Stem Cell Agency Provides Early Access to Multimillion Dollar Proposals Coming Before its Directors
Could this be a trend?
The California stem cell agency, working under the direction of a new chairman, has once again posted a handsome amount of background material well in advance of its regular board meeting – in this case the Dec. 8 session at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.
For the past several years, the agency has failed to post in a timely fashion important information on many decisions to be made by agency directors, making it virtually impossible for interested parties to plan to attend meetings or prepare thoughtful suggestions or recommend possible changes.
That situation has begun to change under Chairman Jonathan Thomas, a Los Angeles bond financier, who controls the board agenda and who was elected to his post at the end of June. In August, the agency also posted in a timely fashion a healthy dollop of information on matters to come before the board.
For December's meeting, the agenda contains links to information on a proposed $5.6 million recruitment award to lure a star researcher to the Golden State, an update on CIRM's proposed changes in its strategic plan, two new initiatives totalling $27 million that would accelerate progress to the clinic, grant administration changes that could affect the hundreds of CIRM grant recipients and proposed new scientific members for the group that makes the de facto decisions on which scientists receive CIRM cash.
We will have more on the details of all this later, but readers who have a special interest might want to dip in early. All the background information can be found via the agenda, which also says a remote site in San Francisco will be available for participation of those who cannot make it to Los Angeles.
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Researcher Alert: CIRM Readying $57 Million in New Opportunities
The California stem cell agency is proposing to pump $30 million into new research involving reprogrammed adult stem cells and another $27 million into fresh efforts to speed development of clinical therapies.
In a memo prepared for the CIRM directors meeting next week in Los Angeles, the agency's staff said the $30 million effort could generate "disease-in-a-dish models" that "have the potential to make drug discovery faster, more efficient and more personalized to individual patients."
The "disease-in-a-dish" plan was dubbed a "human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) initiative" by the staff. The goal is to generate high quality stem cell-based tools for use by the researchers and drug developers.
The proposal includes four elements, one of which is collaboration with the NIH to develop cell lines from patients with Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. No cost was specified on that effort. Also recommended to directors was a $4 million disease line award round, a $16 million core hiPSC derivation round and a $10 million stem cell bank round. The RFAs would go out in May of next year with funding expected early in 2013.
The staff memo on the initiative did not mention human embryonic stem cells, but a spokeswoman for the agency said they were not excluded from the effort.
The other new grant proposals up next week grew out of a recommendations from a blue-ribbon panel that CIRM organized last year to examine its operations. One element in the plan is a $12 million "bridging fund" that would apply only to current CIRM-funded projects in three areas: disease team grants, some early translational projects and clinical development projects. The bridging fund would provide up to $3 million for up to one year for each recipient, if CIRM President Alan Trounson approves the project. Trounson would be assisted in his evaluation by staff and external consultants, if necessary.
The second part of the response to the review panel's finding is an "external innovation initiative" to support collaborative efforts of CIRM grantees to work with teams that CIRM said are "making extraordinary progress outside California."
The $15 million program would provide awards as often as two times a year. The maximum amount on each award was not specified.
Ellen Feigal, CIRM's vice president of research and development, said in a memo to directors that examples of potential projects included collaborative efforts with the NIH and work with the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and its disease-focused programs.
Some of the latest CIRM initiatives are open to biotech businesses. Others are open only to non-profit or academic researchers.
(Editor's note: An earlier version of this item did not include the sentence dealing with human embryonic stem cells.)
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$30 Million Round Attracts Strong Industry Interest; More Cash Coming?
The California stem cell agency is
considering adding more cash to its upcoming $30 million award round
aimed at aiding projects that can complete – within the next four
years – a clinical trial for a therapy.
CIRM Chairman J.T. Thomas,
a Los Angeles bond financier, last month told agency directors that
there is "some real quality in the mix" among the firms
that have expressed initial interest. Depending on the judgment of
CIRM award reviewers later this year, Thomas said the board could
well be asked to increase the funding.
a Los Angeles bond financier, last month told agency directors that
there is "some real quality in the mix" among the firms
that have expressed initial interest. Depending on the judgment of
CIRM award reviewers later this year, Thomas said the board could
well be asked to increase the funding.
The "strategic partnership"
round has already exceeded expectations in terms of volume. CIRM told
the California Stem Cell Report that the agency has received
letters of intent from 37 enterprises, including 29 biotech
companies.
round has already exceeded expectations in terms of volume. CIRM told
the California Stem Cell Report that the agency has received
letters of intent from 37 enterprises, including 29 biotech
companies.
