Posted on 12/22/2006 4:57:30 PM PST by Coleus
A WORLD-first Australian medical therapy that uses stem cells to treat degenerative spinal disease has been approved for testing on patients in the US. Researchers hope the treatment will replace painful bone grafts. A Melbourne-based biotechnology company said it had won approval from the US Government for the major trial.
Its preliminary animal trials were so promising the US Food and Drug Administration allowed it to skip the small phase-one human safety trial and move straight into a larger phase-two trial. It will be the first time that “off-the-shelf” adult stem cells will be used to treat spinal disc disease in a genetically unrelated patient.
Mesoblast chief scientific adviser Prof Silviu Itescu said the stem cells would be used to create a spinal fusion in 40 patients who suffered severely from degenerative disc disease. Spinal fusion is a procedure in which two vertebrae are fused together to stop them moving and causing pain. Researchers expect the stem cells will grow into a bony bridge between a patient’s vertebrae.
The trial will determine if the technology is as safe and effective as the present spinal fusion treatment known as an autograph, in which a section of the patient’s hip bone is grafted onto their spine. Prof Itescu said the present treatment had a high rate of surgical complications.
Wow, interesting!!
Of course the word "adult" is not in the headline or first paragraph. We have 2 years to educate the public on the successes of adult stem cell research and on the lack for embryonic. If we do, not only will it be a non-issue, it may be a winner for conservatives. We certainly cannot rely on the MSM to do the educating. Maintaining ignorance in much of their voter base is a must for 'rat victory.
Arrrrrgh- another Adult Stem cell success story! Must suppress this info- must advocate murdering helpless infants to drain their lifeless bodies of fetal stem cells--
Seriously htough- great news- hopefully this pans out and will shut all the fetal stem cell advocatesa up once and for all! http://sacredscoop.com
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