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news.UK biotechnology company ReNeuron has applied to the FDA for authorization to begin trials that will use the stem cells of fetuses to treat stroke patients and potentially reverse their brain damage.
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ReNeuron has successfully extracted stem cells from the developing brain of a 12 week old aborted fetus. The company plans to use the stem cells, known as ReN001, in a human trial and implant the cells into the brains of 12 stroke patients.
Preclinical studies of the procedure in rats were successful, according to ReNeuron. The rats regained movement after suffering the effects of a stroke and tests also showed that activity was restored in parts of the brain.
ReNeuron hopes to make the treatment more acceptable to ethics groups by highlighting that scientists will only need one fetus to produce multiple stem cells.
There are also safety concerns that the FDA will have to review, specifically, the genetic modification of fetal cells which can lead to uncontrolled cell division and therefore trigger the production of abnormal or cancerous cells. If the human trial is approved the testing could begin early in 2007.