We are first time, going to conduct a study for the spinal cord injury with the treatment based on human embryonic stem cells, a U.S. biotech company said.

This week, permission has been granted by the federal government to inject 10 patients of spinal cord injury with stem cells derived from embryo, said Dr. Thomas Okarma, president and CEO of Geron Corp.

Paraplegic patients have been targeted for the treatment, which can’t walk but use their arms. Single shot of injection would be administered within the fifteen days of injury.

Basic purpose of study is to test the safety profile but doctors will also analyze the expected improvement, such as movement or sensation restoration in the legs.

“It’s a landmark and an innovation in the medical field” as Geron has successfully gotten federal permission after passing safety hurdles, for study, said Ed Baetge, chief scientific officer of Novocell Inc.

Embryonic stem cells have the potential to metamorphosize into various body tissues and scientists have long been hoped to use them for the replacement of tissues to treat diseases.

…read the rest of this entry»