005 11:08 PM | Comments (0)
AmCyte to Present at BIO 2005 Conference
Los Angeles – June 8th, 2005. AmCyte Inc., a leader in encapsulated islet replacement and pancreatic adult stem cells, will present at the BIO 2005 Conference in Philadelphia on Tuesday June 21st at 12 noon in Room A as part of the Business Forum.
AmCyte is proud to be selected to present at the largest biotechnology conference of the year with well over 10,000 delegates expected representing every biotechnology and pharmaceutical region of the world.
...Continue reading "AmCyte to Present at BIO 2005 Conference"
Posted on June 20, 2005 07:13 PM | Comments (0)
Landmark Stem Cell Law Caps Year of Progress in Connecticut
PHILADELPHIA, June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor M. Jodi Rell's June 15 signing of a landmark embryonic stem cell research bill dramatically capped a year of lively development in Connecticut bioscience. The state's biotech and pharma companies, its major research universities, and its network of bioscience support organizations all reported significant progress.
"Connecticut has a vigorous and growing bioscience industry," said Paul Pescatello, president and CEO of CURE (Connecticut United for Research Excellence, Inc.), the educational and business support network organization for bioscience in Connecticut, as he arrived in Philadelphia to attend the international BIO 2005 convention there. "Situated within the East Coast healthcare corridor between Washington and Boston, and with a state government acting to encourage the industry's development, Connecticut is the ideal location for new bioscience investment."
...Continue reading "Landmark Stem Cell Law Caps Year of Progress in Connecticut"
Posted on June 20, 2005 07:08 PM | Comments (0)
And Then, There Were Chicken Stem Cells
Stem cell researchers in Korea have once again, pulled another rabbit out of the hat so to speak in regards to cloning research. The Korean research team lead by Han Jae-yong, has created chickens by causing the development of mature cells to revert back into stem cells. This is the cloning Holy Grail effectively, and is know as de-differentiation.
"After collecting primordial germ cells, which develop into sperm or eggs, from 5.5-day-old chicken embryos, we cultured them into stem cells," Han said.
Now lets think about this before I go further. Essentially, what has been done here is that cells that are fully formed and differentiated, have been coaxed to revert back to being undifferentiated stem cells. Going even further to prove that this in fact worked, they took the cells, reimplanted them back into an egg it seems they developed into a complete chicken embryo.
...Continue reading "And Then, There Were Chicken Stem Cells"
Posted on June 20, 2005 06:40 PM | Comments (0)
10 'Daddies-to-Be' Kicked Off Father's Day Weekend at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the First-Ever Daddy Olympics as They Competed Against Each Other in Fatherly Skills
LOS ANGELES, June 17 -- The Olympic flame burned once again in Los Angeles this morning as 10 expectant fathers participated in the pursuit of "daddy gold medals," in the first-ever Daddy Olympics in front of The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The "Olympians" tested their skills as to how fast they could successfully change diapers, paint nursery walls, install car seats, prepare formula and assemble baby playpens in an effort to show off their preparedness for fatherhood to the crowd of moms-to-be as well as curious onlookers. The five fastest fathers won more than $5,000 in prizes, and all 10 contestants went home with the "gold medal" gift of life -- cord blood storage for their new baby -- a $1,480 value provided by event sponsor Family Cord Blood Services, formerly known as California Cryobank Stem Cell Services, a recognized leader in cord blood banking.
...Posted on June 20, 2005 06:37 PM | Comments (0)
Adult Stem Cell Research Eases Concerns Regarding Embryonic Stem Cell Research
As the US Congress passionately debates the ethic issues revolving around of embryonic stem cell research, Osiris Therapeutics Inc. employees continue their work on adult stem cells, which bypass all the moral issues.
This with the Food and Drug Administration's fast-track designation, Osiris plans to have an adult stem cell therapy on the market by late 2007. This treatment is targetting potentially fatal tissue rejection among leukemia patients undergoing bone marrow transplants.
...Continue reading "Adult Stem Cell Research Eases Concerns Regarding Embryonic Stem Cell Research"
Posted on June 20, 2005 02:46 PM | Comments (0)
Reproductive Research Now Looking At Stem Cell Research
Researchers in Britain are now showing that that stem cells extracted from human embryos can be developed into the early forms of cells that become eggs or sperm. This latest announcement increases the likelyhood that one day eggs and sperm needed for infertility treatment could be grown.
To touch also clearly hit a nerve, some of this research also suggests that researchers may eventually be able to use this technique to create eggs for cloning....
