Geron, a Menlo Park, Calif.-based medical device company, has halted the first therapy made from embryonic stem cells for spinal cord injury patients that was initiated in 2010, according to a Geron news release.
The company has decided to discontinue its stem cell trial for spinal cord injury patients in an effort to focus on its oncology program. The change comes in part because of the uncertain economic climate in the United States, as eliminating efforts on the spinal cord injury program will allow the company enough resources to develop oncology drugs that are currently in Phase II clinical trials.
While the company has closed the spinal cord injury trial to future enrollment, it will continue to follow all enrolled patients and update the FDA and medical community on trial data. To this point, none of the four enrolled patients have experienced adverse effects.
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While the company has closed the spinal cord injury trial to future enrollment, it will continue to follow all enrolled patients and update the FDA and medical community on trial data. To this point, none of the four enrolled patients have experienced adverse effects.
Related Articles on Spinal Cord Injury:
A New Hope for Treating Spinal Cord Injury: 5 Points on InVivo Therpeutics' Technology
Restoring Function After Spinal Cord Injury With Nerve Transplant: The New Frontier
Paralyzed Patient Regains Some Motion After Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation