Stem cell medicine thrown umbilical rope
By Dr. Matthew Watson
Tim and Padma Vellaichamy of Parramatta have had their new born child's umbilical cord stored cryogenically for future treatment. Pictured with their as yet unnamed three week old daughter. Picture: Adam Ward Source: The Daily Telegraph
IT'S current preservation for the future regeneration - and now umbilical cord tissue is going on ice in Australia for the first time.
Usually discarded after birth, umbilical tissue from newborn babies is being collected and cryogenically frozen to be used one day for regenerative and stem cell medicine. And it doesn't just have potential for the babies involved, either. Experts say stem cells could also be used for family members who are genetically compatible.
It is hoped the cells will eventually be able to be used to repair damaged tissues and organs, with researchers investigating its uses for treating diseases like multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and diabetes, as well as for bone and cartilage repair.
Although cord blood storage has been available for many years, Cell Care Australia has added cord tissue storage in anticipation of new discoveries in the regenerative medicine field.
Cell Care Australia medical director associate professor Mark Kirkland said the storage process - already popular in the US, Europe and Southeast Asia - was long overdue for Australian shores.
"The science is developing around the world and we're really behind the rest of the world in providing parents the option to store these cells and we thought it was about time it was brought here," he said.
"It's finding a way to take what would otherwise be waste tissue and turning it into something of potential future value for not only your child but also potentially for other family members.'
Parramatta couple Tim and Padma Vellaichamy are among the first to use the service in Australia.
Mr Vellaichamy, 31, said he heard of the technology while working as a dentist in India and decided to store their daughter's cord cell tissue after birth three weeks ago.
Continued here:
Stem cell medicine thrown umbilical rope
Uncategorized
Comments Off on Stem cell medicine thrown umbilical rope |
May 21st, 2012
Bipolar Kids May Focus on Different Facial Features
By Dr. Matthew Watson
Children with bipolar disorder and a similar condition called severe mood
dysregulation spend less time looking at the eyes when trying to identify
facial features, compared to children without the psychiatric disorders,
researchers say.
This new study finding may help explain why children with bipolar disorder and
severe mood dysregulation have difficulty determining other people's emotional
expressions, said the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health investigators.
The researchers tracked the eye movements of children with and without
psychiatric disorders as they viewed faces with different emotional
expressions, such as happy, sad, fearful and angry. In general, the children
spent more time looking at the eyes, the facial feature that conveys the most
information about emotion. Read more…
Integrative Medicine
Comments Off on Bipolar Kids May Focus on Different Facial Features |
May 20th, 2012
Heart Disease, Diabetes, Depression a Deadly Mix
By Dr. Matthew Watson
Heart disease, diabetes and depression can be a lethal triple-play -- boosting
a patient's death risk by 20 percent to 30 percent, new research shows.
"We do not know what this increased risk is due to, but it could either be
that depression influences crucial aspects of self-care behaviors needed to
manage diabetes or that a more severe disease process is reflected in more
depressive symptoms," said lead researcher Anastasia Georgiades, a
research associate in the department of psychiatry and behavioral science at Duke
University in Durham, N.C.
Georgiades was expected to present the findings Friday at the American
Psychosomatic Society annual meeting in Budapest, Hungary.
In their study, the Duke team followed 933 heart patients for more than four
years. During that time, there were 135 deaths among patients with type 2
diabetes and/or depression, the researchers found.
Among patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms of depression who were also
diabetics, the researchers observed a significant 30 percent greater risk of
dying over the four-year period compared with patients with either depression
alone or diabetes alone. Read more…
Integrative Medicine
Comments Off on Heart Disease, Diabetes, Depression a Deadly Mix |
May 20th, 2012
Cell-based Cancer Immunotherapies. Some metrics..
By Dr. Matthew Watson
This is true on all fronts. Cancer immunotherapy conferences are popping up everywhere. A growing number of of analysts are now covering a growing number of companies in the space with coverage ranging from bearishly critical to ebullient bullishness. Some venture capital firms are now loosening their purse strings for immunotherapy plays and both pharma venture funds and business development departments are now spending an increasing amount of time actively monitoring and exploring potential plays in the sector.
