Embryonic Stell Cell Research Clinical Trial
For the second time in less than six months – and in U.S. history – the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the use life-destroying human embryonic stem cells in a human clinical trial.
Advanced Cell Technologies (ACT) received the government's approval to people suffering from Stargardt disease, a rare genetic disorder that often leads to blindness. Only 30,000 Americans suffer from this particular disease; however, researchers say they hope to gain information for other progressive eye diseases.
Geron Corporation was the first to get the FDA's OK'd to inject embryonic stem cells in patients whose spinal cords have been crushed.
Dr. David Prentice, senior fellow for Life Sciences with the Family Research Council, said ethical and medical concerns abound. Not only are pre-born humans destroyed, but tumors are commonplace.
He said that these firms are aware that their embryonic cells won't work past one or two weeks after the injury and that they should be using adult stem cells instead.
"Adult stem cells are really helping patients now," he said. "Thousands of patients, dozens of diseases and it doesn't rely on destroying human life."
Source: CitizenLink
Publish Date: November 22, 2010
