Pfizer to invest in adult stem-cell treatment for eyes
Imprimir Incrementar tamaño de fuente Disminuir tamaño de fuente

San Diego, Calif., Jun 25, 2008 / 03:01 am (CNA).- The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has announced that it is funding a new adult stem-cell treatment that could treat diabetes-induced retinal damage, a leading cause of blindness.

Forbes Magazine says that Pfizer is funding the creation of a San Diego biotech company named EyeCyte to develop stem-cell treatments for eye diseases. The company will base its work upon Scripps Research Institute ophthalmologist Martin Friedlander’s research involving stem-cells from blood and bone marrow. EyeCyte will receive about $3 million from Pfizer, which in return has the right of first refusal regarding the new company’s products.

In animal experiments, adult stem-cells have shown a remarkable ability to target and repair damaged blood vessels in the eye, which are a key problem in diabetic eye disease and macular degeneration.

"It is unbelievable. These cells know where to go and they target the site of injury," said Friedlander, according to Forbes. He said that in his lab he has cured mice “10 times over,” but noted it is unknown whether the treatment will help people.

Friedlander had approached Pfizer to fund his research because academic settings and government grants support basic research and not applied-process development.

“Pfizer has put its flag in the ground that there is future in regenerative medicine," said Corey Goodman, president of the Pfizer's biotechnology unit. "The eye is a very good place to be starting--it is an isolated organ, and there is a huge need."

Stem-cell harvesting for any possible future treatment for people with blood-vessel damage in the eye could require only that a patient go to the doctor and leave a blood sample. After adult stem-cells are isolated in the lab over a few hours, the patient would return and receive an injection of his or her cells into the eye.

A successful treatment could delay further blood-vessel damage and preserve eyesight for years.

Mohammad A. El-Kalay, EyeCyte chief executive and a previous member of several cell-therapy companies, said he “got very excited” about the technology when he first heard of it four years ago because it appeared there could be enough cells in one patient’s blood to treat the eyes without having to grow more cells in the lab.

El-Kalay stated that the company aims to have a treatment ready for human trials within three years.

Imprimir Incrementar tamaño de fuente Disminuir tamaño de fuente
Subscriber comments:
Published by: Deacon M. King
Groton, CT USA 06/26/2008 08:11 PM EST
Beware of the media hype surrounding this modest investment by PFE in adult stem cell technologies. Pfizer is actively pursuing embryonic stem cell work for early drug candidate screening and is collaborating with researchers around the world on embryonic stem cell technologies. See their policy on the web (search for "Pfizer stem cell") that clearly leaves the door open for embryonic stem cell research. A press release from Cellartis, a Swedish company that is providing the cell lines for this work is available at Cellartis' website.

Drug development routinely involves testing on mice and other mammals before a drug can be tested in humans. With this new technology, pharma companies are racing to be the first to speed development timelines by testing directly on human embryonic stem cells. They fail to recognize that these cell were derived unethically, and their cooperation with evil might well be the reason for their languishing stock values of late.

It will take more than an overdue statement from the US Bishops to change the course being pursued by Pfizer, J&J, Sanofi, Astra-Zeneca, Roche or Amgen. Stock prices, executive bonuses and corporate greed have apparently pushed ethics and morality aside in the boardrooms across America. Please, take a stand for life and speak out against human embryonic stem cell research right here in our backyards, America.

Wake up, Pfizer, your $3 million investment in positive press won't fool all the Catholics out there!
Rate this comment:
ADD A COMMENT (Your e-mail will NOT be published):
NAME:
CITY/STATE/COUNTRY:
EMAIL:
COMMENT:
 
PLEASE ENTER THE SECURITY CODE DISPLAYED ABOVE:
Chars:
* Thanks for your comments. The number of messages that can be online is limited. Length should not exceed 1500 characters. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages.
ADVERTISING
Place your ad here
Resources:
Columns:
News:
Documents:
Tools:
ACI Group:
ACI Prensa