Monday, October 11, 2010

First US Trial of Embryonic Stem Cells in Humans


The Food and Drug Administration has given the go ahead to Geron (GERN) to use human embryonic stem cells in human patients. The trial study will be sued to treat patients with spinal injuries. Previous studies have shown that paralyzed rats have achieved some movement after treatment.

Geron, which has expended $170 million on stem cell research, was up about 6% today on the news. The stock generated a quarterly loss of 73 cents for the latest reported quarter, however, revenues were up 447% during the same time frame. The company will report earnings on October 28. This debt free company has $1.19 in cash per share.

Research has been continuing to utilize stem cells for gene therapy and the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, macular degeneration, and many other medical conditions. Stem cells can come from various sources including embryos, cord blood, which is the blood from umbilical cords, and even in baby teeth. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com developed a downloadable list of over ten stem cell stocks. Hopefully your portfolio will receive a cure with one of these companies. Here is a list of a few opportunities.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN) is a Connecticut based company with a $6 billion market cap that is involved in the development of biologic therapeutic products for the treatment of hematologic and cardiovascular disorders, auto-immune diseases, and cancer. The stock has a PE of 20 and a forward PE of 28.

Cellgene (CELG) is a $26 billion market cap company involved in the discovery and production, of therapies designed to treat cancer and immune-inflammatory-related diseases. One of the main products is Thalomid, which is used for the treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum, a complication of leprosy. The company also received patent on placental stem cell recovery. The stock sports a PE of 31 and a forward PE of 17.

Integra LifeSciences Holdings (IART) is a New Jersey based $1 billion market cap company that develops, manufactures, and sells medical devices, implants, biomaterials, and instruments to the stem cell, surgery, and soft tissue repair markets. The P/E is 19, and the forward PE is 13.

For an Excel database of over ten stem cell stocks which you can download, sort, and change, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Disclosure: Author does not own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

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