3 Contenders To Be The First Profitable Stem Cell Company

By Ryan Pollack, SeekingAlpha.com

Every day is a day closer to a disease being treated, or even cured, by a stem cell therapy. The medical field is in a transition with clinical trials that are ongoing using adult, embryonic, and other forms of stem cells derived and differentiated using various laboratory techniques. These three companies have the potential to be the first self-sustaining, profitable regenerative medical companies.

See complete article at SeekingAlpha.com regarding Advanced Cell Technology (ACTC), Geron (GERN), and International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO)

Nothing like Mother’s milk; potential treatments from stem cell in breast milk

Researchers have identified stem cells in human breast milk, which behave similarly to embryonic stem cells when cultivated in a medium containing nutrients.

See complete article at theconversation.edu.au

An overview of the human mammary gland with a focus on the role of breast stem cells during pregnancy. The primary function of the mammary gland is to produce milk to nourish young offspring. The mammary gland is comprised of three main cell types; alveolar, ductal and myoepithelial cells. During pregnancy, the mammary gland increases in size due to the action of breast stem cells, which can mature into any of the three mammary gland cell type.

For more information see wehi.edu.au

The potential of amniotic fluid stem cells

The University College London (UCL) Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine brings together 185 research groups across UCL and the MRC NIMR, with a common interest in all aspects of stem cells, tissue engineering, repair and regeneration and the development of their therapeutic and biotechnological potential.

HIV/AIDS: Progress and Promise in Stem Cell Research

CIRM has funded two HIV/AIDS Disease Teams led by scientists at UCLA and the City of Hope who are focused on stem cell transplant strategies that promise a long lasting resistance to HIV. Antiretroviral therapy provides life-saving medicine to HIV-infected people but it is not a cure. Long-term exposure to the drugs and the virus itself shorten a person’s life, even if they don’t develop AIDS. Both disease teams have a goal of getting to clinical trials within four years. For more info, go to: www.cirm.ca.gov/HIV/AIDS_facts

The Promising Cells Presented by International Stem Cell Corporation

Ken Aldrich of International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO.OB) speaks on the latest research involving stem cell technology utilizing unfertilized eggs, as a basis for cell generation with a goal toward organ transplants which are immune to rejection by the body.

See complete article at the International Stem Cell Corporation blog

Red blood cells made from stem cells successfully injected into patient

French researchers have successfully injected red blood cells produced from stem cells into a patient. It’s the first time this has happened. Click here for full article.

New stem cell trial study could redefine stroke treatment

A month ago, a 39-year-old single mother from Hawthorne suffered a severe stroke that left her unable to walk.

Paramedics took her to a designated hospital stroke center. To preserve her brain function, doctors treated her with clot-busting drugs and asked her if she would be the first to participate in a clinical trial involving stem cells

See complete article at abclocal.go.com

Adult stem cells effective against clogged leg arteries

At its worst, clogged leg arteries can cause dangerous complications like severe pain, gangrene, even loss of limbs. It’s treated with lifestyle changes, exercise and medications to surgical interventions.

Now for patients with the most serious blockages, researchers are studying an experimental option: adult stem cells.

Read entire article at ABCLocal.go.com.

FDA Approves Fibrocell’s Stem Cell Wrinkle Smoother

Fibrocell Science Inc. (FCSC) won U.S. approval for an injectible wrinkle treatment that uses a patient’s own stem cells to restore elasticity to the skin. The Food and Drug Administration cleared azficel-T, the company said today in a statement. Fibrocell plans to sell the drug under the name LaViv. Shannon Pettypiece reports on Bloomberg Television’s “Fast Forward.” (Source: Bloomberg)

See Fibrocell Science Website for more information.

Stem Cell Banking: The Perspective of an iPS Donor Family

“Your twin daughters have an extremely rare, fatal disease called Niemann Pick Type C and there’s nothing you can do for them”. Those were the devastating words that Chris Hempel and her husband first heard in 2007. Rather than just give in to this fate, the Hempels are proactively engaging researchers to try to save Addi and Cassi’s lives. This journey includes donating skin samples to cell banks so that researchers can create induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, a promising technology which may help undercover treatments for their daughters. In this video, Chris Hempel speaks to the CIRM Standards Working Group to present a patient advocate’s perspective on the challenges of rare disease research. Hempel was introduced by CIRM Governing Board member, Sherry Lansing.

For more information about the Hempels and Niemann Pick Type C, visit: http://addiandcassi.com/