...Continue reading "Reproductive Research Now Looking At Stem Cell Research"
Posted on June 20, 2005 02:45 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cell Training Program To Make Its Stanford Debut
STANFORD, Calif. — For the first time ever, an advanced training program that teaches how to create and maintain embryonic stem cell lines will be offered outside of the University of Pittsburgh, where it originated in 2003. The weeklong course on these all-purpose cells, which can develop into any of the tissue in the adult body, will run June 15-23 at the James H. Clark Center at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Among the many stem cell luminaries participating in the event will be one of the most sought-after speakers in the field: Woo-Suk Hwang, PhD, of Seoul National University, who led the research team that recently succeeded in creating 11 new stem cell lines from cloned embryos, will lecture June 17 at 8 a.m., in addition to helping to teach some of the laboratory seminars.
...Continue reading "Stem Cell Training Program To Make Its Stanford Debut"
Posted on June 20, 2005 11:40 AM | Comments (0)
Victoria Launches New Human Embryonic Stem Cell Line & Drives International Stem Cell Network
MELBOURNE, Australia and PHILADELPHIA, June 19 -- A second human embryonic stem cell line to be made available to researchers worldwide without commercial or intellectual property restraints was announced by the Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, at the global biotechnology conference BIO 2005 in Philadelphia today.
MEL-2 is the second of six lines to be developed and distributed over the next two years by Stem Cell Sciences Limited (SCS), the Australian Stem Cell Centre (ASCC) and Melbourne IVF.
...Posted on June 19, 2005 11:34 AM | Comments (0)
Massachusetts Law Incorporates Educating Expectant Parents about Lifesaving Technology
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Expectant parents in Massachusetts can now be assured of the ability to make an informed choice regarding an important birthing option.
As a result of an educational provision in the recently passed stem cell legislation (SB 2039), expectant mothers must be provided with information about their one chance to cryogenically store newborn stem cells from their babies’ umbilical cord blood—either for use by their own family or for public donation.
...Posted on June 17, 2005 02:31 PM | Comments (0)
MultiCell Technologies and XenoTech LLC Jointly Announce Shrink Wrap Vial Sales Launch for Immortalized Hepatocytes
New Procedure Expected to Speed Adoption Through Reduced Sales Cycle
LINCOLN, R.I. – (BUSINESS WIRE) – June 15, 2005 – MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: MCET), a leading supplier of immortalized non-tumorgenic human hepatocytes as pharmaceutical candidate optimization tools, announced sales of the Fa2N-4 hepatocytes in shrink-wrapped vials. By opening the wrap, a user indicates acceptance of the terms of a one-time license.
This allows companies to buy plated cells with no need for any future no-grow agreements. The official launch was announced jointly with XenoTech LLC, MultiCell's marketing and manufacturing licensee, at PharmSciFair in Nice, France June 14th, 2005.
Posted on June 16, 2005 11:58 PM | Comments (0)
Chemokine Therapeutics Announces Dual Trading on the TSX in Canada and the OTCBB in the U.S.
Vancouver, BC (June 15, 2005) – Chemokine Therapeutics Corp. (TSX: CTI, OTCBB: CHKT), a biotechnology company developing peptide-based therapies to treat cancer, blood disorders, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases, today announced that it has established trading in the United States in its common stock on the Over-The-Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) under the ticker symbol CHKT.
...Posted on June 16, 2005 12:55 PM | Comments (0)
New Jersey Wades Into Stem Cell Research Debate
New Jersey Governor Codey officially began the stem cell research debate Thursday when he introduced a plan to spend $150 million in public money to build a stem cell research center in New Brunswick. The goal of this research center would be to make a home for scientists to explore stem cell related biomedical advancements.
"By investing in stem cell research, we are investing in an opportunity to save lives," Codey said in a written statement. "This new facility will provide patients throughout our state with easy access to the most cutting-edge treatment and best possible care."
...Continue reading "New Jersey Wades Into Stem Cell Research Debate"
Posted on June 16, 2005 12:54 PM | Comments (0)
Korea's Hwang and the Korean Catholic Church Stem Cell Research Meeting Results
In what certainly would be seen as no suprise, Korea’s leading stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk when meeting yesterday with the nation’s top Catholic leader to discuss ethical aspects of his cloning research, they failed to find common ground.
Hwang Woo-suk who is the Seoul National University professor had a private meeting with Seoul Archbishop Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk that lasted approximately 1 hour. The Archbishop has been an opponent to Hwang’s embryonic stem cell experiments.
