In a rare sign of stem cell international regulatory unity, the Japanese Health Ministry (厚生労働省) and the US FDA have agreed to develop a joint, unified regulatory framework for clinical studies of human iPS cells for use in treating retinal diseases. Presumably the rules would also guide clinical use of iPS cells to treat other […]
FDA & Japanese Health Ministry (厚生労働省) To Develop iPS cell clinical rules Read More »
I’m doing a series of posts on my recent conversation with BioTime CEO and pioneer of the stem cell field, Dr. Mike West. You can read Part 1 and Part 2 on Geron, ACT, and the history of the pluripotent stem cell field, particularly embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Today in Part 3, I am focusing on
Mike West Interview Part 3: key flaw in stem cell field Read More »
Texas Governor Rick Perry just announced that he will not run again for governor. This political development has important impact in the stem cell field, particularly in the state of Texas. Perry is one of the biggest advocates of certain types of adult stem cell commercialization. When he is no longer governor there will be impact
Celltex advocate Rick Perry will not run again for Texas governor: stem cell impact Read More »
Celltex is still in the mix with the FDA and who knows how that will turn out. Several documents were revealed via FOIA that provide insight into the goings on at Celltex since 2012. Two documents are letters from Celltex to the FDA dated April 27, 2012 and May 18, 2012, while a third is a
Celltex letters to the FDA revealed by FOIA: first is reaction to Leigh Turner Read More »
New ISSCR President, Dr. Janet Rossant, kindly agreed to do an interview with me focused on the future of ISSCR, her plans for her tenure, and some key issues in the field. Dr. Rossant is Chief of Research at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. 1. The stem cell arena is a very rapidly changing one
In response to a FOIA request, the FDA informed me that they are continuing to investigate Texas stem cell clinic, Celltex. The firm has been flying somewhat under the radar lately. They have not responded to multiple requests for comments on various issues. The FDA indicated to me that what they can release in terms
FDA still investigating clinic firm Celltex Read More »
The big stem cell buzz the last day or two has been the news exploding across mainstream media outlets about laboratory-produced human liver grown from stem cells. It’s good news to be sure as it would seem we might be one important step closer to a new reality for millions of people suffering from liver disease.
Perspectives on human micro liver structures made from iPS cells Read More »
There is no fountain of youth from stem cells. I predict that cosmetics firm Olay will announce an anti-aging cosmetic product specifically based on stem cells in some way soon. But can stem cell technology now really make you younger? No, according to the best science; maybe at some point in the future. Yes, according to
Rip Van Wrinkle: Olay-funded stem cell research on supposed ‘fountain of youth’ Read More »
A commenter on this blog who self-identified as “InsideXcell” has been commenting on this blog about what happened at the highly controversial German stem cell clinic, XCell-Center. By way of background, the XCell-Center was for a time the largest stem cell clinic in all of Europe before it was shutdown. A baby who received care
Update on XCell Stem Cell Clinic Insider Read More »
In a shocker, Japan’s 2nd largest newspaper, Asahi Shimbun, published an editorial yesterday saying that iPS cells are being pushed too fast to the clinic for economic reasons. The piece was bluntly entitled “Too much of a rush for clinical trials with iPS cells”. Asahi Shimbun, with a circulation of 10 million, is taking a bold
Asahi Shimbun Editorial: iPS Cells Rushed For Economic Reasons Read More »