After years of heated debate and painstaking research, 2008 is shaping up to be a critical year in the development of stem cell therapies.
And in the forefront is Columbia's Osiris Therapeutics, which has three final-phase human trials under way that it hopes will lead to approval of stem cell drugs.
Osiris is among the farthest along, if not the farthest, he said.
Much of the Osiris action centers on Prochymal, a drug made from adult stem cells, which it is testing for a wide range of diseases.Osiris from testing Prochrymal to treat gastrointestinal disorder, diabetes, heart attacks, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, radiation sickness and the rejection reaction that can result from a bone marrow transplant.
Osiris already has one product on the market, considered the first approved adult stem cell product. Called Osteocel, it has been used in more than 10,000 patients to stimulate bone growth -- for example, after a fracture -- since it was cleared for market in 2005.
The Sun is reporting that great strides will be made in 2008. If so, that is another example of a very quick development time frame.
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