...Continue reading "Korea's Hwang and the Korean Catholic Church Stem Cell Research Meeting Results"
Posted on June 16, 2005 12:52 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cell Research Debated Further in Brazil
A new hotbed for stem cell research debate has sprung up with Brazil's most senior law officials and its health minister. The focus is about the legality of using human embryos for stem cell research.
The attorney general, Claudio Fonteles, believes that using human embryos is unconstitutional because to him it infringes on the right to life, and as a result, should be banned.
...Continue reading "Stem Cell Research Debated Further in Brazil"
Posted on June 16, 2005 12:25 PM | Comments (0)
CalbaTech LifeStem Subsidiary Files for Key Patent for Its Stem Cell Delivery Device
IRVINE, Calif. -- CalbaTech, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CLBE), an emerging life sciences company concentrating on providing products and platforms to the research market for biotech and pharmaceutical companies and to academic institutions, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, LifeStem, Inc., has filed a U.S. Patent Application for its Stem Cell Delivery Device. The patent is for the Device and Methods for Treatment of Necrotic Tissue using Stem Cells.
...Posted on June 16, 2005 12:19 PM | Comments (0)
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Press Release: ICOC Appoints Members to Scientific and Medical Research Facilities Working Group
EMERYVILLE, CA – The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) announced the appointment by the Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee (ICOC) of members to serve on its Scientific and Medical Research Facilities Working Group (Facilities Working Group).
The members were recommended by a subcommittee of the ICOC which met for the first time just over three months ago and were appointed by a unanimous vote during the June 6 ICOC meeting in Sacramento.
...Posted on June 16, 2005 11:30 AM | Comments (0)
Russians Are Now Paying To Participate in Stem Cell Experiments?
As we have talked about in the past, Russian doctors are running towards stem cell research in droves. The issue has been that in many ways it will likely raise ethical issues in the West.
"We're working with stem cells no one else is able to use yet," Dr. Gennady Sukhikh, head of the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, told CTV News through a translator.
...Continue reading "Russians Are Now Paying To Participate in Stem Cell Experiments?"
Posted on June 15, 2005 02:02 PM | Comments (0)
Lack of voters sinks Italian referendum on lifting fertility laws
A referendum to overturn the restrictive Italian laws regarding fertility treatments and stem cell research failed this past Monday because an insufficient number of registered voters cast ballots.
Italy's Roman Catholic bishops, supported by Pope Benedict XVI, worked to persuade voters to stay away and keep voter turnout low.
...Continue reading "Lack of voters sinks Italian referendum on lifting fertility laws"
Posted on June 15, 2005 01:13 AM | Comments (0)
German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroder, Wants Stem Cell Laws Eased
Following right behind the Italians rejection of a bill that would ease their prohibitive laws on fertility and bioethics, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder made it clear that he believes that Germany should liberalize its own restrictive legislation on stem cell research.
Currently, on a very few scientists are allowed to do research on stem cells in Germany...
...Continue reading "German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroder, Wants Stem Cell Laws Eased"
Posted on June 15, 2005 12:55 AM | Comments (0)
Thermogenesis Hires New Executive Director Of Scientific Affairs
Rancho Cordova, California (June 8, 2005) -- THERMOGENESIS CORP. (Nasdaq: KOOL) announced today that it has hired John R. Chapman, Ph.D. as its Executive Director of Scientific Affairs.
Dr. Chapman is an internationally published scientist in the field of blood systems development and pathogen inactivation of blood components and has obtained 24 issued U.S. Patents and authored 32 scientific publications in the fields of blood processing, biologics, devices and chemistry. Most recently, he held the position of Sr. Vice President of Research and Development (R&D) at V.I.Technologies (Vitex).
...Continue reading "Thermogenesis Hires New Executive Director Of Scientific Affairs"
Posted on June 14, 2005 08:53 PM | Comments (0)
Two New Studies in the British Journal of Haematology Show Potential Role of VELCADE® (Bortezomib) for Injection in Treating Patients with Front-Line Multiple Myeloma
High Complete and Near Complete Response Rates Achieved Alone and in Combination; Subsequent Stem Cell Harvest and Transplants Successful
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 8 -- Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MLNM) today announced publication in The British Journal of Haematology of two phase II studies which showed strong single agent and very high combination response rates in front-line multiple myeloma (MM). Overall response rates ranged from 88 to 95 percent with complete and near complete responses ranging from 25 to 29 percent. Use of VELCADE in the front-line setting allowed for successful stem cell transplants for these patients. A complete and near complete response rate of 57 percent was reported following single stem cell transplant preceded by induction with VELCADE, doxorubicin and dexamethasone (PAD). This response rate was similar to the complete and very good partial response rates previously published for tandem transplants.(1)
...Posted on June 14, 2005 08:42 PM | Comments (0)
Osiris Therapeutics Lands Additional $50M for Stem Cell Research Trials
Baltimore biotechnology company Osiris Therapeutics announced this past Wednesday that it has arranged $50 million in financing. This funding will help kick start three clinical trial programs to commercialize its adult stem cell therapy products.
