First U.S. embryonic stem cell trial is halted

[The Straight Story]

WASHINGTON - The first-ever trial using human embryonic stem cells to treat paralysis has been halted due to high costs, and the company will focus instead on new cancer treatments, Geron said Tuesday.

The California-based biotech firm, which had bypassed federal funding to get its pioneering but controversial trial off the ground in October 2010, said it was also cutting 66 full-time jobs, or 38 percent of its workforce.

"Geron plans to close the GRNOPC1 trial for spinal cord injury to further enrollment," the company said in a statement, adding that the decision was made after a "strategic review" of costs and "regulatory complexities."

The study was meant to include up to 10 people in the first-ever trial of embryonic stem cell therapy on humans.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/First+embryonic+stem+cell+trial+halted/5712826/story.html

[valerief]

1. I imagine they anticipated tremendous success with it and the plutocracy said, "No way."

So they said it cost too much. 'Regulatory complexities' usually means rich people might lose money.

the decision was made after a "strategic review" of costs and "regulatory complexities."