Stem Cell Dream:
From Reality to Dreams
Stem Cell Dream: From Reality to Dreams
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Stem Cell Dream: From Reality to Dreams
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February 2010
•
The medical potential of reprogrammed iPS stem cells that do not require
the destruction of embryos has been exaggerated, according to Dr. Thomas
Okarma, CEO Geron Corporation, one of the world’s leading regenerative
medicine companies.
•
iPS cells are made by genetically manipulating adult skin cells to give them
the versatile properties of embryonic stem (ES) cells. They have caused
excitement because they might provide a limitless source of replacement
tissue for treating conditions such as spinal paralysis, Parkinson’s disease
and diabetes without the need to destroy embryos. As iPS cells could be
grown from a patient’s own tissue they would be genetically matched,
therefore minimising the risk of rejection by the immune system.
•
However, the need to produce fresh IPS cells for every patient would make
it uneconomical. Regulatory issues will create further problems; every new
set of cells for each patient would have to be approved independently. The
product, whether it’s iPS or ES, has to be scaleable.
•
Okarma told The Times that while induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells will
be extremely useful in research, they are unlikely to be suitable for
transplanting to patients to treat disease.
Stem Cell Dream: From Reality to Dreams
Please note: This story is ficticious. If the contents resembles real persons or companies it is purely coincidental.
• Lifebank Therapeutics (LT) is a company ready to use induced
pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology to treat patients with
Huntington’s disease, LT have filed an application to begin Phase I
clinical studies.. If approved by the regulatory authorities, this will be
the first clinical study of its kind in the world, and, if successful,
opens the door to iPS‐based stem cell therapies being available to
patients in just five years.
• Huntington’s disease is a progressive genetic neurodegenerative
disease that results in severe physical disability, and often other
debilitating effects, such as depression.
• Researchers at LT have taken some skin cells from 10 Huntington’s
patients. Using a special technique these skin cells have been
reprogrammed and now have embryonic stem cell properties – the
cells are called induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and have the
ability to make copies of themselves and can become any type of
cell in the body. Researchers have used these iPS cells to develop
neural cells.
Stem Cell Dream: From Reality to Dreams
Please note: This story is ficticious. If the contents resembles real persons or companies it is purely coincidental.
• If the clinical trial is approved, LT will transplant these neural cells
directly into the brain of the 10 patients involved in the first study.
The study will assess the safety of the treatment, safe dosage and
identify side effects.
• John Know, Chief Scientific Officer of LT, is confident that their
clinical study will be given the go ahead. He said: ‘Because iPS cells
are derived from a patients own skin, there are no ethical or
rejection issues. Our clinical study will pave the way for more
widespread applications of iPS cells in treatment of neurological
disorders.’
• Professor of Neurobiology, Emily Smith at the University of ---, views
Lifebank Therapeutics’ plans with scepticism and cautions against
premature use of stem cells on patients. ‘There is still so much to be
learnt about stem cells and iPS technology before safe and effective
treatments can be developed. At the moment we cannot be sure the
injected cells would not become cancerous. I am concerned about
the wellbeing of the patients involved, and also worried that rushing
to the clinic now may seriously damage prospects for future clinical
trials’.
Stem Cell Dream:
From Reality to Dreams
Statements: Green = Yes, Red = No, White = Not Sure
1. I think stem cells are dangerous for patients –
Yes, No, Not Sure
2. I think embryonic stem cells have
more potential to treat disease than
iPS cells – Yes, No, Not Sure
3. I am in favour of a clinical trial
using iPS cells to treat Parkinson’s
disease – Yes, No, Not Sure