This latest round, both a combination of equity and convertible debt, was made possible by Swiss investment firm Friedli Corporate Finance Inc. Peter Friedli is an Osiris co-founder and longtime financial backer who current sits on the chair of Osiris' board.
...Continue reading "Osiris Therapeutics Lands Additional $50M for Stem Cell Research Trials"
Posted on June 14, 2005 06:32 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cell Research To Help The U.S. Military
The San Francisco Chronicle has another twist on the evolution of stem cell research and regenerative medicine. How will it be beneficial to our active military and troops?
With more than 12,000 soldiers that have been wounded in the Iraq war since 2003, this becomes an even more pertinent issue. Improvements in body armor since the Vietnam War have helped reduce severe injuries such as bombings and sniper attacks. However this still leaves a greater fraction of survivors with gruesome damage to the head, arms and legs.
Soldiers who in the past would have died are coming home with traumatic brain injury or as amputees. According to Col. William Doukas, who is the chairman of the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, "it is mostly legs." Bullets and shrapnel that are embedded in the brain is often left in place because removing it can do more damage than the injury itself.
...Continue reading "Stem Cell Research To Help The U.S. Military"
Posted on June 14, 2005 04:22 PM | Comments (0)
Nanotechnology Visits Stem Cell Research
With all the news, this one from the Washington Times is pretty interesting for a geek like myself. Nanotechnology is starting to play a role in advancing the field of stem-cell research. Nanotech devices are being developed that control stem cells so to provide biodegradable scaffolds and magnetic tracking systems.
"Nanotechnology might show people once and for all that you really can help regenerate organs with stem-cell biology and help people walk again, help people after heart attacks, help people after stroke," said John Kessler, a neurologist at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
...Continue reading "Nanotechnology Visits Stem Cell Research"
Posted on June 14, 2005 03:18 AM | Comments (0)
Top Physician-Scientist Named Chair of UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Linda Giudice, MD, PhD, a nationally renowned physician-scientist focused on women's health, has been named the chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the UCSF School of Medicine.
Currently at Stanford University School of Medicine, Giudice is the Stanley McCormick Memorial Professor of obstetrics and gynecology, the director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) Division, the director of the Center for Research on Reproduction, Women's Health, and Genomic Medicine, and the director of the "Women's Health @ Stanford" Program. She is also chair of the Human Embryonic Stem Cell/Nuclear Transfer Committee in Stanford's Program in Regenerative Medicine.
...Posted on June 14, 2005 03:01 AM | Comments (0)
Lawyers look to jump on stem cell bandwagon
MSN is carrying an article about one segment of the stem cell research boom that I really had not given much though to. Effectively the overall impact to the legal community, and the possible opportunities it brings, at least to lawyers.
With the recent government actions on the issues revolving around stem cell research is setting things up for the next law firm battle over lucrative legal billings this new field will obviously generate.
...Continue reading "Lawyers look to jump on stem cell bandwagon"
Posted on June 13, 2005 05:39 PM | Comments (0)
Regaltech Exploring Acquisition Opportunities
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla., June 13, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Regaltech, Inc. (Pink Sheets:RGTH), a holding company dedicated to stem cell research and development, announced that it is exploring various acquisition opportunities to further fuel the growth and development of the Company.
"We are just starting to scratch the surface of potential applications of stem cell technology," remarked Regaltech President Preston Valentine, "and we strongly feel that no other industry provides the unique investment opportunity poised by ongoing research and development in this area. Dramatic developments in this area are in the news on virtually a daily basis and our company is dedicated to trying to achieve a leadership position in the development and exploitation of this amazing new technology."
...Continue reading "Regaltech Exploring Acquisition Opportunities"
Posted on June 13, 2005 03:55 PM | Comments (0)
Fertility Drugs and the Stem Cell Debate
The stem cell debate now brings us back to the years of fertility drugs, low-tech intra-uterine insemination and higher-tech in vitro fertilization (IVF). With that it brings us to the issue of a family after successfully having 2 children, now the question is what to do with the four surplus embryos they have.