The round is an outgrowth of
recommendations two years ago from an "external review"
panel that said that CIRM needed to do a better job of engaging the
biotech industry. The RFA for the round said the agency's intent is
to "enhance the likelihood that CIRM-funded projects will obtain
funding for phase III clinical trials" and attract additional
financing.
recommendations two years ago from an "external review"
panel that said that CIRM needed to do a better job of engaging the
biotech industry. The RFA for the round said the agency's intent is
to "enhance the likelihood that CIRM-funded projects will obtain
funding for phase III clinical trials" and attract additional
financing.
Elona Baum, the agency's general
counsel and vice president for business development,, said in a news release earlier this spring,
counsel and vice president for business development,, said in a news release earlier this spring,
“The Strategic Partnership Funding
Program represents a new era for CIRM, one that is increasingly
focused on moving therapies from the lab to the clinic, while still
recognizing the importance of maintaining investments in early stage
science,”
As the RFA is currently configured, CIRM
will provide grants or loans of up to $10 million to three
recipients. Applicants will have to match the size of the award. For
the first time, CIRM will also require applicants to demonstrate the
financial ability to carry the project forward.
will provide grants or loans of up to $10 million to three
recipients. Applicants will have to match the size of the award. For
the first time, CIRM will also require applicants to demonstrate the
financial ability to carry the project forward.
In response to a query, CIRM spokesman
Kevin McCormack said,
Kevin McCormack said,
"We received 37 letters of intent
(LOIs), including 8 from non-profits and 29 from biotech companies.
Based on the information in the LOIs, and on discussions with
applicants, we were able to determine that some of the proposals were
for projects that were outside the scientific scope of the RFA and
that some of the applicants did not meet the minimum specified
criteria in the RFA for 'Commercial Validation.' We currently expect
to receive 10-15 applications for projects that appear to be
eligible."
A "commercial validation"
review is scheduled for this fall by the directors' Intellectual
Property and Industry Subcommittee, which is co-chaired by
Stephen Juelsgaard, former executive vice president of Genentech,
and Duane Roth, CEO of CONNECT, a San Diego nonprofit
that supports technology and life sciences business development. The
others on the six-member panel are Chairman Thomas, Michael
Goldberg, a general partner at the MDV venture capital
firm, and two academics, Os Steward, chair and director of the
Reeve-Irvine Research Center for Spinal Cord Injury at UC
Irvine, and Susan Bryant, former vice chancellor for research,
also at UC Irvine.
review is scheduled for this fall by the directors' Intellectual
Property and Industry Subcommittee, which is co-chaired by
Stephen Juelsgaard, former executive vice president of Genentech,
and Duane Roth, CEO of CONNECT, a San Diego nonprofit
that supports technology and life sciences business development. The
others on the six-member panel are Chairman Thomas, Michael
Goldberg, a general partner at the MDV venture capital
firm, and two academics, Os Steward, chair and director of the
Reeve-Irvine Research Center for Spinal Cord Injury at UC
Irvine, and Susan Bryant, former vice chancellor for research,
also at UC Irvine.
CIRM's short version of commercial
validation says that applications must have "the financial
capacity to move the project through development or of being able to
attract the capital to do so. This may be evidenced by, for example,
(i) significant investment by venture capital firms, large
biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies and/or disease foundations;
(ii) a licensing and development agreement with a large biotechnology
or pharmaceutical company, or a commitment to enter into such an
agreement executed prior to the disbursement of CIRM funding; and/or
(iii) financial statements evidencing significant liquid assets."
validation says that applications must have "the financial
capacity to move the project through development or of being able to
attract the capital to do so. This may be evidenced by, for example,
(i) significant investment by venture capital firms, large
biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies and/or disease foundations;
(ii) a licensing and development agreement with a large biotechnology
or pharmaceutical company, or a commitment to enter into such an
agreement executed prior to the disbursement of CIRM funding; and/or
(iii) financial statements evidencing significant liquid assets."
Applications are due June 26 with
reviews in September. The directors' Industry Subcommittee will meet
following the reviews. CIRM said funding would come no earlier than
January of next year.
reviews in September. The directors' Industry Subcommittee will meet
following the reviews. CIRM said funding would come no earlier than
January of next year.
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Therapeutic implications of colon CSCs
Therapeutic implications of colon cancer stem cells by Eros Fabrizi and 3 co-authors, including Lucia Ricci-Vitiani, World J Gastroenterol 2010(Aug 21); 16(31): 3871-7. OA review. [FriendFeed entry][PubMed citation]. Abstract:
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in many industrialized countries and is characterized by a heterogenic pool of cells with distinct differentiation patterns. Recently, the concept that cancer might arise from a rare population of cells with stem cell-like properties has received support with regard to several solid tumors, including colorectal cancer. According to the cancer stem cell hypothesis, cancer can be considered a disease in which mutations either convert normal stem cells into aberrant counterparts or cause a more differentiated cell to revert toward a stem cell-like behaviour; either way these cells are thought to be responsible for tumor generation and propagation. The statement that only a subset of cells drives tumor formation has major implications for the development of new targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at eradicating the tumor stem cell population. This review will focus on the biology of normal and malignant colonic stem cells, which might contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for tumor development and resistance to therapy.
