Canada Approves World’s First Stem Cell Drug – and it is from adult stem cells, not embryonic
Canada Approves World’s First Stem Cell Drug – and it is from adult stem cells, not embryonic
Osiris Therapeutics is based in Columbia, Maryland
Maryland’s own stem cell company, Osiris Therapeutics of Columbia, Maryland, has received Canadian approval to market the world’s first stem cell drug, Prochymal. The Maryland Catholic Conference applauds the news that Prochymal will treat children suffering from the extreme pain of acute graft-vs-host disease (GvHD), which currently kills up to 80% of affected children.
“Significantly, Prochymal contains adult stem cells; not embryonic stem cells. These adult stem cells are derived from healthy adult donors. Despite all the hype about embryonic stem cell research, it’s adult stem cells that are the only stem cells saving lives,” said Dr. Nancy Paltell, associate director for respect life issues at the Maryland Catholic Conference.
“It’s interesting to note that this world-class research was NOT funded by the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, which tends to invest heavily in basic, not applied, research. Of the $79 million of taxpayer money invested to date through the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, a relatively small amount has gone to adult stem cell research, which explains the paucity of resulting patient treatments,” said Paltell.
Unlike embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells do not involve the destruction of human embryos and thus do not raise ethical concerns.
GvHD is the leading cause of transplant-related deaths, and can occur after a bone marrow transplant when immune cells in the transplanted marrow attack the patient’s organs. Although steroids have been used to try to save the patient’s life, the success rate is typically less than 50 percent. When severe GvHD strikes a child, it is fatal about 80% of the time.
Maryland Catholic Conference advocates for the Church's public policy positions before the Maryland General Assembly and other civil officials. The Conference represents all three dioceses with territory in the state – the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Archdiocese of Washington, and the Diocese of Wilmington.