In the news

Sources: Business Week, BBC

The news that stem-cell pioneers Geron Corp are ceasing all trials of stem cells to treat spinal cord injuries (see previous news) has received a mixed reception. Patient groups have expressed sadness and disappointment in the decision, which Fergus Walsh, writing for the BBC described as ‘extraordinary’ given the huge investment of time and resources. 

Citing research costs, regulatory complexities and uncertain economic conditions, Geron announced it was pulling the plug on eleven years of research and are seeking partners to take over the work. Instead they will direct resources to two new cancer therapies currently under trial.   Geron has not reported on the effectiveness of the treatment, known as GRNOPC1, which some commentators have felt were doomed from the start.   Robert Lanza, Chief Scientific Officer of Marlborough, Massachusetts-based Advanced Cell Technology Inc., said “It was a very difficult choice to go in and treat spinal cord injury. There was considerable concern in the scientific community that that might not have been the ideal first indication”. Advanced Cell is testing the use of stem cells in patients with macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss.

Comment: Any form of clinical trial is a very expensive and risky investment for a company; with troubled markets, Geron may simply have made a business decision to focus on areas that are more likely to deliver prompt returns on their investments; cancer therapeutics is a well-established area. If the trial is not showing efficacy, that is of course bad news. However in some senses it would be even worse if a company cannot justify financial investment in a promising treatment, as it means that the incentives for commercial development are missing.