One of the best annual industry summaries of what is happening in the sector is sponsored by MD Becker Partners through its annual Cancer Immunotherapy: A Long Awaited Reality conference held each in New York, this year on October 4 and select video replays it hosts on its YouTube channel.
Some Segment Metrics
- Dendreon's Provenge
- Autologous immunotherapy for prostate cancer (1 monthly dose for 3 months)
- Efficacy: prolongs survival
- Markets: only the United States (approved April 2010)
- Next markets: submitted the marketing authorisation application to the EMA (European Medicines Agency) in early 2012 and hopes to introduce Provenge in the European market in 2013
- 2011 Revenue $290,000
- Projected 2012 Revenue: ~$380,000
Phase III or II/III:
- Argos Therapeutics' AGS-003
- phase III trial not yet recruiting
- Indication: advanced renal cell carcinoma
- Estimated enrollment: 450
- Estimated primary completion: June 2014
- Cell Medica's Adoptive Cellular Therapy (ACT)
- phase III trial actively recruiting
- Indication: cytomegalovirus infection following allogeneic stem cell transplantion
- Estimated enrollment: 90
- Estimated primary completion: June 2013
- JW Creagene's CreaVax-RCC
- phase III trial actively recruiting
- Indication: metastatic renal cell carcinoma
- Estimated enrollment: 54
- Estimated primary completion: unknown
- Kiadis Pharma's alloreactive T-cells (ATIR)
- phase II/III trial currently suspended
- Indication: infections and relapse assoc’d w/ SCT for leukemia and other hematologic malignancies
- Estimated enrollment: 70
- Estimated primary completion: TBD
- MolMed's TK
- phase III trial actively recruiting
- Indication: acute leukemia
- Estimated enrollment: 170
- Estimated primary completion: January 2014
- Newlink Genetics' HyperAcute®-Pancreas (algenpantucel-L)
- phase III trial actively recruiting
- Indication: pancreatic cancer
- Estimated enrollment: 722
- Estimated primary completion: January 2014
- NovaRx's Lucanix
- phase III trial actively recruiting
- Indication: non-small cell lung cancer
- Estimated enrollment: 506
- Estimated primary completion: June 2012
- PrimaBioMed's Cvac
- phase II/III trial actively recruiting
- Indication: epithelial ovarian cancer
- Estimated enrollment: 1,000
- Estimated primary completion: March 2015
Phase II or I/II
- 50 industry-sponsored clinical trials of cell-based immunotherapies actively recruiting, active no longer recruiting, active not yet recruiting, or anticipated to commence yet in 2012
- ~10 of these are expected to have readouts yet this year
- Trial sites in US, Canada, UK, continental Europe, Israel, South Korea, India, Australia
- Expected enrollment of 3,500+
- Bellicum Pharmaceuticals. $20M series B.
- CellMedica. $15M grant from CPRIT in Texas.
- Argos Therapeutcs. $25M Series D.
- Northwest Bio. $5.5M grant from German gov't Saxony Development Bank
-- Lee @celltherapy
p.s. As always we welcome your feedback, comments, and corrections.
Regenerative Medicine
Comments Off on Cell-based Cancer Immunotherapies. Some metrics.. |
May 20th, 2012
Painful Decisions Coming Up at Stem Cell Agency
By Dr. Matthew Watson
The
Sacramento Bee today ran a piece by yours truly in its California
Forum section.
Here
is an excerpt. You can find the entire article here.
"They're
talking about pain at the $3 billion California stem
cell agency. And mortality. But not the end of life as you and I know
it.
"They're
talking about the pain that comes from cutting off millions of
dollars for scientists. They're talking about what will happen when
the state stops borrowing money to finance stem
cell research –
a final-breath moment that arrives in about five years....
"CIRM's
changing priorities create 'stark tension,' said one board
member, Michael Friedman, CEO of the City of Hope in the Los Angeles
area, in January. 'We're going to have to make some really
painful and difficult decisions,' he told directors.
"CIRM's
success – or lack of it – will play a critical role in its future
finances, whether they are based on another bond measure or private
support."