International Stem Cell Corporation to Present at the Roth Conference on March 14, 2012
International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO) today announced that Co-Chairman Kenneth Aldrich and President and Chief Operating Officer Kurt May will be presenting at the 24th Annual Roth Conference on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific time. The conference is being held March 11-14 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Dana Point, California.
About International Stem Cell Corporation
International Stem Cell Corporation is focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) and the development and commercialization of cell-based research and cosmetic products. ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs). hpSCs avoid ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells for hundreds of millions of individuals of differing genders, ages and racial background with minimal immune rejection after transplantation. hpSCs offer the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell™. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology, and cell-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care. More information is available at http://www.internationalstemcell.com.
To subscribe to receive ongoing corporate communications, please click on the following link: http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1468&to=ea&s=0.
International Stem Cell Corporation
Kenneth C. Aldrich, Co-Chairman
760-940-6383
Source:
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Finding on 'Evil' Stem Cells Boosts Stem Cell Agency PR
The California stem cell agency, which
is struggling to spread the word about its good deeds, made a bit of
progress last week when it was praised – not once but three times –
on a widely followed national media outlet.
is struggling to spread the word about its good deeds, made a bit of
progress last week when it was praised – not once but three times –
on a widely followed national media outlet.
 |
| Jill Helms, Stanford photo |
The PR bonus occurred on Science
Friday, the NPR program that is a favorite on PBS radio stations
around the country. It has 1.4 million listeners and 600,000 podcast downloads each week.
Friday, the NPR program that is a favorite on PBS radio stations
around the country. It has 1.4 million listeners and 600,000 podcast downloads each week.
Jill Helms, a surgery professor at
Stanford and a specialist in regenerative medicine, was the guest
last Friday. She talked about what Science Friday host Ira
Flatow called a "paradigm-shifting" finding that
cholestrol and fat are not the likely villains in clogging arteries.
Instead the villain is a stem cell – an evil one.
Stanford and a specialist in regenerative medicine, was the guest
last Friday. She talked about what Science Friday host Ira
Flatow called a "paradigm-shifting" finding that
cholestrol and fat are not the likely villains in clogging arteries.
Instead the villain is a stem cell – an evil one.
While evil stem cells are not a matter that is pushed by the California stem cell agency, Helms said her
collaboration began as a result of a CIRM-sponsored meeting in Japan.
Although she and lead researcher Song Li, an associate professor of bioengineering at UC Berkeley, work nearly within shouting distance,
they had never met. She said,
collaboration began as a result of a CIRM-sponsored meeting in Japan.
Although she and lead researcher Song Li, an associate professor of bioengineering at UC Berkeley, work nearly within shouting distance,
they had never met. She said,
 |
| Zhenyu Tang (at microscope) examines vascular stem cells in culture along with Aijun Wang (left) and Song Li. UC Berkeley/Zoey Huang photo |
"Even though he works just across
the (San Francisco) Bay from me - I met him at a meeting in Japan
that was sponsored by the California Institute for Regenerative
Medicine, or CIRM, and they fund a lot of stem cell research in
California."
Later she said,
"I will tell you that cancer is
certainly a disease that looks very much like a stem cell gone out of
control. And so if we understand what normally regulates a stem
cell's behavior, then we gain some crucial insights into what
regulates maybe a cancer cell's behavior. It's that kind of approach
that I think that CIRM is largely funding initiatives to try to
target human diseases, the big ones, and the ones that make us all
sort of quake in our shoes, and attempt to come up with new
therapies."
And then still later, she said,
"Most basic scientists that work
in stem cells and in the area of stem cell are trying as hard as
possible to move this into translational therapies, things that can
be used in humans. And, of course, CIRM, our funding institution, is
very adamant about this being the trajectory. So, you know, I'll be
taking a stab at it about five to seven years. I think that the
ability to rapidly screen existing drugs for their ability to target
this cell population is why we think that it might have a shorter
course to getting into humans."
We should note that Helms has not
received a grant from the stem cell agency nor is she even one of the
featured players in CIRM's many videos. Song Li does have a $1.3million grant from the agency.
received a grant from the stem cell agency nor is she even one of the
featured players in CIRM's many videos. Song Li does have a $1.3million grant from the agency.
