Geron Halts Stem-Cell Trial

Here's a report on Geron's decision to halt its human embryonic stem cell spinal-cord therapy trial--the first ever in-human stem-cell trial approved in the US. The decision seems not to have been driven by the trial's progress, but by economics: the trial was costing a lot and not attracting investment, whereas Geron's other work on cancer has drawn the interest of big Pharma investors. Only four people had been enrolled in the trial; all had reportedly tolerated GRNOPC1, a Geron product containing hESC-derived progenitor cells, well and without side effects.