The Texas stem cell clinic Celltex was one of the most controversial businesses in the world of stem cells in 2012 and 2013 (see here for background and as an update see this new post on how the Texas clinic has teamed up with a local university). The FDA essentially shut down the Celltex clinical […]
Arthritis Foundation Sell Out To Stem Cell Clinic Celltex? Read More »
Is Neuralstem flirting with noncompliance via a Right To Try Law in Colorado? Colorado is an independent-minded state. For example, it is one of only a few states including Washington State with legalized marijuana use. More recently, Colorado passed a new law supported by the ultra-conservative Goldwater Institute, the so-called Right To Try Law. This law
Neuralstem flirting with noncompliance via Right To Try Law? Read More »
Late last year I was hearing some exciting things about California Stem Cell, Inc. under the leadership of Hans Keirstead. (2020 update: interestingly 3 years ago Keirstead ran for congress, but the campaign didn’t quite make it.) In fact, I thought a big move for California Stem was in the cards for 2014 and looking into
As Predicted, Big News For California Stem Cell, Inc.: Purchased by NeoStem Read More »
A long-standing debate in the commercial stem cell arena has focused on whether stem cells grown in a lab prior to clinical use as a transplantation product are biological drugs subject to full FDA vetting. The alternative view has been that such stem cell products are not drugs, but rather are simple human cellular and
Court in Regenerative Sciences Case: Propagated Stem Cells Are Drugs Read More »
The STAP papers on making iPS like cells using acid treatment of differentiated cells really has people talking. See embryo at right made from GFP reporter STAP cells that glow green. As I said in my review of the papers yesterday, there are still some critical things we do not know about STAP cells and I
More thoughts from STAP acid reprogramming stem cell paper Read More »
One of the big stem cell-related stories of 2013 was the controversy over the Stamina Foundation in Italy and its potential use of largely untested stem cell products on patients, including mostly children. The winner of my 2013 Stem Cell Person of the Year Award was Dr. Elena Cattaneo and one reason she won was the courage
Nature Slams Controversial Stamina Foundation: A Dangerous Situation Continues Read More »
Big Pharma Giant Johnson & Johnson (J & J; $JNJ) announced today a $12.5 million investment in stem cells & regenerative medicine via the small biotech Capricor ($CAPR) and the potential for the bet to go into the hundreds of millions for the heart disease program. It was only 8 days ago that I made
J&J Bets Up to $325 million on Capricor: Big Pharma Stem Cell Move as Predicted for 2014 Read More »
The World Stem Cell Summit in San Diego was a great meeting this past week. It was my 3rd straight Summit and the best of all. It’s a unique mix of science, medicine, and policy that links together key players from every corner of the field. I talked stem cells one-on-one or in small groups
Key Questions for the Stem Cell Field for 2014 Read More »
Every now and I then I try to take some time to think about the focus of this blog and the direction it is going. In the most recent case, I got the feeling that perhaps I have giving too discouraged or negative an impression on the blog lately….focusing too much on the challenges and
Why I am very optimistic about the future of the stem cell field Read More »
This is the fourth post in a series I’m doing on an FOIA release of letters between Texas stem cell clinic Celltex and the FDA. The first three posts, which include helpful background and discussion of other FOIA material from Celltex, can be found here, here, and here. Today’s post is focused on a newly
Celltex FDA FOIA Letter #3 Raises Key New Questions Read More »