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As San Diego’s ViaCyte was in the midst of launching the first FDA-approved embryonic stem (ES) cell clinical trial for diabetes last week, Boston’s Harvard University reported that beta cells from ES cells “cured” diabetic mouse-models.
Both teams worked for years to painstakingly recreate the natural development of pancreatic islet cells— if Harvard took it further in the dish, and ViaCyte took it further to the clinic.
“A remarkable tenacity has been displayed by these two teams, on opposite sides of the country,” said Scripps Research Institute ES cell expert Jeanne Loring by email toBioscience. “Both should be congratulated. This is a notable moment in the history of human stem cell research— I would dare to hope that it’s the beginning of the golden age of stem cell therapeutics. Diabetes has been an important target for stem cell therapy. Ever since islets from cadavers were first transplanted in the 1990s (the Edmonton Protocol) it’s been clear that a better source of islet cells would be the key to real long term therapeutic benefit.”
That better source appears to be found, she said, if “we still can’t use the word ‘cure.’”
Read more here. (Bioscience Technology)
Both teams worked for years to painstakingly recreate the natural development of pancreatic islet cells— if Harvard took it further in the dish, and ViaCyte took it further to the clinic.
“A remarkable tenacity has been displayed by these two teams, on opposite sides of the country,” said Scripps Research Institute ES cell expert Jeanne Loring by email toBioscience. “Both should be congratulated. This is a notable moment in the history of human stem cell research— I would dare to hope that it’s the beginning of the golden age of stem cell therapeutics. Diabetes has been an important target for stem cell therapy. Ever since islets from cadavers were first transplanted in the 1990s (the Edmonton Protocol) it’s been clear that a better source of islet cells would be the key to real long term therapeutic benefit.”
That better source appears to be found, she said, if “we still can’t use the word ‘cure.’”
Read more here. (Bioscience Technology)