The three-pronged push by Helms is just
what the agency needs if it is to sell its efforts, which are almost
totally ignored by the mainstream media. However, the Science Friday
audience consists almost entirely of "true believers" in
the virtues of science and research. If CIRM is to accomplish its
PR-communications-marketing goals it also has to reach the unwashed
heathens, who are, however, unlikely converts. But most importantly,
CIRM needs to persuade fence-sitters. All of which will require a
long, hard and sometimes frustrating campaign.
what the agency needs if it is to sell its efforts, which are almost
totally ignored by the mainstream media. However, the Science Friday
audience consists almost entirely of "true believers" in
the virtues of science and research. If CIRM is to accomplish its
PR-communications-marketing goals it also has to reach the unwashed
heathens, who are, however, unlikely converts. But most importantly,
CIRM needs to persuade fence-sitters. All of which will require a
long, hard and sometimes frustrating campaign.
One final note: The UC Berkley press release on the research said it was supported by cash from CIRM, the
NIH and the United States Army. According to CIRM's research blog post
on Li's work, his team included two researchers who were
part of Berkeley’s CIRM-funded training program.
NIH and the United States Army. According to CIRM's research blog post
on Li's work, his team included two researchers who were
part of Berkeley’s CIRM-funded training program.
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Trounson Predicts — 'Optimistically' — Successful California Stem Cell Treatments in Five Years
Alan Trounson, president of the $3 billion California stem cell agency, says he is "optimistic" that some stem cell treatments developed in California will prove successful in humans in the next five years.
Trounson was quoted in The Sacramento Bee today in an opinion piece written by David Lesher, government affairs director of the Public Policy Institute of California. Lesher provided something of an overview of the agency, including pluses and minuses. He wrote,
"Those who speculate say that the most advanced stem cell treatments are still probably a decade away from becoming available to patients. And the cost to get them there will far exceed California's $3 billion investment."
But Lesher, a former political writer for the Los Angeles Times, also wrote,
"...(T)he president of the state's stem cell agency said he is 'optimistic' that at least a few California treatments will prove successful in humans in the next five years."
Lesher said,
"That may mean a genetically modified stem cell treatment to cure AIDS, (Trounson) said; it may mean a treatment that eliminates the need for some diabetics to monitor or inject insulin; there might be a treatment to restore eyesight to those suffering from a major cause of blindness.
"'These are the kind of things we need to get through,' he said. 'I hope that we have a number of them showing proof by 2015 or 2016. I'm optimistic. The caveat is that nothing is guaranteed.'"
The stem cell agency will run out of cash for new grants in 2017 and will go out of business shortly thereafter unless voters approve another multibillion dollar bond measure or it manages to secure private financing.
Lesher discussed the difficult financial environment for private financing of stem cell therapies and how it has changed since the the stem cell agency was created by voters seven years ago.
"The hope was that California's bond (financing for CIRM) would jump-start a biotech industry by building the laboratories and seeding early research to a point where private support would take over.
"But that point of commercial viability is a moving target as private investors have grown more risk averse and the regulatory path for such radical new therapies is unpredictable. So the biggest question today in the stem cell field is not whether the science will work someday. The big questions are how will we pay for it, how will regulators know when it's ready and when will it happen?"
Lesher said,
"The problem is that even the most advanced experiments in (CIRM's) translational portfolio are still a couple of years away from the same point in the regulatory pipeline where high cost and uncertainty forced Geron out of the field. And there is still no clear answer about how to resolve those same challenges, although the cost-benefit calculation will be different for other treatments."
Lesher concluded,
"Unlike high-speed rail, which continues to have strong support from the governor, the stakes surrounding California's stem cell investment have been largely invisible. That's too bad, because stem cell science is a much smaller investment for taxpayers with a greater possible return."
Our comment? In what CIRM Chairman Jonathan Thomas has declared as a "war" for public support, today's piece in The Bee was a bit of a victory. Although the article did mention difficult issues, it was generally upbeat about CIRM. The piece focused on the wonders of the science and bypassed many of the negatives about CIRM, including its built-in conflicts of interests and its reluctance to correct long-identified problems. Also absent was a discussion of how CIRM signed a $25 million loan agreement with Geron only three months before the company abandoned its clinical trial. That omission could be considered a PR plus for the agency. Overall, however, the folks at CIRM should be pleased by the article.
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California Stem Cell Agency Waiting Until April for More Cash
The state of California plans to sell $2 billion in bonds next Thursday, but the California stem cell agency, which is entirely dependent on state borrowing, will have to wait until later this spring to see more cash.
J.T. Thomas, chairman of the stem cell agency, said he expected to see CIRM benefit from the next bond sale in April. The agency currently has sufficient funds to operate until about June, plus an arrangement with the state for continued funding if a timely bond sale is not completed.
The $3 billion stem cell agency was created in 2004 through a ballot initiative that authorized its funding through the sale of state bonds over a 10-year period. The interest on the bonds raises the total cost of the agency to taxpayers to about $6 billion. Likewise, the cost of a $20 million grant is actually more like $40 million.
