Stem cell biotech BioTime announced the news today that its subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences (Cell Cure) has filed an IND with the FDA for an embryonic stem (ES) cell-based therapy for Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The product to be tested is OpRegen, which the company indicates is “the first IND for an ES cell-based […]
BioTime Cell Cure Files IND with FDA for ES cell AMD therapy Read More »
In a major first for the stem cell and regenerative medicine fields, a patient in Japan today received a pioneering transplant of a retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) sheet made from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, also known by the acronym IPSC. This is the first ever iPS cell-based transplant into a human. The patient is
Landmark: patient receives first ever iPS cell based transplant Read More »
Here is a link to the Ocata website, marking the start of a new era for what was formerly Advanced Cell Technology or ACT. It’s been a big summer for stem cell biotech Advanced Cell Technology (ACT; stock ACTCD) as it continues what I would call a process of reinventing itself. What’s been happening? ACT recently
ACT reinventing itself with new name Ocata Therapeutics Read More »
StemCells Inc. is a top biotech company developing stem cell-based therapies. They have a deep pipeline that includes already ongoing trials for a variety of diseases. I invited company leadership to do an interview and they graciously accepted. Below is the interview with CFO Greg Schiffman (picture at left from LinkedIn) including what I thought
Interview with StemCells Inc. leadership on hot topics Read More »
What are the most interesting questions for the stem cell field in 2014 right now? What’s on your mind? I’m not going to give this deep thought, but rather just list those questions bouncing around at the moment in no particular order. You can see a lot of translational/clinical things are on my mind. I’ve
Key questions for stem cell field bouncing around on a Friday morning Read More »
This post is a tribute to the late Dr. Yoshiki Sasai (笹井芳樹). If you would like your name added to this tribute please let me know. You are also welcome to add your own tributes in the comments. In an era when the emerging field of regenerative medicine is just beginning to take wing, we
Stem Cell Community Tribute to Yoshiki Sasai (笹井芳樹) Read More »
ISSCR and I held a short essay contest for a free registration to ISSCR 2014 in Vancouver. The winning piece was written by student Mohamed Gatie, but there was a great 2nd place essay by Sherry Hikita that deserved acknowledgment. I’m publishing that essay below and Sherry will be receiving a free signed copy of my book and a free stem cell
Great 2nd Place ISSCR Essay Related to Vision and Stem Cells Read More »
What happens if we start using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells clinically in humans? A cool new paper recently came out that gets us closer to being able to predict an answer. It’s an important question as iPS cell-derived cellular products are getting closer to clinical use. For example, the first iPS cell-based clinical trial
Cool, encouraging new preclinical study on monkey stem cells 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 »
Stem cell biotech, Advanced Cell Technology (ACT; stock symbol ACTC), has started off 2014 with indications that it is in a phase of rapid evolution. Some changes, such as today’s announced departure of now former CEO Gary Rabin (see my 2013 interview with him here), are already in the public domain, but other big developments
Big Changes Unfolding at Advanced Cell Technology (ACTC) Read More »