Geron recently obtained FDA permission to try using a potentially risky embryonic stem cell derived treatment developed to treat acute spinal cord injury in a human trial to test the safety of the product. But it turns out that a patient’s own adult stem cells appear to already provide the same kind of benefit, and without the risk of tumors found in ES cells. From the story in Science Daily:
Researchers from DaVinci Biosciences, Costa Mesa, California, in collaboration with Hospital Luis Vernaza in Ecuador, have determined that injecting a patient’s own bone marrow-derived stem cells (autologous BMCs) directly into the spinal column using multiple routes can be an effective treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI) that returns some quality of life for SCI patients without serious adverse events…
In eight patients who received BMC transplants through various routes and followed for two years, the scientists reported several functional improvements, perhaps the most important of which was improved bladder control. Finally, the researchers noted that one of their cases suffered a gunshot wound and that their study marked the first time a gunshot wound victim had received BMC transplants through multiple routes. “It is important to note,” concluded Dr. Silva,” that all of our patients with acute injuries improved significantly with no signs of deterioration or impediment of presumed spontaneous recovery.”
Excuse me, but why isn’t this a headline story? I did a Google search and this, published yesterday, was the only one I could find.
Geron’s future human trial made huge news. It’s rodent experiments made huge news. But a successful human treatment for the same condition has been ignored by the MSM—as was another promising human trial for chronic spinal cord injury reported previously.
Why the news blockade? Wrong kind of stem cells, apparently: Doesn’t make Bush look bad. So typical. So wrong.
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