These embryos are still frozen in a fertility center in New York, along with what is estimated 400,000 others across the country that have been stored since 1970s.
...Continue reading "Fertility Drugs and the Stem Cell Debate"
Posted on June 13, 2005 03:54 PM | Comments (0)
UCSF To Train Stem Cell Research Scientists in India
Its being reported that the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), will begin training groups of Indian scientists in the field of regenerative and stem cell research. This based on statments from visiting Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss has said.
The minister met with the UCSF vice-chancellor J Michael Bishop and other leading authorities in stem cell research. He went on to say "We are going to have a tie-up for an exchange programme for the faculty, with specialists coming from India and getting trained and UCSF faculty-members travelling to India and training our scientists."
...Continue reading "UCSF To Train Stem Cell Research Scientists in India"
Posted on June 13, 2005 03:52 PM | Comments (0)
Aastrom Biosciences' CEO to Present at The Morgan Stanley Small Cap Executive Conference
Ann Arbor, Michigan, June 10, 2005 -- Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASTM) today announced that R. Douglas Armstrong, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, will present at the Morgan Stanley Small Cap Executive Conference. The conference will be held June 13-15th, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Battery Park in New York City. Dr. Armstrong will present in the Manhattan A Room at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, June 15th.
...Posted on June 12, 2005 11:51 AM | Comments (0)
MultiCell Technologies Commences Sales of Immortalized Porcine Hepatocytes
LINCOLN, R.I. – (BUSINESS WIRE) – June 10, 2005 – MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: MCET) a leading supplier of immortalized human hepatic cell lines for pharmaceutical candidate optimization, announced today that it has commenced sales of HepLiu immortalized porcine (pig) hepatocytes and porcine media dry powder.
The Company is currently successfully selling patented immortalized non-tumorigenic human hepatocytes to the international pharmaceutical industry.
...Continue reading "MultiCell Technologies Commences Sales of Immortalized Porcine Hepatocytes"
Posted on June 11, 2005 11:55 PM | Comments (0)
Cord Blood America Files Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the First Quarter of 2005
LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 06/08/2005 -- Cord Blood America, Inc. (OTC BB: CBAI), an umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company, announced today that it will file its quarterly report on Form 10-QSB for the three-months ended March 31, 2005. The Company filed notification on Form 12b-25 with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that it would not be filing its Form 10-QSB on the due date of May 16, 2005.
...Posted on June 11, 2005 01:00 PM | Comments (0)
NIH Promoting Stem Cell Banks For Teeth
Medical officials from the U.S National Institute of Health (NIH) are encouraging private companies to start creating banks for stem cells that are obtained from baby and wisdom teeth. This paves the way for what could one day could be a useful option for regenerating diseased or damaged tissue.
"A few companies have contacted us about using the technology ... but none have come forward and said they want to bank these cells," Pamela Gehron Robey, from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research which is, a division of the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, told United Press International.
"We're hoping that some of this media attention will bring companies forward," Robey said further, referring to a speech she made about tooth stem-cell research at the American Dental Association meeting in New York City.
...Continue reading "NIH Promoting Stem Cell Banks For Teeth"
Posted on June 10, 2005 03:32 PM | Comments (0)
Cord Blood Donation in Wisconsin Soon To Be Possible
There is potentially a new option in cord blood banking for newborns in Wisconsin.
Thusfar parents in Wisconsin have only had the option of privately banking their newborn's umbilical cord blood.
The benefit in banking or freezing newborn cord blood would be that it could be used at a later date if there was a need. A medical need might be a biological parent or sibling with cancer or other blood disorder.
...Continue reading "Cord Blood Donation in Wisconsin Soon To Be Possible"
Posted on June 10, 2005 01:48 PM | Comments (0)
MultiCell and XenoTech to Exhibit Immortalized Hepatocytes at New European Exhibition
LINCOLN, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 9, 2005 - MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: MCET) a leading supplier of immortalized human hepatic cell lines for pharmaceutical candidate optimization, announced today that it will attend the inaugural Pharmaceutical Sciences Fair and Exhibition in Nice, France, June 12-17, 2005.
The International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics (ISSX), together with the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences (EUFEPS) and a number of other scientific societies, will co-host the event, which is expected to be sold out.