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
San Diego Biotech Firm Appeals Rejection of Cancer Stem Cell Grant
By Dr. Matthew Watson
Therapeutics, whose multimillion dollar grant application was
rejected by reviewers at the California stem cell agency, is asking
the agency's board to overturn the decision next Thursday.
Biogen Idec, said it is reducing its request from $3.5 million
because it has raised $2 million since it applied for the grant six
months ago. However, its appeal did not state specifically how much
it was now requesting from CIRM. The research involves cancer stem cells.
during the period following submission of its application, it has accomplished all of the activities that CIRM had identified
as the first milestone in the research project. Eclipse also said it
has accomplished a number of activities in milestones two and three.
The firm said that it is now accelerating its IND filing by one year.
$2 million in seed funding from City Hill Ventures, also of San
Diego, according to a Bioworld article by Marie Powers. The
co-founders are Peter Chu, now president of Eclipse, and Christopher
Reyes, chief scientific officer. Chu and Reyes ran Biogen Idec's
cancer stem cell program. They are also the applicants for the CIRM
grant.
letter to the CIRM board from CIRM President Alan Trounson. He made
no comment on the worthiness of the request. On
an earlier appeal from Stuart Lipton of Sanford-Burnham, Trounson's
cover letter said Lipton's letter was "without merit."
scientific score of 58 out of 100 from CIRM reviewers. CIRM, however, has not released the company's score. Two other proposals with scores of 53
were approved by reviewers.
sharply criticized for its failure to fund businesses in a
significant way. It is currently moving to engage them more closely.
If Eclipse's appeal is successful, it will be one of less than 20
business to be funded without a nonprofit partner. Businesses have
received only about 4 percent of CIRM's $1.3 billion in awards to 494enterprises.
are included in the agenda material presented to the CIRM board, but
the board does not have to act on them or discuss them. Researchers
can also appear before the board to make a case.
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
Stem Cell Therapy
Comments Off on San Diego Biotech Firm Appeals Rejection of Cancer Stem Cell Grant |
May 20th, 2012
Burnham’s Lipton Appeals Rejection of $5 Million Grant Application
By Dr. Matthew Watson
Lipton is seeking to overturn rejection of his application for a $5
million grant from the California stem cell agency, declaring that
reviewers misinterpreted the proposal and relied partly on
"grantsmanship" instead of science.
and is one of 22 rejected by CIRM's reviewers in a $95 million
round that comes before the agency's directors next Thursday.
some of the reviewers' criticism was "completely unfounded,"
"incorrect" or "in error." The two-page letter
went into specific scientific detail.
CIRM President Alan Trounson said Lipton's appeal was "without
merit." He did not go into details but said CIRM staff is
prepared to discuss it next Thursday.
was not disclosed by CIRM, but it appears to be between 62 and 53.
Two grants ranked at 53 were approved by reviewers. Appeals from
rejected scientists are included in the agenda material presented by
the board, but the board does not have to act on them or discuss them.
Researchers can also appear before the board to make a case.
Sanford-Burnham, is a member of the CIRM board. She will be barred
from taking part in any discussion of Lipton's application or voting
on it.
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
Stem Cell Therapy
Comments Off on Burnham’s Lipton Appeals Rejection of $5 Million Grant Application |
May 20th, 2012
Conflict of Interest: CIRM to End Contract with Consultant Linked to Grant Recipient
By Dr. Matthew Watson
not renew a contract with a "special advisor" who has been
nominated to the board of directors of a firm that is sharing in a $14.5 million grant from the agency.
partner of LifeSciences Advisory, LLC, of Emerald Lake Hills, Ca.
Ramasastry has worked for CIRM since May of 2010. Last month, she was
nominated to the board of Sangamo BioSciences, Inc., of Richmond, Ca.
Her responsibilities with CIRM have included "industry analysis
and consultation." Sangamo cited her experience with CIRM in its
press release on her nomination. She was also employed as a
consultant by Sangamo, according to the firm.
conflict of interest questions. The case highlights the issues
that can arise between CIRM and the biotech industry as the agency
moves to engage industry more closely. CIRM's response additionally
demonstrates a lack of awareness of the potential for serious
mischief or worse when dealing with consultants.
