First ESCR human trial begins

The first government-approved human trial using cells derived from embryonic stem cells has begun, it was announced Oct. 11.

With approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Geron Corp. said it had initiated treatment in a patient with a spinal cord injury. The trial, which is the first known use of such cells in a human being, is primarily intended to determine whether it is safe for spinal cord patients or whether they can tolerate it. Geron is not using federal funds in the research.

Embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) is highly controversial, primarily because extraction of such cells results in the destruction of days-old human embryos.ESCR also has been plagued by tumors in lab animals, thereby making its safety for use in human beings highly questionable.

Meanwhile, human trials with adult stem cells not only are safe for the donor and recipient but have produced treatments for more than 70 ailments in human beings.

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