Stem Cells-The Promise of Life-Altering Injuries and Deadly Diseases Being Treated and Cured
Stem cells are the foundation cells for every organ, tissue and cell in the body and can be used to generate healthy and functioning specialized cells, which can then replace diseased or dysfunctional cells. Stem cells can treat debilitating diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, type-1 diabetes, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Stem cells can serve as an alternative and renewable source for specialized cells. We believe that the stem cell companies have accumulated the requisite reproductive biology and tissue culture expertise to develop human therapeutics.
On the precipice of becoming big business; successful commercialization of these technologies will require the ability to produce cells that are immunologically compatible with the patient, have the proliferative capacity of young cells and have specific therapeutic application. Currently, the only routinely applied medical practice using stem cells is for bone marrow transplantation. Researchers worldwide are working to identify alternative sources for stem cells, the viability and potency of these sources will be of key importance. Regenerative medicine focuses primarily on cellular repair; stem cells could provide the stimulus for repair or regeneration.
Ever evolving guidelines for federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research are being reviewed. The executive (03/09) order ended a 9 year ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research paving the way for a significant amount of federal funds to flow to science. The NIH is currently looking for ways to streamline the research process and determine how quickly grant money can be made available. While most grant processes can take as long as nine months, which would delay funds reaching researchers for up to a full year, the NIH has indicated it will try to expedite the grant process to get money from the stimulus out quickly.
Bottom Line: Investors should be monitoring these companies that had been all but forgotten but show signs of greater visibility as the governments and funding sources align their interests.
- Pharma has always had an interest in regenerative medicine applications; but have waited to see if the public stances of regulatory status would change,
- Most of the companies initiated in this on-going stem cell blog will be the foundation of this momentum,
- Many stem cell companies’ initial trials and share prices continue to suffer in this market and are trading at all time lows. (Part 1 of 15)
