OTC Stocks Pioneer New Stem Cell Technologies
OTC stocks focused on stem cell research, like Advanced Cell Technology Inc. (ACTC) and International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO), have been in the spotlight recently as ethical alternatives to traditional stem cell research.
Advanced Cell Technology [[ACTC.PK]], in partnership with a team at Harvard University, discovered a technique that involves soaking cells in human proteins that turn back the biological clock, making the cells behave like powerful embryonic stem cells. Even better, the technology could be ready for human testing as early as next year, pending approval by the FDA.
The implications for this technology are enormous as the use of embryonic stem cells is limited in several countries, including the United States. These so-called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, can be made using a patient’s own skin, allowing them to grow their own transplants with no risk of rejection – a medical innovation that could save millions of lives.
International Stem Cell [[ISCO.OB]] has developed a similar technology, called parthenogenesis, which provides similar benefits. The company’s scientists have created the first parthenogenetic homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells that can also minimize immune rejection after transplantation in millions of individuals.
In parthenogenesis, an egg is stimulated to divide without the requirement of male fertilization. The resulting parthenogenetic embryo contains approximately 64 to 256 cells known as a blastocyst. Normally, these are not viable for long, but the company has been able to produce stem cells from them. These can then be grown in a culture and used for therapeutic purposes.
In the end, these new technologies offer new ways to conduct stem cell research without the ethical dilemmas associated with using fertilized human embryos. If they take off, these two OTC stocks could also be at the center of attention as key providers of the technology needed to accomplish this feat in the future.
CONTACT: Daniel Minton, Managing Director, 406-862-5400, daniel@accelerize.com