CIRM on May 6 for comment on the Sangamo-Ramasastry matter. The
questions included whether Ramasastry disclosed to CIRM her work for
Sangamo and whether CIRM took any action per the agency's conflict of
interest code. CIRM did not respond to the question of whether
Ramasastry ever disclosed her ties to Sangamo, which expects to
receive $5.2 million from the CIRM grant if it runs a full four
years.
from spokesman Kevin McCormack.
"Saira Ramasastry was an
independent contractor. As required by law, we do ask independent
consultants to complete Form 700s(statements of economic interests)
if they participate in an agency decision making role. Her role did
not fall into that category - she was identified as a 'special
advisor' in connection with our external review process - and so she
did not have to fill out a Form 700. Her contract with CIRM comes to
an end at the end of June, and she will not be elected to Sangamo's
board of directors until July. Obviously once she is a member of the
Sangamo board she will not be consulting or advising CIRM because of
our strict conflict of interest rules."
June 21, according to the company, not July.)
outside contractors. Expenditures for their services are the second
largest item in CIRM's operational budget, exceeded only by salaries
and benefits of regular employees. The responsibilities of outside
contractors cover a wide range of sensitive tasks including computer
system security, development of software that deals with proprietary
information from grant recipients, analysis of confidential business
operations of grant and loan applicants and much more.
consultants are working for besides CIRM. Whether they make decisions
for CIRM is beside the point. Gathering information that is not
normally accessible to the public can be extremely valuable to
businesses and their competitors as well as applicants for
CIRM's $3 billion. In Ramasastry's case, she was privy to a great
deal of confidential or economically useful information during her work on CIRM's external
review and likely much more.
hardly adequate to assess conflict of interest issues involving
private consultants. The form was developed in the 1970s to deal with
elected officials primarily and provides only the grossest sort of
look at financial holdings and income.
requires more scrutiny of conflicting interests – not less. NextThursday the CIRM board will deal with some of its conflict ofinterest rules. It is fine opportunity to ask for a sharper analysis
of conflict issues and consultants with an eye to strengthening CIRM
regulations and ensuring protection of the agency and its grantees'
work – not to mention the interests of the people of California.
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
Stem Cell Therapy
Comments Off on Conflict of Interest: CIRM to End Contract with Consultant Linked to Grant Recipient |
May 20th, 2012
CIRM’s Improving Openness
By Dr. Matthew Watson
week once again posted in a timely fashion important information
dealing with matters to be decided next Thursday by directors of the
$3 billion stem cell agency.
improvement in openness and transparency compared to the practices
prior to the election last June of J.T. Thomas as chairman of the
CIRM board. Previously, background material on multimillion dollar
matters was not available much of the time until shortly before the directors meeting, making it virtually impossible for interested
parties or the public to comment or attend the sessions. Even CIRM directors would complain from time to time about the laggard performance.
will include approval of $95 million in new grants, consideration of
the first-ever performance audit of which made 27
recommendations for improvement, action on the first-ever CIRM directors' code of conduct along with conflict of interest rules, changes in its loan policy and consideration of the agency's
strategy for the next five years.
Francisco, a public teleconference location will be available at UC
San Francisco, two in Los Angeles and one in La Jolla. Specific
addresses can be found on the meeting agenda.
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
Scripps CEO Joins Stem Cell Agency Board; Love Leaves
By Dr. Matthew Watson
 |
| Michael Marletta Scripps Photo |
State Treasurer Bill Lockyer has
appointed Michael Marletta, president and CEO of the Scripps Research
Institute, to the 29-member board of directors of the $3 billion
California stem cell agency.
also a Scripps executive, who resigned last year. Scripps has
received $45.3 million in funding from CIRM.
agency, Lockyer said Marletta is a member of the National Academy of
Science, American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Institute of
Medicine. Marletta joined Scripps in 2011 and became president in
January.
of California, Berkeley, where he once served as chairman of the
department of chemistry, among other roles. An item on the Scripps
web site said Marletta "focused his research on the intersection
of chemistry and biology. He is acknowledged as a pioneer in
discovering the role of nitric oxide, a critical player in
communication between cells."
fill. Ted Love resigned last month after serving on the board since
its inception in December 2004. CIRM said Love, executive vice
president of Onyx Pharmaceuticals, resigned for personal reasons.
