The money behind a piece of legislation can provide unique insights into the back story and this is definitely true for the REGROW Act that would reduce FDA oversight of the investigational use of stem cells in patients. Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois, who is facing probable defeat next week in his reelection bid according to …
REGROW Act, Mark Kirk Lobbying & Contributions Yield Stem Cell Surprises Read More »
Over the years, the Vatican has expressed interest and even invested money in the adult stem cell field. Not surprisingly, they’ve also been critical of embryonic stem cell research. Interestingly their own stem cell meetings have at times stimulated heated debate for various reasons and one was even cancelled with at least part of the reason related to …
Perspectives on Vatican Stem Cell Meeting: CIRM, Embryonic & Adult Stem Cells Read More »
We hear so much about exciting potential stem cell therapies, but what about stem cell treatment cost? Some of these “therapies” are rigorously evaluated ones in the FDA clinical trial pipeline and others are available right now mainly through predatory stem cell clinics. Earlier this year I posted about the cost of the offerings of …
To get from point A of a stem cell discovery to point B of a patient actually receiving a treatment based on that discovery is a long and non-linear road, which requires biotech company research. Stem cell biotech companies including publicly traded companies are an integral part of the field making that journey. How those …
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 …
Where do things stand with some players in the for-profit world of stem cell and cellular medicine companies? Here are a few brief news items with quick analysis. Mesoblast is dominating the news of late. Mesoblast reported good news from its Phase II safety trial for its mesenchymal progenitor cell (MPC) product in patients with …
ABC News just reported that the FDA is allgedly “cracking down” on the publicly traded company, MiMedx (MDXG), which sells a placental derivative touted for healing powers. The Wall Street Journal is also following the story. According to ABC News: MiMedx is a publically traded, for-profit company that takes donated human placentas — solicited via a website featuring …
MiMedx (MDXG) placental “stem cell magnet” drugs attract FDA attention and lawsuit Read More »
What would your predictions be for 7 years down the road and by the way please read the eye chart below out loud. How’s your vision? Today’s post is a chance to let one’s optimism and excitement about stem cells run a bit wild looking ahead not to next year, but 7 years ahead to …
It was my pleasure recently to talk at length with Dr. Michael West, CEO of the Stem Cell Biotech, BioTime (BTX). West has been at the helm of BioTime since 2007 and is a true pioneer in the stem cell field. He founded Geron (GERN) and was a top leader at Advanced Cell Technology (ACT; stock …
Interview with BioTime CEO Michael West Part 1: a little stem cell history Read More »
A while back, I did a post on the FDA audit report of Celltex and I think I made a mistake in the title of that post: Surprising FDA audit report of Celltex a blow to for-profit adult stem cell industry. What I meant was the dubious stem cell industry. The title I used was too vague …