CIRM approves $20M award - with a catch - for StemCells Alzheimer's research

StemCells Inc. and three other research projects won a total of $63 million in funding Wednesday night from California's stem cell research funding agency. But the $20 million earmarked by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine for StemCells (NASDAQ: STEM) -- the Newark company's second award in two months -- comes with a catch. StemCells must satisfy CIRM staff of "the company's ability to access the capital needed to fund the project."

StemCells finds early data from spinal cord injury trial promising

StemCells CEO Martin McGlynn.

Early data from an early-stage trial in spinal cord patients by StemCells Inc. indicated that two of three patients with the worst kind of spinal cord injuries started recovering feeling. The Newark company (NASDAQ: STEM), which is developing human neural stem cells, is the first to report data from a stem cells trial in spinal cord injuries, a spokeswoman said.

CIRM awards $151 million to push stem cell treatments toward human trials

California's stem cell research funding agency doled out $151 million in new funding to move potential therapies closer to human testing, but awarded nearly $100 million less than it had planned to give. Only one of the seven so-called "disease team" awards from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, or CIRM, went to industry. That was a $20 million grant for Newark-based Stem Cells Inc. for a spinal cord injury treatment.

StemCells rare disease trial nets early positive results

Purified neural stem cells from StemCells Inc. that were transplanted into four young boys with a rare, fatal central nervous system disorder appear to have built a protective sheath around neurons in the brain.
The results are preliminary but could prove promising for Newark-based StemCells (NASDAQ: STEM) and patients with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, a condition that leads to coordination and motor problems and slower learning.
PMD is caused by a defective gene that leads to insufficient myelin in the brain.

StemCells gets FDA nod for eye trial using neural stem cells

An early-stage clinical trial using purified neural stem cells to treat dry age-related macular degeneration was approved by the Food and Drug Administration, said StemCells Inc.
Newark-based StemCells (NASDAQ: STEM) said the Phase I/II trial will administer the cells — extracted from fetal brain tissue — through a single injection in space beneath the retina of 16 patients. Those patients will be evaluated over one year and will be followed for another four years in a separate observational study.

StemCells could gross $20M from offering of stock, warrants

StemCells Inc. could raise up to $20 million by selling 8 million units and an additional 8 million warrants at $1.25 per unit, the Newark company said Friday.
StemCells (NASDAQ: STEM), which is undertaking a Phase I/II study of its neural stem cells in patients with chronic spinal injuries, said Thursday that intended to make the public offering.

StemCells plans to sell more stock, shares fall

After announcing that the first group of spinal cord injury patients in an early-stage trial received its transplanted neural stem cells, StemCells Inc. said Thursday that it sell more common stock and warrants.
Newark-based StemCells (NASDAQ: STEM) said it would use the money for working capital and operations, including product development. The company did not say how many shares and warrants would be issued but said it is under a current shelf registration.

What Geron's stem cells exit means. (It ain't good)

Geron Corp.’s dismantling of its stem cell research on Monday puts the pressure on companies trying to discover or develop drugs by tapping into the cells that make us what we are.
Geron may have been trying to do too much too soon, but the real issue is that human embryonic stem cell drug development clearly was costing too much money for a publicly held company (NASDAQ: GERN).
That’s a shame in many ways. After all, Menlo Park-based Geron was in stem cells before stem cells were cool from a commercial point of view — not that they are more hip now. By being one of the first to harness embryonic stem cells as a potential treatment, it blazed a trail, enduring a Food and Drug Administration hold on its trial in acute spinal cord injuries.

Geron, StemCells trials tackle different approaches to spinal cord injuries

Two groundbreaking spinal cord trials led by Bay Area companies, both of which hit milestones in September, could make or break commercial stem cell therapies.
Although the trials are different in many ways, both are closely watched by stem cell advocates and opponents and could have implications for California’s stem cell research funding agency.

StemCells Inc. treats 1st spinal cord patient with neural stem cells

Neural stem cells developed by Newark’s StemCells Inc. were transplanted Wednesday into a spinal cord injury patient, the first person treated in a Phase I/II trial.
The procedure, led by Dr. Raphael Guzman, a neurosurgeon and Stanford University faculty member, was performed at Balgrist University Hospital at the University of Zurich in Switzerland.

Batten disease parents aim at screening

Trying to find patients for clinical trials of rare disease treatments can be tough. But following StemCells Inc.’s abrupt shelving of an early-stage trial in Batten disease, patient advocates and parents of kids afflicted with deadly malady are charged up to ensure it isn’t so difficult anymore.
It’s a backstory that runs from Palo Alto to Jacksonville, Fla. — catching Vacaville, San Diego, Columbus, Ohio, Austin, Texas, Kansas City, Mo., Houston and Santa Fe, N.M., in between — and it says a lot about the power of individuals to make a difference.

Orphan disease still stands alone: StemCells' exit from its Batten Disease trial

Once upon a time, StemCells Inc. held out hope that its neural stem cells could treat a fatal children’s ailment called Batten disease. But as StemCells abruptly halted preparations last month for its second trial, the Palo Alto company and parents of kids affected with the extremely rare brain-wasting malady discovered that efforts to develop treatments for so-called orphan diseases rarely have a fairy tale ending.

Geron spinal cord stem cell trial enrolls 2nd patient

Geron Corp., which last week won a $25 million loan from California’s stem cell research funding agency for a spinal cord injury trial, has recruited the second patient into that study.
The first Food and Drug Administration-approved trial using embryonic stem cells in humans enrolled its second patient, researchers at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago reportedly said Tuesday.

Seeking to slow cash burn, StemCells lays off 20 people

StemCells Inc. will cut 30 percent of its workforce — about 20 full-time people — as it tries to advance its neural stem cell treatment through trials in spinal cord injury and a number of other diseases.
The company (NASDAQ: STEM) said the job cuts should save about $2.3 million annually. That is on top of reduced costs for cell manufacturing, saving about $1.1 million annually, and its move this summer from Palo Alto to smaller, cheaper space in Newark that will save about $1 million annually, President and CEO Martin McGlynn said in a conference call with analysts Wednesday afternoon.

StemCells Inc. to pursue Alzheimer's with UC Irvine professor Frank LaFerla

StemCells Inc. is looking to tackle Alzheimer’s disease.
The Palo Alto company (NASDAQ: STEM) said Monday that it will work with Frank LaFerla of the University of California, Irvine, to study the use of its human neural stem cells in Alzheimer’s. LaFerla is director of UC, Irvine’s Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders.

StemCells shelves Batten disease program — not enough patients for trial

StemCells Inc. will discontinue an early-stage clinical trial in Batten disease because it couldn’t find enough eligible patients with the rare disease.
Batten disease, also known as neuronal ceroid lipfuscinosis or NCL, is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder in children.
Palo Alto-based StemCells in 2009 completed a Phase I safety trial in six patients with advances stages of Batten and in October 2010 started a Phase Ib trial at Oregon Health & Science University to evaluate the cells in six additional patients in earlier stages of the disease. But no eligible patients were identified or enrolled, the company said, despite “diligent efforts” by investigators.

StemCells starts spinal cord injury trial

StemCells Inc. has started a trial — the first ever using neural stem cells — in patients with chronic spinal cord injury.
The Palo Alto company (NASDAQ: STEM) said its Phase I/II trial will consist of 12 patients with chest-level spinal cord injury receiving direct transplants of human neural stem cells into their spinal cords.

StemCells lines up $10M stock financing