1 reply to this topic

[LyF]

After hearing that Geron Corporation recently got FDA approval for human trials of stem cell treatment for spinal cord injuries, I wrote them an e-mail inquiring into the future of their treatment. The e-mail and response are below. Does anyone know of any other specific companies that might be looking to help us?


MY EMAIL:
Dear Geron Corporation,

My boyfriend is a T4 complete paraplegic. I find your research and
developments very exciting. In reading your recent news articles I noticed
that the qualifications for the human trials include being within 2 weeks of
injury. Have there been any trials on animals that have been injured for
longer? Once the preliminary human trials are completed, does Geron anticipate
moving on to help those who have already been injured past 2 weeks?

Your response would be sincerely appreciated
Thank You


RESPONSE:
Thank you for your email.

In preclinical studies in animal models of spinal cord injury, GRNOPC1 was injected into injured animals 7 days or 10 months post injury. Only those animals that received GRNOPC1 soon after injury (7 days) showed improvement in locomotor function (compared to animals that received a control transplant). We believe that this is due to the formation of scar tissue that occurs in the spinal cord following injury. This is the rationale for administering GRNOPC1 to patients within 7 and 14 days of the injury, and unfortunately there are currently no plans to extend to older injuries.


Best regards,

Anna

Anna Krassowska, Ph.D.
Public Relations
Geron Corporation
www.geron.com

[edlee]

One step at a time, Lyf. Research takes funding,, funding takes interest,, interest ( for anyone not affected by the condition being researched) takes results. Let's hope that positive results in these studies will cause Geron to believe there is more money to be made on something that will benefit us.

Until then,,, live well,,, whether upright or in a chair, it is still attainable,, ask around.
ed