Needless to say, Geron has an enormous incentive to have this study be declared a "success" so that they would be in line for the huge government grants for "further research" in this "promising" field.
Given the extremely low bar being set for this study, I'm thinking that the fix will be in. I guess I've seen too many Hollywood movies about unscrupulous drug companies.
Embryonic stem cells can develop into any cell of the body, and scientists have long hoped to harness them for creating replacement tissues to treat a variety of diseases. But research has been controversial because embryos must be destroyed to obtain them.
Research "has been controversial" also because the only other human trials of ESCs, in China, have resulted in nothing but the creation of hideous anthropomorphic tumors in the participants.
I'm not sure if for profit companies can get grants. Their getting patents, "exclusive rights," to make money.
Given the extremely low bar being set for this study, I'm thinking that the fix will be in. I guess I've seen too many Hollywood movies about unscrupulous drug companies.
This sounds like a typical FDA phase I trial, i.e. there's a theoretical benefit, but they have to show it doesn't harm the patient.