...Posted on June 9, 2005 08:43 PM | Comments (0)
StemCo Biomedical Signs Worldwide Distribution Deal for ALDEFLUOR with StemCell Technologies
DURHAM, North Carolina -- Jun 9, 2005 - StemCo Biomedical, Inc. today announced that it has signed a worldwide distribution agreement whereby StemCell Technologies will distribute StemCo's ALDEFLUOR(TM) product. StemCell Technologies had previously distributed ALDEFLUOR only in the Americas and the Asia-Pacific territory (excluding Japan).
ALDEFLOUR is a kit that enables the identification of stem and progenitor cells for research purposes utilizing StemCo's proprietary ALDH-based technology. Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is an intracellular enzyme found in stem and progenitor cells. The product is manufactured under GMP and has been marketed since the beginning of 2003 as a Research Use Only (RUO) reagent.
...Posted on June 9, 2005 08:37 PM | Comments (0)
StemCells, Inc. to Present at Morgan Stanley Small Cap Executive Conference
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 9, 2005 - StemCells, Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM) today announced that it will present at the Morgan Stanley Small Cap Executive Conference in New York, New York on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 at 8:00 am EDT. Following the presentation, Martin McGlynn, chief executive officer of StemCells will answer questions regarding the company.
...Continue reading "StemCells, Inc. to Present at Morgan Stanley Small Cap Executive Conference"
Posted on June 9, 2005 08:33 PM | Comments (0)
Public Support for Stem Cell Research Remains High
Based on a new poll by Harris Interactive, most adults in the US, regardless of political party or religious affiliation, appear to believe that embryonic stem cell research should be allowed.
Throughout the year, support has remained high as 74% of U.S. adults believe stem cell research should be allowed today compared to 73% percent in 2004.
However, as support for stem cell research has remained steady overall, the number of Republicans and born-again Christians opposing stem cell research has grown over the past year and fewer are uncertain about their position.
...Continue reading "Public Support for Stem Cell Research Remains High"
Posted on June 9, 2005 01:20 PM | Comments (0)
Hwang Woo-Suk States That Cloning of Human Impossible For Decades
Hwang Woo-Suk, from Korea and known as one of the world's cloning pioneers said this week that the cloning of human beings would remain an impossible and dangerous fantasy for decades to come.
"Human cloning is not only ethically outrageous and medically dangerous, but technically impossible as well," said Hwang. Dr. Hwang would know best, as last year created the world's first cloned human embryonic stem cells.
"Cloned human beings are merely a science fiction fantasy. I can assure you that on this globe, you'll never bump into a cloned human being at least within 100 years."
...Continue reading "Hwang Woo-Suk States That Cloning of Human Impossible For Decades"
Posted on June 9, 2005 12:52 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cell Research In Canada Gains Approval
The first two batches of human embryonic stem cells in Canada have been approved by an international regulator. This opens the way for researchers to evaluate potential treatments and cures targetting a variety of diseases.
A team of Toronto scientists were the first to develop these latest stem cell lines. The lines have since been certified by Britain's International Stem Cell Initiative, which standardizes the world's stem-cell lines.
...Continue reading "Stem Cell Research In Canada Gains Approval"
Posted on June 9, 2005 12:30 PM | Comments (0)
Favrille, Inc. Announces Initiation of Phase II Clinical Trial in Europe
SAN DIEGO, June 6 - Favrille, Inc. (Nasdaq: FVRL), a biopharmaceutical company developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer and diseases of the immune system, announced today that the first patient has been enrolled in a physician-sponsored Phase II clinical trial evaluating the Company's lead product candidate, FavId(R).
The European-only trial is being conducted by Dr. Franco Cavalli and is open to patients with all subtypes of indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).
...Continue reading "Favrille, Inc. Announces Initiation of Phase II Clinical Trial in Europe"
Posted on June 8, 2005 05:05 PM | Comments (0)
Arrowhead Announces License of New Nanotech Stem Cell Device from Stanford University
PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 6, 2005--Arrowhead Research Corporation (NASDAQ:ARWR) announced today that it has exclusively licensed intellectual property from Stanford University for a nanotech device that controls the behavior of adult stem cells. Arrowhead will fund additional research involving the device at Stanford in exchange for the right to exclusively license and commercialize the technology.
...Posted on June 8, 2005 03:23 PM | Comments (0)
$5 million Donation For Stem Cell Firm From Unlikely Donor
Sound pioneer Ray Dolby and his wife, Dagmar, are donating $5 million to kickstart the embroiled California stem cell program troubles, state officials said Sunday.
