The California Stem Cell Agency CIRM seems to be in budget cutting mode these days, which from a general perspective makes sense as CIRM seeks to continue operating on its remaining funding through a longer period of time as far out as to 2020. However, not all cuts are necessarily positive. For example, CIRM reportedly (note: many […]
CIRM 2.0 Should Include Bridges Training Program Read More »
Stem cell-based Regenerative Medicine has huge power for good in the clinic and at the same time great potential for economic development. Those two things go hand in hand. As I argued in my stem cell book, biotech commercialization of stem cells is not a bad thing, but rather if it is done responsibly it
Reflecting on Regenerative Medicine As A Brand Read More »
The future is now. Or so goes the expression. For CIRM, it rings true today. Last year I blogged about what we might expect from the new CIRM that would evolve and take form in the future. I was particularly thinking about this coming incarnation of CIRM, which I called CIRM 2.0, as it related
Welcome CIRM 2.0 and President Mills Read More »
Advanced Cell Technology (ACT; $ACTC) has a new paper out on using human embryonic stem cells (hESC) to make MSCs with potentially powerful therapeutic potential. The paper, entitled Mesenchymal stem cell population derived from human pluripotent stem cells displays potent immunomodulatory and therapeutic properties, was published in the journal Stem Cells and Development. What’s the scoop on this
Review of New ACT Paper on hESC-derived MSCs Read More »
An FDA committee began a meeting yesterday that continues today to consider permitting new assisted reproduction-based “3-parent” technology that could address mitochondrial disorders, a serious human health problem. The technology also raises complex health issues of its own and invokes ethical questions. The goal of the FDA meeting is articulated this way: “the committee will
Why the FDA should not green-light 3-parent reproduction Read More »
What does the future hold for CIRM? I asked former CIRM Board Chair and Prop 71 leader, Robert Klein, about that and more in the interview below. He also says some particularly exciting clinical trial and other developments in the stem cell field are coming soon. What got you excited for the very first time
Interview with Robert Klein on CIRM’s Future Read More »
Osiris, a cellular therapy biotech, recently received a so-called “untitled letter” from the FDA. The text of the letter seems on the whole negative in my opinion, while the company’s public reaction to the letter on the other hand could be seen paradoxically as rather cheery. What’s going on here? With Halloween coming, one has
Osiris FDA Letter: Trick or Treat? Read More »
Stem cell & cellular medicine biotech, Osiris, reported a major success today with its cell-based treatment of Diabetic foot ulcers. The data are about as good as it gets. The company’s Grafix product for the ulcers was three times more effective than the control. A cross-over phase where those given the control were switched to
Osiris success with Diabetic foot ulcers is a giant step Read More »
Duane Roth, the Vice-Chair of the California Stem Cell Agency CIRM and the leader of CONNECT, an organization promoting entrepreneurship in the San Diego area, died yesterday. Roth had been in a serious solo cycling accident on July 21. Roth had a long, successful career in biotech including having founded Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. He was
Tribute to CIRM Vice-Chair, Duane Roth Read More »
When you want to both know the real history of the pluripotent stem cell-based biotech industry and perspectives on its future, there are only a handful of people to turn to and one of them is definitely Dr. Michael West, CEO of BioTime. I’m doing a several part series of blog posts on a lengthy
BioTime CEO Mike West Interview Part 2: Geron & hESC Read More »