Financially beleaguered California's interest costs have sharply increased in recent years as the state has borrowed $53.8 billion from 2007 to 2010. This year, interest costs will come to about $5.4 billion, nearly 6 percent of the state budget. Nine years ago, it was $2.1 billion or 2.9 percent, according a piece by Randall Jensen (no relation to this writer) of the Bond Buyer newspaper.
The expense of borrowing shrinks the amount of state money available for public schools, helping the medically indigent and other state purposes.
Next Thursday's bond sale will go to refinance debt at lower rates. This year, Gov. Jerry Brown and state Treasurer Bill Lockyer plan to sell only $5.2 billion in general obligation bonds, roughly one-fourth of what the state issued in 2009.
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Trounson Talks Stem Cells in Qatar
 |
| Qatar Conference Center |
If our readers in the Middle East are looking for a first-hand assessment of the state of stem cell research, they might want to take in the four-day conference this week in Qatar, which features the president of the $3 billion California stem cell agency.
Alan Trounson is one of a number of international stem cell notables at the session at the new Qatar Conference Center in the tiny nation in the Persian Gulf. The country is putting on the conference as a means of developing its own stem cell research capabilities.
Qatar had a gross national product of $129 billion in 2010, with a per capita income of $138,000, according to the U.S. State Department. The population is about 1.7 million, more than 75 percent of whom are foreigners with temporary residence status.
In addition to Trounson, other California and CIRM-connected researchers are speaking at the conference in the Qatar center, which just opened in December. They include David Baltimore, Nobel Laureate and a former director of the stem cell agency. A company Baltimore co-founded, Calimmune, of Tucson, Az., is sharing in a $20 million CIRM grant. Other CIRM grant recipients or representatives of recipient companies appearing at the conference are Irv Weissman of Stanford; Deepak Srivastava of the Gladstone Institute, and Ann Tsukamoto Weissman of Stem Cells Inc. of Newark, Ca.
Social activities at the conference include sand dune "bashing" in off-road vehicles, camel tracking along with a look at their "robot jockeys" and a visit to the original Arabic Oryx farm.
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San Jose Merc to California Stem Cell Agency: Time to Bow Out
The $3 billion California stem cell agency should shut its doors when its cash runs out in about six years and turn over development of stem cell therapies to industry and academe, the San Jose Mercury News said in an editorial on Saturday.
The piece in the leading newspaper in California's Silicon Valley was headlined, "Stem Cell Institute Should Take a Bow (Out)."
The newspaper wrote,
"This state is in financial crisis with no full recovery in sight. Bankrolling the next phase of research would come at the expense of other critical state services, including public education, that are state government's core mission and already are starved by budget cuts. It would be a mistake to pile more debt onto the state's already heavy bond obligations, which are paid off from the same general fund that pays for schools and other services. Medical research is important, but it is not at the heart of state government's mission. Bond measures now need to deal with water supplies and other looming crises."
The editorial said CIRM has provided a "strong foundation from which universities and companies can move toward cures."
But the newspaper concluded,
"Cures remain elusive -- there is never a guarantee with scientific research -- but the 10-year start voters approved was meant to be just that. The promise of stem cell treatments now must be kept alive with funding from industry, academic institutions and private foundations and philanthropists."
The editorial comes as the seven-year-old agency is driving to turn research into therapies that can actually be used in treatments. At the same time, CIRM is considering asking California voters to approve another multibillion bond measure in the next few years, a proposal that seems to be fresh news to many in the media.
The San Jose newspaper covered the stem cell agency with some detail in its first year of operation. In the last few years, however, the paper's coverage has been all but non-existent, like most of the news media in California.
Earlier this month, the paper published an overview of the agency, which highlighted the discussions by former CIRM Chairman Bob Klein about another bond issue, along with the fact that the cures promised by the campaign of 2004 have not materialized. The proposed bond issue is old news for most persons who have followed CIRM; the plan has been around publicly for more than a year. But the call for more cash comes a surprise to many of in the media. And to the public. So it is likely to pop up again as other news outlets re-visit the agency from time to time.
The presence of another electoral campaign also imposes a different sort of burden on CIRM – something quite removed from such matters as the basic biology of stem cells. It means that the stem cell agency's endeavors are being evaluated in a political context, which involves such questions as whether its actions are designed to generate the millions in campaign contributions necessary to win a statewide election or whether it is neglecting valuable research for something that will instead generate a high profile result for the benefit of the campaign but not add much to the science.
It is all part of tactics and strategy involved in the "communications war" that CIRM Chairman Jonathan Thomas discussed with CIRM board members last June in his bid to win election to his post.
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A Stem Cell Word Cloud: Slicing and Dicing CIRM Grants
The $3 billion California stem cell agency has handed out 454 grants since its inception in 2004 but what does it all mean?
