Stem cell trial halted (BBC) {for financial reasons??}

[eppur_se_muova]

The world's first official trial using human embryonic stem cells in patients has been halted.

Geron, based in California, made the sudden announcement that it was halting further work in this field.

In a statement the company said in the "current environment of capital scarcity and uncertain economic conditions" it had decided to concentrate instead on developing cancer treatments.

Geron said it was seeking partners to enable further development of its stem cell programmes. The press statement implies the decision is purely a financial one - by stopping its stem cell programme it will cut its workforce by more than a third and save millions of dollars.

But the company has already invested tens of millions in the stem cell therapy over the past decade. Its submission to the US Food and Drug Administration to conduct the first trial in patients of human embryonic stem cells was the largest and most complex ever submitted.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15740133

[valerief]

1. And regulatory reasons. That means, it threatened the wealth of very rich people. nt

[supernova]

2. Yep.

Sad if it showed promise, but in ways that would wind up be very cost effective, so no significant ROI.