ESCs Are So Last Month

Just last week (January 29^th), Newt Gingrich campaigned on a platform of anti-embryonic stem cell research: “Speaking at a Baptist church in Winter Park on Saturday, the former speaker received a standing ovation when he declared that embryonic stem-cell research amounts to ‘the use of science to desensitize society over the killing of babies.’” News flash, Newt: Embryonic Stem Cell research may not be the cutting-edge of stem cell research anyway.

            According to Science Debate, “Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy At Risk? Geron Ends Clinical Trial,” the biotechnology company Geron recently cancelled its embryonic stem cell (ESC) clinical trial, the first in the U.S. on human subjects, due apparently to financial reasons. But, if the clinical trial had been showing even a little success, it seems unlikely that Geron would have cancelled its trials. According to Dr. Hans Keirstead, who had successfully conducted similar experiments on rats with human ESC in 2005, "This trial was approved only after rigorous safety testing and consultation of countless experts in the field. Any benefit to the patient, even an incremental one, would be a resounding victory." Further, Geron has announced that it has discontinued all ESC research. This is hugely significant, since Geron has been in this line of research since at least 1998. The clinical trial had been approved shortly after President Obama lifted the ban on ESC research in 2009, and the trial began in October, 2010, with at least four patients.

            The good news is that another biotech company, Neuralstem Inc., has had some great success treating ALS with adult stem cells. According to the information from Neuralstem’s website, “Neuralstem is growing regionally specific cells that are already suited to the task prescribed to them once transplanted into the central nervous system. In spinal cord indications, for instance, the company will be using human spinal cord stem cells only." This treatment works better, because, unlike ESC, the adult stem cells are already programmed to become the correct cell type (in this case, nerve cells). Some of the problems with ESC come from the fact that ESCs can become virtually any type of cell in the body, and there has been some difficulty in getting them to grow into the correct tissue needed. You seriously don’t want to grow a foot in your brain (has happened).