State Controller John Chiang is considering a number of candidates to
replace him. Love was the only African-American on the board.
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
Stem Cell Therapy
Comments Off on Scripps CEO Joins Stem Cell Agency Board; Love Leaves |
May 20th, 2012
$95 Million in California Stem Cell Grants: Preview the Spending
By Dr. Matthew Watson
California stem cell agency is going to spend its next $95 million,
you can check out short digests today of the 19 research grant applications, including reviewer comments, that are virtually certain of receiving the cash.
calls its "early translational III" round, which is
scheduled to be acted on by the CIRM board May 24 in San Francisco.
part of the directors' meeting agenda. They include scientific
scores, a statement from the applicant and a summary of what
reviewers had to say during their closed door sessions. But you won't
find the names of the applicants, their institutions or businesses.
The stem cell agency conceals the names of the winners until after
the board acts. Names of the unlucky ones are not disclosed by CIRM.
The agency says it does not want to embarrass anybody including the
institutions involved.
of science involved may well be able to discern at least some of the
names of applicants from the information contained in the summaries.
applicants ranged from 88 to 53. Nine grants scored higher than 53
but were rejected by reviewers(the Grants Working Group). The panel
turned down 22 applications overall. The CIRM board has final
authority on applications, but has almost never rejected a positive
decision by reviewers. Sometimes, however, it will overrule a
negative decision.
scored at 53 involved ALS. The $1.7 million proposal was approved
for "programmatic reasons," according to the summary.
Often, programmatic motions for approval are made by CIRM board
members sitting on the review panel. However, the summary did not
disclose who made the motion or the vote. The summary said,
"The programmatic reasons provided
were that ALS is a devastating disease that is not well-represented
in CIRM's portfolio."
scored at 53 sought $6.3 million for research involving heart
disease. The summary did not clearly identify the specific reason for
approving the grant on a programmatic motion. But it said,
"The
GWG (grants working group) ... advised as a condition for funding
that the applicant consult additional vector specialists with
translational and clinical experience to select a more appropriate
vector to move this program towards the clinic."
motion and the name of the person who made the motion.
reviewers can appeal to the full board. So far no appeals have been
publicly posted by CIRM. The success rate on such appeals is mixed.
both academics and businesses, which have received a tiny fraction of
CIRM's $1.3 billion in spending so far. Some businesses have
complained publicly and, as well, to a panel of the Institute of
Medicine that is evaluating CIRM's performance.
yesterday asked CIRM for the number of businesses that applied in the
translational round, including the pre-application process, which is
used to whittle down the total number of applications. The request included total numbers as well. CIRM spokesman
Kevin McCormack declined to produce the figures prior to the CIRM
board meeting, saying they "won't be ready" until after the
session.
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
Stem Cell Therapy
Comments Off on $95 Million in California Stem Cell Grants: Preview the Spending |
May 20th, 2012
IP to Grant Oversight: Study Calls for Host of Improvements at California Stem Cell Agency
By Dr. Matthew Watson
agency is laboring under a range of problems that include protection of
its intellectual property and management of its nearly 500 grants plus an inadequate ability to track its own performance, a seven-month
study said yesterday.
firm of Seattle, Wash., made 27 recommendations for improvements,
including more effort to ease strain connected to the agency's
controversial dual executive arrangement. The study said that the
nearly eight-year-old agency has many "opportunities" to
"enhance performance reporting and decision making, strengthen
effectiveness and efficiency, retain essential human resources and
leverage technology."
cell agency said, "(M)anagement concurs with the findings and
recommendations....The recommendations are focused and constructive.
