Another Stem Cell Disinformation Alert
The promoters of embryonic stem cell enterprises continue to tout soon to come "breakthroughs" accompanied by supine media coverage and inaccurate statements by "the scientists" who twist and distort scientific definitions to win a political debate. Such spin in the name of science, actually corrupts science.
Latest example: Another company is claiming that "next year" it will start human ESC trials. From a column by Orange County Register "biomedical innovation" columnist Colin Stewart, who has apparently drunk the Kool-Aid. First there is his cruelly hyped headline: "ALS patients could get help from stem cells next year:" From his column: A tiny start-up company in Irvine has a shot at becoming the first to gain federal approval to test an embryonic stem cell treatment in humans. Two degenerative nerve diseases are the first targets for California Stem Cell Inc.'s therapies. They are ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, which kills adults, and SMA, a fatal disease affecting newborns. The company hopes to win Food and Drug Administration approval to begin clinical trials next year for both sets of patients.
Geron has been making the same "next year, human trials" claim for years. Yet, the FDA does not appear close to approving human trials.
And here comes the usual junk biology:
Those stem cells originated from newly fertilized eggs that were discarded by a fertility clinic after the egg donors no longer needed or wanted them, said Chris N. Airriess, the company's chief operating officer.Sigh. They aren't fertilized eggs, they are embryos, and the "egg donors" may not even be the embryo donors since they--embryos--are donated by those who paid to have them created, not the woman whose eggs may have been used.
Of course, the real point of this story is to garner investments. Which is why it was touted by a business columnist. And only time will tell whether the touted trials will actually begin. But after all the years of such "next year" announcements, count me as dubious.
Oh yes, it is worth noting that early human trials have already begun using adult stem cells to treat ALS.
Labels: ESCR. Human Trials.
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 9:46 AM
4 Comments
4 Comments:
"They aren't fertilized eggs, they are embryos"
Sigh.
All fertilized eggs are initially zygotes.
So you're saying zygotes aren't embryos Wesley.
Thats what I believe you call "junk biology".
Oh wait, you did say a zygote is an embryo. http://www.wesleyjsmith.com/blog/2007/11/human-egg-rights-showdown.html
Just more obfuscation to educate the reader of SHS?
Oh yes, it is also worth noting that Protein in Embryonic Stem Cells Controls Malignant Tumor Cells
But I wouldnt expect your bias to report anything positive about ESCr.
I think it speaks volumes that the article you pointed to: "Protein in Embryonic Stem Cells Controls Malignant Tumor Cells" says nothing about human trials. Research in the lab is nothing if it cannot be duplicated in humans. So far, ESCR = zero. Adult stem cells = 73+ (I've honestly lost count.)
While Wesley's "junk biology" term is a bit removed from his usual academic style, I would like to list some of the myths which pass for "science" among those of the embryology religious cult. Here are a few of the dozen or so that I know about:
1--The most sacred of the cult's myths is the never-proven, automatically published in every mainstream printed medium, "guess" that ESCs are "pluripotent;" but not ever attempted to be proven in any peer-reviewed paper in any lab.
2--"Because they are pluripotent, they can become any kind of cell we want them to become." Any kind, that is, except the kind that can be safely implanted into a human being to relieve suffering.
3—Adult stem cells are not pluripotent so they don't hold the promise of ESC. Ignoring that ASC in total ARE pluripotent, the truth is that “promise” doesn't work any more. Who needs promise (and who needs ESCs) to help the suffering millions when ASC already are treating well over 100 medical conditions on five continents?
4--There is a problem, guys, which your cult is never allowed to mention--ESCs may be trained to reduce symptoms of a specific disease, but after an hour or a day or a week, the ESC reverts to what it really is, a powerful PROLIFERATING cell which cannot be controlled in its desire to proliferate. When it finds it cannot proliferate from a zygote to a fetus, it rebels and proliferates into something far more dangerous. Of course you know that and of course none of your cult heroes are allowed to mention it, other than the untouchable Jamie Thomson.
5--"The cures will come roaring down the pipeline as soon as Bush leaves the White House!" The cures are non-existent and always will be. No clinical trials, despite Geron's ten lies claiming imminent trial since 2004, are forthcoming. So gather round while I quietly tell you why--- (Shhhhhh). Your Cult won't ALLOW a clinical trial! Just one clinical trial risks that which the cult cannot afford---the one cancerous death which would destroy the cult once and for all.
Face it, guys; embryology is modern alchemy. Changing lead into gold may be easier than changing a powerful proliferating stem cell into a helpful, harmless REPAIR stem cell!
Don Margolis
The Repair Stem Cell Institute LLC
www.RepairStemCells.org
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home