The Meaning of Geron's Stem-Cell Decision

Michael Cook at BioEdge says the decision by Geron to end its human embryonic stem cell spinal-therapy research is a huge blow to those who believe in the therapeutic potential of hES cells. I have to disagree. It's true that the tissue-generating potential of hES cells was overblown in the battle to secure funding for hESC research. But I don't think Geron's move stands for anything greater than what it was: the decision of a single firm that its cancer research was more profitable than its stem-cell research. University-based work with hESCs and induced-pluripotent cells have shown real progress toward the tissue-generation goal; and, additionally, researchers are using stem cells as tools for drug-testing and for the analysis of diseased cells--work which is quite apt to have short-term therapeutic payoff.

Note, too, that while Geron had secured funding from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine for its trial, it has given the money back with full interest, so there's no story here of wasting public funds.

Stem Cell Politics

No real surprises in this piece in NEJM summarizing public-opinion polling results on support for human embryonic stem cell research. 62% of Americans think hESC research is morally acceptable, while only 30% think it's wrong; 55% favor federal funding and 41% oppose it. But only 52% of Republicans favor hESC research, compared to 67% of Democrats; and a 58% majority of Republicans oppose federal funding, which 70% of Democrats favor.

Of 34 European countries, majorities favored prohibition of hESC research only in Luxembourg, Slovenia, Austria and Greece.

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.