Biotech Announcement

Biotech Announcement

A press release from the company Moraga Biotechnology Corporation announces that scientists there have discovered Blastomere-Like Stem Cells (BLSCs) circulating in the blood of mammals. These cells have the ability to differentiate into a number of different kinds of tissue. The company says it has a method of efficiently isolating these cells, which might allow it to move into the business of banking blood and then isolating stem cells as needed.

Article on Cancer Stem Cells

Article on Cancer Stem Cells

Regular readers of this blog will not likely find anything new in Time Magazine’s article on cancer stem cells that appears this week, but it’s a nice summary and friendly read on the issues pertaining to the stem cells that appear to be the cause of cancer. These cells are not targeted by normal cancer treatments, and survive to create more cancer cells later on, explaining why cancer frequently recurs. The article covers some of the new thinking about cancer stem cells and cancer treatment. I was interested to see that potential stem cells for small-cell carcinomas in the lung have been located—I’ve been realizing that there doesn’t seem to be much going on with stem cells as involved in various kinds of lung disease, either in treating or causing.

Connecticut Update

Connecticut Update

An article in the Danbury News-Times gives some information on the current status of the stem cell research money to be distributed by the state of Connecticut later this year. It is part of a 10 year, $100 million package. The state commission anticipates being able to start receiving proposals by mid-May and possibly disbursing funding in the early fall. The University of Connecticut plans to create a stem cell bank, which would include new lines of embryonic stem cells. The article also described the collaboration between several different Connecticut universities. Scientists are full of hope and excitement about the possibilities.

Article on Venture Capital and Stem Cells

Article on Venture Capital and Stem Cells

The San Diego Union Tribune had an interesting article yesterday about the lack of investment by venture capitalists in stem cell research and technology. According to the story, only $120 million of $5.9 billion invested by venture capitalists in biotechnology went to stem cell research. Some of the issues cited were scientific, some political. Among them were issues regarding the tumor-causing potential of transplanted stem cells, questions about immune system responses, technology issues, intellectual property issues, and the controversy about embryonic stem cell research. Venture capitalists reportedly don’t like to put their money into a field with so much uncertainty. One scientist who was interviewed said that there are questions about what exactly is being sold—it’s not a pill or device but instead a cell that provides a process. One researcher predicted a five to ten year window before there are good human clinical trials with embryonic stem cells. One person said that venture capital firms needs to change their ideas about the stem cells business model from something that provides therapies to patients to something that provides cells to researchers.

I don’t know much at all about the business of venture capital, so I don’t have an opinion on this, other than to think that it reflects the youth of the stem cell field.