CIRM is already implementing many of these recommendations, and we
will be investigating the others in the coming months."
made of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The
audit is required by state law and was commissioned by the agency at
a cost of $234,944. For years, the agency for years had resisted calls for a
performance audit until it sought legislative approval in 2010 for
removal of a 50-person cap on its staff. Originally, the performance
audit legislation would have put the study in the hands of the only
state body charged with oversight of the agency and its board. CIRM,
however, was successful in lobbying to have that provision removed.
again a number of issues that have troubled the stem cell agency for
some years. Moss made 12 top priority recommendations, many of which
dealt with information technology and grants management. Many of the
recommendations focused on providing better and faster information on
performance outcomes, which the audit said has been slow to come and
hard to generate.
"Key performance information is
not readily available to CIRM leadership and other stakeholders on an
ongoing basis. CIRM board members and senior management do not
receive regularly updated, enterprise-level performance information.
The ability to evaluate performance against strategic goals is
critical to effective leadership and program monitoring, evaluation,
and reporting."
"CIRM does not effectively
communicate outcome-based performance internally or externally. As
such, CIRM does not focus on performance metrics as part of its
(staff) meeting process."
"CIRM does not have an integrated
financial information system....The use of spreadsheets results in
labor intensive processes to generate reports and respond to
information inquiries, since data must be pulled from multiple
spreadsheets, a process that may be prone to error. ...Spreadsheets
are not linked to each other or a master report. CIRM does not have a
comprehensive list of spreadsheets or instructions for how to
maintain the files or generate reports from them."
a better job in "bond forecasting," a reference to the
California state bonds that finance virtually every aspect of the
agency's operations. CIRM directors were caught by surprise a few
years ago when they suddenly learned the agency was up against a
major cash crunch.
require more work from CIRM grantees and their technology transfer
offices in an effort to track intellectual property and grant outcomes.
The report also recommended a speed-up in CIRM's review of progress
reports from grant recipients, which have been lagging completion by
several months.
was written into law by Prop. 71, has troubled CIRM since nearly day
one. CIRM's own external review panel also identified it as problem
two years ago. The executive structure is virtually impossible to
change because of the political difficulty in making alterations in
the ballot initiative.
"The working relationship between
the chairman’s office and the president’s office has vastly
improved over the past year, but there are still opportunities for
improvement."
"Make every effort to manage and
operate as one cohesive organization, while recognizing the varying
roles, responsibilities, and authorities that exist with positions in
both the chairman’s office and president’s office."
involved CIRM's public relations/communications effort. CIRM
Chairman J.T. Thomas told directors last June that the agency was in
a "communications war."
"CIRM does not have a
communication plan, and there is lack of clarity on how to address
mission-based communication to CIRM’s various target audiences,
especially the general public....The best way to facilitate
results-based communications is to 1) quantify goals and outcomes in
CIRM’s strategic plan and 2) report on achievement of those goals
and outcomes by enhancing CIRM’s annual report with additional
performance-based information."
stem cell agency is also underway. It is being conducted by the
prestigious Institute of Medicine and is costing CIRM $700,000. That
report is expected this fall.
to consider the Moss Adams report at its meeting May 24.
recommendations of the performance audit were delicately worded in
many cases, they brought out issues that need to be addressed, many
of which have been around for a great deal of time. At their meeting
next week, CIRM directors should act very directly on the
recommendations. They can do that by requiring a written report each
month from CIRM Chairman J.T. Thomas and CIRM President Alan Trounson
on the specific steps that they are taking to implement the
performance audit's recommendations. Otherwise, the inevitable drift
will set in.
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
Stem Cell Therapy
Comments Off on IP to Grant Oversight: Study Calls for Host of Improvements at California Stem Cell Agency |
May 20th, 2012
California Budget Slashing Misses Stem Cell Agency
By Dr. Matthew Watson
agency dodged the governor's financial knife today.
announced sweeping cuts throughout California state government as he
attempted to close a new, $15.7 billion deficit. A report in the Los
Angeles Times said the governor was "grabbing any spare change available." But this afternoon, in response to a
query, Kevin McCormack, CIRM's spokesman, said,
"The answer is no, we won't be
affected."
financial picture is much bleaker than it was just four months ago.