The donation by Dolby, who is the founder of well known Dolby Laboratories, and his wife will now allow the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to start distributing its first round of grants. The first of these grants is a $45 million, three-year training initiative that drew 27 proposals from state institutions.
...Continue reading "$5 million Donation For Stem Cell Firm From Unlikely Donor"
Posted on June 8, 2005 03:20 PM | Comments (0)
MacroPore Biosurgery Names Alex Milstein, M.D., Vice President of Clinical Research; Appoints Kenneth Chien, M.D., Ph.D., as Scientific Advisor
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 8, 2005--MacroPore Biosurgery, Inc. (Frankfurt:XMP) today announced the hiring of Alex Milstein, M.D., as Vice President of Clinical Research. The Company also announced the appointment of Kenneth R. Chien, M.D., Ph.D., as a scientific advisor. Dr. Chien is the Charles R. Sanders Endowed Chair in Medicine, at Harvard Medical School, and Director, Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiovascular Research Institute.
"We are pleased to have Dr. Milstein aboard to direct our forthcoming clinical trials," said Marc Hedrick, M.D., President of MacroPore Biosurgery. "Dr. Milstein has managed numerous clinical trials for many cardiovascular products currently on the market and will be an instrumental part of our team.
...Posted on June 8, 2005 02:41 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cells Significantly Help Heart Failure Patients
More on the study coming out of Ecuador new study is out that shows that patients with advanced heart failure can show significant improvement after receiving stem cell therapy.
This according to results of a small clinical trial presented as at the annual meeting of the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery.
...Continue reading "Stem Cells Significantly Help Heart Failure Patients"
Posted on June 8, 2005 01:54 PM | Comments (0)
MultiCell Licensee XenoTech Holds Drug Metabolism Symposium
LINCOLN, R.I., June 6, 2005 – MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: MUCL) a leading supplier of immortalized hepatocytes as pharmaceutical candidate optimization tools, announced today that its licensee, XenoTech, LLC, will present MultiCell's unique, functional hepatocytes at a two-day symposium June 6th and 7th.
The XenoTech Drug Metabolism Symposium features some of the pharmaceutical industry's most prominent scientists in an intense two-day conference on the various in-vitro challenges of drug discovery and development, including emerging practices, current industry trends and new technologies to support these efforts.
...Continue reading "MultiCell Licensee XenoTech Holds Drug Metabolism Symposium"
Posted on June 7, 2005 11:51 PM | Comments (0)
Fetal Stem Cells Used To Fix Hearts
Wired is running an article about heart patients in Ecuador who have received fetal stem cell injections. The controversial scoop is that they are all showing signs of rapid recovery only three months after the treatment.
Needless to say this procedure has raised ethical questions regarding the use of fetal stem cells. The main concern here is that the treatments has also raised new concerns over rushing forward with unproven stem cell treatments.
...Continue reading "Fetal Stem Cells Used To Fix Hearts"
Posted on June 7, 2005 01:33 PM | Comments (0)
Conover, North Carolina Cord Blood Banking Firm
Dr. Steven G. Lutz is counting on the willingness of expectant parents to invest in the future for children and themselves.
Stem cell therapy, is in his view the next major advancement in medicine.
"It could be comparable to the development of antibiotics in the past," Lutz said.
...Continue reading "Conover, North Carolina Cord Blood Banking Firm"
Posted on June 7, 2005 01:31 PM | Comments (0)
Stem Cells Implanted in Brain in Sufferer a Cerebral Infarction
Stems Cells were for the first time in Argentina implanted in the brain of a patient who had suffered a cerebral infarction.
The procedure was performed in San Nicolas City (Province of Buenos Aires Argentina) on May 18, 2005 by a team of cardiologists from the Institute of Sciences For the Health at the Foundation of Don Roberto Fernandez Viña.
Dr. Roberto Fernandez Viña lead the team, together with Dr. Oberdan Andrín, Dr. Francisco Vrsalovic, in cooperation with the Service of Hematology at the Clinic San Nicolas which is lead by Dr. Jorge Saslavsky and with the collaboration of Dr. Martin Saslavsky.
Continue reading "Stem Cells Implanted in Brain in Sufferer a Cerebral Infarction"
Posted on June 7, 2005 12:27 PM | Comments (0)
Hickory,North Carolina Man Regains Sight With Help From Stem Cell Therapy
Greg McLaughlin of Hickory, North Carolina lost his right eye after complications from a cornea transplant back in 1985. Stem cell therapy was then used three years ago to strengthen his left eye. This allowed for a cornea transplant a year later to improve his sight.