Stem cell researcher Paul Knoepfler took a crack at an unusual analysis a couple of days ago, generating a word cloud from the titles of all the CIRM grants.
Writing on his blog, the UC Davis scientist and CIRM grant recipient said he was surprised by some of the results, including how small the word "induced" was in the cloud considering the hooha over induced pluripotent cells. Knoepfler also wrote,
"I found it fascinating that the next top word was 'differentiation.' As much as we all focus on stem cells in their native state, clearly the differentiation of stem cells is critically important."
Knoepfler used a free, word-cloud forming utility(Wordle) to generate the results, which Amy Adams, CIRM's communications manager, called "cool."
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Fox News: Stem Cell Cream Shows Benefits Similar to Collagen Injections
Watch the latest video at <a href="http://video.foxnews.com">video.foxnews.com</a>
Could a stem cell skin care line be coming to a store near you?
Researchers from the International Stem Cell Corporation said they have discovered a new class of pluripotent stem cells that have the same characteristics as embryonic stem cells – but don’t require destroying human embryos.
Dr. Simon Craw, vice president of the International Stem Cell Corporation, said extracts from these stem cells—called parthenogenetic stem cells—have shown benefits regarding skin care.
The scientists stumbled upon the discovery while doing stem cell research for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. They essentially cracked open the cells and removed the proteins and peptides from the inside to use as part of a mixture for a topical skin cream.
Source:
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RegBlog: Over-Regulation of Parthenotes Stifles Valuable Scientific Research – by Sean J. Kealy
A recent article in Scientific American questioned whether research on stem cell lines derived from unfertilized eggs was too tightly regulated by the federal government. Now that technology allows the creation of stem cells without fertilization, there is no question that federal laws and guidelines are overly restrictive, causing a detrimental effect on valuable scientific inquiry.
Since 1996, Congress has included the Dickey-Wicker Amendment in the annual federal budget. This amendment was a conservative reaction to what some considered to be scientific research that showed little respect toward life.
For example, speaking to the Senate in 1996, Robert Smith (R-NH) said, “Just because a private party wants to destroy life, why should Government force taxpayers to give their blessing to that act? Let private parties use private money for their ethically challenged experiments.” Similarly, Representative Jay Dickey (R-AR) said, also in 1996, that embroyonic research was “an attack on the sanctity of life,” and pointed out that several pro-life organizations supported the amendment.
Please click here to read the complete article.
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ACT and CIRM: Fresh Life in a Troubled California Stem Cell Courtship?
Advanced Cell Technology, which has unsuccessfully sought funding several times from the $3 billion California stem cell agency, drew some attention today in a piece in a Massachusetts newspaper.
The Worcester Telegram took a look at the firm, headquartered in Santa Monica, Ca., with labs in Marlboro, Mass., in the wake of Geron's departure from hESC research. The move left ACT as the only firm in the country with an hESC trial and perhaps with a better shot at CIRM funding.
Reporter Lisa Eckelbecker wrote,
"Advanced Cell, publicly traded since 2005, has spent years developing its technologies. The company brings in little revenue and has an accumulated deficit of $180.9 million. About 1.6 billion shares of Advanced Cell common stock is outstanding, a result of numerous financings over the years. It trades for about 10 cents a share on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, an electronic exchange for small companies. No analysts from major Wall Street banks report on the company.
"The company's treatment for Stargardt's macular dystrophy and dry age-related macular degeneration — the treatment that required (a) mountain of paperwork before the FDA — first went into the eyes of patients in July in Los Angeles. The retinal pigment epithelial cells, generated from embryonic stem cells, were developed to slow the progression of the eye disorders, which can lead to blindness."
ACT moved its headquarters to California following the passage of Prop. 71 in 2004, the ballot initiative that created the California stem cell agency. The company said at the time it expected to "gain significant momentum by being able to take advantage of a favorable environment for funding."
ACT initially landed in Alameda, Ca., but has since moved to Southern California. Its official opening in 2006 in Alameda was attended by the state treasurer and at least one CIRM official, according to the company. The firm has never secured funding from the stem cell agency, which does not release the names of rejected applicants. However, the California Stem Cell Report carried an item in 2008 that pointed out that a researcher for ACT complained publicly about a reviewer's conflict of interest in connection with an ACT application(see here and here). At the time, Robert Klein, then CIRM chairman, brushed off the complaint. The journal Nature has also reported that ACT has applied unsuccessfully several times for CIRM awards.
It is a fair bet that ACT was an initial applicant in the round that provided funding to Geron last spring. However, by the time Geron's application went to the full CIRM board, the other applicants had withdrawn – the first time such an event had occurred at CIRM.