And the stem cell agency's only real source of cash is money borrowed
by the state -- general obligation bonds.
agency in 2004, the bond funds flow directly to the agency without
intervention by the legislature or the governor. However, Brown has
been chary of additional bond sales since they create an increasing
burden in the form of interest costs. Those costs must be financed
out of money that otherwise might go to the University of
California, K-12 schools and medical help for the poor.
state, which should take care of its needs until January. The cash is
coming from short-term borrowing by the state instead of bonds.
The Brown Administration has cut back
on bond borrowing and intends to cut more this fall. According to the state Department of Finance, the cost of borrowing
has declined $173 million this fiscal year, down to $5.2 billion.
CIRM's share of the debt service is more than $200,000 a day.
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
Stem Cell Therapy
Comments Off on California Budget Slashing Misses Stem Cell Agency |
May 20th, 2012
New Heart Valve Repair System Tested for Safety
By Dr. Matthew Watson
A new method of repairing leaking mitral heart valves appears safe, a small
study shows.
In the new study, researchers tested a reversible implant called the
Percutaneous Transvenous Mitral Annuloplasty (PTMA) system, which is installed
via a catheter.
In the heart, the mitral valve controls the flow of blood from the left atrium
into the left ventricle (from the upper left chamber into the lower left
chamber). A leaking mitral valve causes blood to flow back into the left
atrium. This condition can worsen existing heart failure or cause congestive
heart failure, according to a news release from the American Heart Association.
Currently, mitral valve repair requires opening the chest and putting the patient
on a heart-lung machine. This method increases the risk of heart attack and
stroke during surgery, as well as post-surgery risks such as lung problems,
irregular heartbeat and infection, the news release noted. Read more…
Integrative Medicine
Comments Off on New Heart Valve Repair System Tested for Safety |
May 13th, 2012
Opinions On Genetic Engineering That Aren’t Worth A Bean – Forbes
By Dr. Matthew Watson
 Forbes | Opinions On Genetic Engineering That Aren't Worth A Bean Forbes The gist of the article is that “there are serious issues with the way some soy is grown” that pertain to the use of the techniques of genetic engineering (also known as genetic modification, or GM); more specifically, that “extensive [genetic ... |
Source:
http://news.google.com/news?q=genetic-engineering&output=rss
Uncategorized
Comments Off on Opinions On Genetic Engineering That Aren’t Worth A Bean – Forbes |
May 13th, 2012
Edinburgh firm Angel Biotechnology buys collagen plant – BBC News
By Dr. Matthew Watson
 BBC News | Edinburgh firm Angel Biotechnology buys collagen plant BBC News Biopharmaceutical firm Angel Biotechnology has bought a collagen manufacturing facility in Glasgow as it seeks to expand its core business. The purchase was undertaken by Angel's newly-formed and wholly-owned subsidiary, Angel Biomedical Ltd (ABL). Angel Biotechnology planning to expand operationnebusiness.co.uk |
Source:
http://news.google.com/news?q=biotechnology&output=rss
Uncategorized
Comments Off on Edinburgh firm Angel Biotechnology buys collagen plant – BBC News |
May 13th, 2012
Biotechnology High School Ranks #2 in NJ – Patch.com
By Dr. Matthew Watson
WSJM | Biotechnology High School Ranks #2 in NJ Patch.com "The Biotechnology High School focuses on a collaborative learning experience that includes project-based learning, scholarly research, and interactive partnerships," describes the US News site. They also acknowledge the schools senior internship ... 3 NJ high schools named among top 100 in nationThe Star-Ledger - NJ.com |
Source:
http://news.google.com/news?q=biotechnology&output=rss
Uncategorized
Comments Off on Biotechnology High School Ranks #2 in NJ – Patch.com |
May 13th, 2012
Black Licorice Found to Fight Diabetes – LA Weekly (blog)
By Dr. Matthew Watson
 LA Weekly (blog) | Black Licorice Found to Fight Diabetes LA Weekly (blog) A research team at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin, has identified a group of natural substances in licorice root called amorfrutins. Using a mouse model, the scientists found that amorfrutins reduce blood sugar levels and ... |
Source:
http://news.google.com/news?q=molecular-genetics&output=rss
Uncategorized
Comments Off on Black Licorice Found to Fight Diabetes – LA Weekly (blog) |
May 13th, 2012
StemCells, Inc., Hoping for as Much as $40 Million from California Stem Cell Agency
By Dr. Matthew Watson
applied for as much as $40 million in funding from the California
stem cell agency for two projects dealing with Alzheimer's disease
and cervical spinal cord injury.
dealing with the publicly traded firm's quarterly earnings. The applications are part of a $240 million round expected to be acted on in late July by the board
of the $3 billion California stem cell agency. Funding for
businesses in the disease team round is expected to come through a
loan.
