Friday, January 23rd, 2009

First Human Clinical Trial of Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy Approved

The FDA has given biotech company Geron permission to proceed with a human clinical trial of a therapy based on embryonic stem cells. The approval is the first of its kind in the world. The therapy to be tested in the Phase I trials, known as 'GRNOPC1,' will be used on human patients with acute spinal cord injury. GRNOPC1 contains oligodendrocyte progenitor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells. It will be injected directly into the lesion site of the patient's injured spinal cord in an attempt to restore spinal cord function.

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Related Links

• BBC: Green light for US stem cell work
• WSJ: First Embryonic Stem-Cell Trial Gets Approval From the FDA
• Geron Press release: Geron Receives FDA Clearance to Begin World's First Human Clinical Trial of Embryonic Stem Cell-Based Therapy

Segment produced by:Christopher Intagliata

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

• First Human Clinical Trial of Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy Approved
• Future of Innovation and Research Funding
• The Road Ahead for NASA
• Turning Down Your Ears
• Antarctic Temperatures On the Rise
• Warming Temperatures Hurt Western Trees
• Climate Change and the Media

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