Since Geron pulled out of the hESC business last month, it is likely that ACT and CIRM have opened fresh discussions, given their mutual interest in producing a stem cell therapy. CIRM also has a new chairman who is familiar with ACT. After Geron was awarded its $25 million loan from CIRM last May, the agency's board elected as chairman a Los Angeles bond financier, Jonathan Thomas, who led an early round of financing for ACT in 2000. Thomas last summer sold his remaining 17,046 shares in ACT for $3,239. Thomas said he had a "significant loss" on the sale but did not disclose the amount.
Geron's flight from hESC and ACT's perserverance come as the stem cell agency is pushing aggressively to drive research into the clinic. Plus CIRM needs tangible results that voters can understand if CIRM is win ballot-box approval for continued funding in the next few years. The agency will run out of cash in about 2017 and is considering mounting a campaign for another multibillion bond issue.
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
Stem Cell Awards of the Year: From Geron to iPS 'Warts'
The end of the year is a traditional time for the media to come up with lists of both the dubious and meritorious events and personages of the year. This year's nominations from a California stem cell researcher include Geron, Roman Reed and the new chairman of the California stem cell agency.
Paul Knoepfler, a stem cell scientist at UC Davis and one of the few stem cell scientists who blogs regularly, today revealed his awards for 2011. They ranged from the political cartoon of the year to the stem cell scientific issue of the year.
Geron was named in the "misstep of the year." Knoepfler wrote,
"You guys really screwed up by dropping your stem cell program in this manner. I believe this bordered on the unethical. I commend the actual stem cell scientists at Geron, but the person(s) who as leaders pulled the trigger on killing the stem cell program did wrong."
Roman Reed was named "stem cell activist of the year." Reed is the man who came up with the CIRM motto several years ago, "Turning stem cells into cures." He has long been active on stem cell issues, along with his equally hard-working father, Don Reed.
Jonathan Thomas, the relatively new chairman of the stem cell agency, was named "stem cell leader of the year." Thomas was elected chairman of the agency in June, replacing Bob Klein, who stepped down. Knoepfler wrote that Thomas "has impressed the stem cell community and made some very positive changes at CIRM to make an awesome organization even better."
Knoepfler has much more, including the stem cell biotech of the year –
Advanced Cell Technology of Santa Monica, Ca. – which Knoepfler said has two hESC trials on track and an "impressive scientific leadership." Not to be overlooked is the stem cell scientific issue of the year – "warts" or genetic changes -- at least possible ones involving iPS cells. Knoepfler points out that the subject has drawn a vast number of citations in journal articles.
We should not forget the stem cell blog of the year, which came in as a tie between Stem Cell Network of Canada and Stem Cell Assays by William Gunn of San Diego and Alexey Berseney of Philadelphia. Knoepfler also mentioned the CIRM Research Blog, overseen by Amy Adams, and the California Stem Cell Report. Knoepfler said the California Stem Cell Report "is read by a who’s who of the stem cell world, and is a source of important information about CIRM," although Knoepfler said he wished the blog was more balanced "in terms of positive and critical stories." However, Knoepfler did note that several more positive items have appeared recently, but this analyst warns of the perils of excessive exuberance.
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
IOM Looking for New Member for Its CIRM Performance Panel
If you want to serve on the Institute of Medicine panel examining the $3 billion California stem cell agency, you have a chance during the next few weeks.
The panel has lost a member because of a conflict of interest and is now engaged in the process of replacing him. The IOM will consider both expressions of interest and suggestions for candidates. Currently, the panel has no member from California, which leaves it minus an important perspective.
Christine Stencel, senior media relations officer for the IOM, told the California Stem Cell Report that the IOM expects to fill vacancy by its meeting Jan. 24 in California.
David Scadden of Harvard resigned from the IOM/CIRM panel earlier this month because of his ties to Fate Therapeutics of San Diego, which lists him as a scientific founder.
Persons interested in serving or nominating candidates can email Adrienne Stith at Astith@nas.edu.
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
International Stem Cell Corporation – Breakthrough Technology Alert
The following is an excerpt from the August 3, 2010 Breakthrough Technology Alert, published by Agora Financial. Agora Financial is a fully independent publisher and has no financial connections to companies listed below. Breakthrough Technology Alert's editor is industry expert Patrick Cox. Patrick is renowned for his innovative forecasts and keeping readers "ahead of the story".
For more information about Patrick Cox and Breakthrough Technology Alert please visit http://www.agorafinancial.com
ISCO Collaborations Accelerate
Last week, I told you about International Stem Cell Corp.'s (OTCBB: ISCO) new European subsidiary, ISCO Europe. That announcement closely followed an announced alliance with a leading Indian provider of corneal transplants. Now ISCO has announced that it has entered into a distribution agreement for its Lifeline brand of human cell culture products in India.