"In January 2012, we submitted two
applications to the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine
(CIRM) for 'Disease Team Therapy Development Research Awards,' one
for Alzheimer's disease and one for cervical spinal cord injury. A
research award may be up to $20 million, payable over four years, to
fund preclinical and IND-enabling activities with the aim of starting
human clinical trials within a four-year window."
behind closed doors in April. CIRM also has a policy of not releasing the
names of applicants until its board acts and then only if an
applicant is approved. CIRM says it does not want to embarrass firms
that do not win approval. That includes individual researcher names
as well as the names of such institutions as the University of
California.
just the number of the application. If board members have conflicts
of interest on specific applications, they are barred from voting on
and discussing the application. The names of applicants have
occassionally slipped out. Sometimes their identities can also be
discerned by information contained in the summaries of the reviews of
the applications, which become available on the CIRM web site shortly before the directors act. The summaries normally carry scientific scores and recommendations for funding.
CIRM do not identify themselves in advance, although they do if they
appeal a negative decision by reviewers. The board has ultimate
authority for approval of grants but has almost never rejected a
recommendation for funding by reviewers.
of Salk and David Anderson of Caltech. Weissman and Gage have won
substantial grants from CIRM.
92 cents yesterday. Its 52-week high was $8.20, and its 52 week low
was 70 cents.
on the company.
(Editor's note: An earlier version of this item incorrectly stated that the disease team round will be acted on later this month.)
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
Stem Cell Therapy
Comments Off on StemCells, Inc., Hoping for as Much as $40 Million from California Stem Cell Agency |
May 13th, 2012
Biotech Biz Alert: California Stem Cell Agency Altering Loan Policies
By Dr. Matthew Watson
the midst of making significant changes in its lending regulations,
but says it is not part of an effort to transfer a $25 million loan
to Geron to another company.
transfer the loan at some point. CIRM says it already has the
authority to do so.
CIRM meetings about the likelihood of helping to continue with the
hESC clinical trial that Geron abruptly abandoned last fall. The
surprise termination of Geron's hESC program came only a few months
after CIRM and Geron signed a $25 million loan agreement in August.
Geron is trying to sell off its hESC business, although Geron's hESC
team has already left the company, according to industry reports.
regulations has been underway for some time. Tomorrow the CIRM
directors' Intellectual Property and Industry Subcommittee will consider the latest proposals.
relinquishment and transfer of loans. The modifications explicitly
give CIRM President Alan Trounson the ability to transfer a loan
without having to go through additional reviews or seek board
approval. Other changes are also designed to clarify and remove
ambiguities in the transfer arrangement, which may well be necessary
in order to make a transfer acceptable to a buyer of the Geron
assets.
it is not clear whether that action would preclude a transfer. At one
point earlier this year, Trounson said he was involved in helping to find a buyer, but it is not clear whether any CIRM official is
currently involved. Geron has hired Stifel
Nicolaus & Co. to help peddle
the hESC business.
agency has not yet put together in one place a straightforward
rationale and explanation of all the modifications. Nonetheless,
biotech and stem cell firms should pay close attention to the
proposals. They could mean the difference between the infusion or
loss of millions for a company's research.
the full CIRM board later this month. Then they will be subject to
the state's administrative law process, including a period for public
comment.
teleconference locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, La Jolla and
two in Irvine. Specific addresses can be found on the agenda.
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
Stem Cell Therapy
Comments Off on Biotech Biz Alert: California Stem Cell Agency Altering Loan Policies |
May 13th, 2012