Four years ago, McLaughlin couldn’t read or drive a car. Stem cell research literally changed his view on life.
...Continue reading "Hickory,North Carolina Man Regains Sight With Help From Stem Cell Therapy"
Posted on June 7, 2005 11:04 AM | Comments (0)
Wisconsin Right To Life Group Pushes For Stem Cell Limits
Wisconsin's Right to Life Group has requested that the Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee pass an amendment to the new state budget that go further in limiting stem cell research.
These limitations would include:
- No use of state funds "to clone or destroy any human embryos."
- No use of buildings that are built with state funds or are maintained by state funds" for stem cell research involced in the cloning or detruction of human embryos.
- No public employees shall engage in cloning or destroying any human embryos
...Continue reading "Wisconsin Right To Life Group Pushes For Stem Cell Limits"
Posted on June 6, 2005 11:18 AM | Comments (0)
Hwang Woo-Suk Participate in Cloning Research With Harvard Team
In Korea, well known Seoul National University professor and stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk is planing to start a stem cell research project focusing on diabetes with a Harvard University team.
"After concluding a contract in July or August, the Harvard University team will invite us this autumn. We look to study diabetes and other diseases together," the 52-year-old said.
The Harvard team is likely to be led by Dr. Douglas Melton, a father of two children with diabetes, who has been working on finding a cure to the confounding disease.
...Continue reading "Hwang Woo-Suk Participate in Cloning Research With Harvard Team"
Posted on June 3, 2005 08:27 PM | Comments (0)
PharmaFrontiers Announces Positive Interim Results of Two Phase I/II Clinical Trials for Multiple Sclerosis
Jun 3, 2005 - PharmaFrontiers Corp. (OTCBB:PFTR), a company involved in the development and commercialization of cell therapies, announced that interim results of Tovaxin(TM) in two Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Phase I/II open-label studies indicated that it was safe and well tolerated, and patients showed positive responses. All patients enrolled in the studies had received prior standard of care therapy for MS and were in the relapsing remitting or secondary progressive stages of MS.
Tovaxin(TM) is a trivalent formulation of attenuated myelin-peptide reactive T cells (MRTCs), which are derived from peripheral blood and produced ex vivo as myelin basic protein (MBP), proteolipid protein (PLP) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) reactive T cells.
...Posted on June 3, 2005 08:19 PM | Comments (0)
Scientists Clear Cellular Stability Hurdle in Stem Cell Research
Researchers at Cambridge University appear to had a major findng that previously may have hindered hopes of using stem cells to repair damaged nerves and organs.
The researchers are now finding that human embryonic stem cells are more stable and not liable to undergo changes that could make them unsafe.
This provides further hope, as research has shown thusfar that the same is not true of stem cells from mice. Cells within mice are vulnerable to factors that change the way their genes work.
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Posted on June 3, 2005 06:55 PM | Comments (0)
AAMC Applauds House Passage of Stem Cell Legislation
Washington, D.C., May 24, 2005 - Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., president of the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges), issued the following statement today hailing the passage of the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005," by the House of Representatives:
"Today's vote shows strong and gratifying bipartisan support for stem cell research and is a clear indication that Congress realizes how important this area of discovery is to medical progress...
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Posted on June 3, 2005 05:45 PM | Comments (0)
MultiCell Technologies Announces New Employment Agreement With Dr. Ronald Faris, Ph.D.
LINCOLN, R.I.-- May 31, 2005--MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: MCET), a leading supplier of immortalized non-tumorigenic human hepatocytes as pharmaceutical candidate optimization tools, announced that Ronald Faris, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Science Officer of the Company, has signed a new employment contract with the Company. This contract increases Dr. Faris' time commitment to the Company. Dr. Faris retains affiliations with Rhode Island Hospital and remains Associate Professor of Pathology and Pediatrics at Brown University, giving the Company valuable laboratory access, intellectual interfacing and potential technology transfer opportunities. Dr. Faris also serves on the Editorial Board for Artificial Organs and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of LCT Biopharma.
...Posted on June 3, 2005 05:04 PM | Comments (0)
Favrille, Inc. Reports Data From Phase II Clinical Trial
SAN DIEGO, June 2 - Favrille, Inc. (Nasdaq: FVRL), a biopharmaceutical company developing targeted immunotherapies for cancer and diseases of the immune system, announced today that data