Jeffrey Janus, senior vice president of operations of ISCO and CEO of its subsidiary Lifeline, said in a press release, Sristi Biosciences is part of one of the most experienced biotechnology companies in India and the first to advance cell therapy into human trials in that country. Their network among academic and corporate researchers and experience and capacity to import and handle primary cell cultures, media and growth factors in India will be highly valuable for Lifeline to continue the international commercial expansion of its brand.
For transformational profits,
Patrick Cox
To learn more about Patrick Cox and Breakthrough Technology Alert please click here. © 2010 by Agora Financial, LLC. 808 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. All rights reserved. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means or for any reason without the consent of the publisher. The information contained herein is obtained from sources believed to be reliable; however, its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
New Multibillion Dollar Stem Cell Bond Measure Wins Endorsement with a Caveat
A blogger on the web site of Los Angeles television station KNBC today supported a new multibillion bond measure for the California stem cell agency but with an interesting qualification.
Joe Mathews, author and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation, said the new bonds should be backed by a tax on the people and companies involved in the business of health care. He wrote,
"New stem cell moneys can't come out of funds that would otherwise go to other programs."
Mathews said voters "probably" shouldn't approve another multibillion dollar bond measure for CIRM that is paid back through the state's general fund. He wrote, however,
"(T)hat doesn't necessarily mean there shouldn't be another stem cell bond. California's major universities have invested in stem cell research, with help from the agency.
"Major researchers have relocated to the state. And the unknown nature of stem cell research's promise, while frustrating efforts to justify the research dollar for dollar, argues for doing more to learn more.
"What the state budget picture does require is that any stem cell bond should have a clear funding mechanism -- a specific tax or new revenue source (some sort of levy on companies and people involved in the business of health care) -- that would be more than enough to pay back any bond."
Mathews is co-author of "California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It," which declares that the initiative process is one of major fault points in California government. The initiative was used to create the $3 billion stem cell agency in 2004, making it immune from normal state government accountability and locking in funding that cannot be touched by the legislature or government despite any other financial needs of the state.
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
International Stem Cell Corporation Names Charles J. Casamento to Board of Directors
International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO), http://www.intlstemcell.com, a California-based biotechnology company focused on therapeutic and research products, announced today that Charles J. Casamento was elected to the Board of Directors, on June 21, 2010.
Mr. Casamento is currently Executive Director and Principal of The Sage Group, a healthcare advisory group specializing in mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships between biotechnology companies and pharmaceutical companies. During his career, Mr. Casamento has served as a director on the boards of eight public biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies. He was the president and CEO of Osteologix, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company developing products for treating osteoporosis, from 2004 through 2007. From 1999 through 2004, he served as chairman of the board, president and CEO of Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. Casamento formerly served as RiboGene, Inc.'s president, CEO and chairman of the board from 1993 through 1999 until it merged with Cypros to form Questcor. He was co-founder, president and CEO of Interneuron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Indevus), a biopharmaceutical company, from 1989 until 1993. Mr. Casamento has also held senior management positions at Genzyme Corporation, where he was senior vice president, pharmaceuticals and biochemicals; American Hospital Supply, where he was vice president of business development and strategic planning for the Critical Care Division; Johnson & Johnson, Hoffmann-LaRoche, Inc. and Sandoz Inc. Mr. Casamento also serves on the Boards of Directors of CORTEX Pharmaceuticals, SuperGen, Inc. and VIVUS, Inc. He holds a bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from Fordham University and an M.B.A. from Iona College and was originally licensed to practice pharmacy in the states of New York and New Jersey.
'Mr. Casamento is a vital addition to our Board and brings to International Stem Cell Corporation expertise in areas that will help guide our company through growth, including corporate governance, business development, strategic planning, financing, mergers and acquisitions, product development, clinical trials and corporate and research and development collaboration activities,' said Kenneth Aldrich, Chairman.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STEM CELL CORPORATION (ISCO.OB):
International Stem Cell Corporation is a California-based biotechnology company focused on therapeutic and research products. ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis, results in creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs). hpSCs avoid ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells with minimal immune rejection after transplantation into hundreds of millions of individuals of differing sexes, ages and racial groups. This offers the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell(TM), while avoiding the ethical issue of using fertilized eggs. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology. More information is available at ISCO's website, http://www.internationalstemcell.com.
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FORWARD-LOOKING
Statements pertaining to anticipated technological developments and therapeutic applications, and other opportunities for the company and its subsidiary, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as 'will,' 'believes,' 'plans,' 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'estimates') should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, application of capital resources among competing uses, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the company's business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Key Words: Stem Cells, Biotechnology, Parthenogenesis
International Stem Cell Corporation
Kenneth C. Aldrich, Chairman
760-940-6383
kaldrich@intlstemcell.com
or
Brian Lundstrom, President
760-640-6383
bl@intlstemcell.com
