14 replies to this topic

[Apparelyzed]

Geron Halts Spinal Cord Injury Stem Cell Trial

The world's first official trial using human embryonic stem cells in patients has been halted.

Geron, based in California, made the sudden announcement that it was halting further work in this field.

In a statement the company said in the "current environment of capital scarcity and uncertain economic conditions" it had decided to concentrate instead on developing cancer treatments.

Geron had injected stem cells into the spine of a small number of spinal patients to test safety. In its statement the company said the treatment had been "well tolerated with no serious adverse events".

Ben Sykes, Executive Director of the UK National Stem Cell Network, said:

"Stem cell research continues to show great promise in helping many people currently suffering from incurable conditions and injuries. It is disappointing that Geron has taken the decision to stop its spinal cord injury trial but we hope that the company is able to find new partners who can take on the work and provide the necessary finance."

More ...

[Apparelyzed]

In addition:

"Geron plans to close the GRNOPC1 trial for spinal cord injury to further enrollment, although it will continue to follow all enrolled patients, accruing data and updating FDA and the medical community on their progress. In this trial, GRNOPC1 has been well tolerated with no serious adverse events."

More...

[Rabaa]

That's so sad i'm devastating , It's all i've been dreaming of

[curbyi]

That a bit of a nightmare although the statement seems to suggest that finance is the reason behind the suspension rather than legal opposition.

[Corrib]

SH1TE!!!!!
Hopefully someone else will take this up or maybe even see that it maybe worth looking at a joint venture..

[Tetracyclone]

And Geron stock, already in the toilet, dropped 20%.

It says they are eager to pass the experiment on to someone else, just cannot afford the $25 Mil bleed each year.

[edlee]

I think that part of their problem is that they didn't see a pot of gold at the end. There are only a certain number of us out there,,, and only some of us will be helped by the stem cells,, so a financial decision had to be reached,, and it was.

There is also the ongoing trials in China, that may overshadow Geron's.,,, making their research worth less ( monetarily speaking,, since NO research is worthless if well done)
ed

[Tetracyclone]

The US is just too expensive a place to do this kind of research.

[john monahan]

My name is John Monahan. I'm a freelance writer in the U.S., and I am incredibly frustrated by the media coverage of this issue. Everyone seems to be quoting scientists, economists and stock analysts. No one seems to be talking to the people most closely affected by Geron's decision. I am currently working on a story and I would love to speak to someone on this forum to share your thoughts as part of the story. Please contact me if you are interested. Thanks.Email me

[Stand]

That's ridiculous. Who's going to be the next one to pick up the ball?

[edlee]

Probably noone till the results from the various China trials are in. If something particularly PROFITABLE is found,, there will be a lot of scrambling for lab space.
ed

[Charlie-boi]

Geron Halts Spinal Cord Injury Stem Cell Trial

The world's first official trial using human embryonic stem cells in patients has been halted.

Geron, based in California, made the sudden announcement that it was halting further work in this field.

In a statement the company said in the "current environment of capital scarcity and uncertain economic conditions" it had decided to concentrate instead on developing cancer treatments.

Geron had injected stem cells into the spine of a small number of spinal patients to test safety. In its statement the company said the treatment had been "well tolerated with no serious adverse events".

Ben Sykes, Executive Director of the UK National Stem Cell Network, said:

"Stem cell research continues to show great promise in helping many people currently suffering from incurable conditions and injuries. It is disappointing that Geron has taken the decision to stop its spinal cord injury trial but we hope that the company is able to find new partners who can take on the work and provide the necessary finance."

More ...

What about stem cells inc. I know they have started there trial with transplants??

[edlee]

They have, indeed, Chuck. The one we are most interested in is being performed in Switzerland. The two, here in the states,, will only relate to us in the safety aspects of the procedures.

The one in Switzerland should be very interesting,, since it is to be on patients with injuries over 3 months old. It is just starting and has enrollment open, now.

You have to remember, tho,, that the purpose of these tests is to show that THEIR OWN product ( patented) is useful,, not stem cells in general. So the profit motive is still strong.
ed

[richo]

ve ry sad too see a.ny sort of reserch or hope fade...........but like most things these days unless theres a dollor init..... well who cares..... wat w e need is another billion air wit sci

[Christal]

Perhaps one thing to remember about the Geron trial is that the cells were from Hans Keirstead's lab and were designed for "acute" spinal cord injuries only. These particular cells were never going to appear in a chronic trial since it had already been proven in the lab that they potentially would not work in chronics. I think perhaps there was confusion about that even though Hans had specifically stated that in the beginning. It's sad that Geron was unable to sustain the financial drain of such an expensive trial.