International Stem Cell Corp. (OTCQB: ISCO) is considered
among industry experts as a leader and pioneer in the field of regenerative
medicine as a result of its development of a new class of stem cells. These
cells, known as human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs), possess the best
characteristics of each of the other classes of stem cells. These stem cells
are created by way of chemically stimulating the oocytes (eggs) to begin
division. The oocytes are not fertilized and no viable embryo is created or
destroyed. The ethical advantage of derivation from unfertilized oocytes makes
these stem cells a promising source for the cell-based therapeutics industry.
ISCO is a biotech company that funnels its endeavors toward
the development of therapeutic and biomedical products on a global scale. The
company’s products are based on human parthenogenetic stem cells, a proprietary
type of pluripotent stem cells. Additionally, the company develops neural stem
cells, which are commonly used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and
a variety of other neurological disorders.
Studies on the amount of money spent annually on the
treatment of PD are nothing short of stunning. It is estimated that the
combined direct and indirect costs of PD in the U.S. – which include treatment,
social security payments and lost income due to the patient’s inability to work
– is in the range of $25 billion. Medication costs for an individual afflicted
with this disease average $2,500 a year. Furthermore, The Parkinson’s Disease
Foundation has estimated that therapeutic surgery can cost up to $100,000 per
individual.
Caused by the death of dopamine-producing cells in a brain
region called the substantia nigra, PD typically results in severely restricted
movement. Today’s treatments focus primarily on replacing the lost dopamine,
but these treatments eventually fail, as the dopamine-making cells continue to
die. It is through this process that stem cell therapy is of particular
interest. Stem cell research has the potential to positively impact the
development of disease-modifying treatments for PD. Enormous progress has been
made in the area of creating dopamine-producing cells from stem cells, while
the development of new cell models of PD has created a promising area of stem
cell research as a whole.
For more information, visit www.internationalstemcell.com
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Please see disclaimer on the MissionIR website http://www.missionir.com/disclaimer.html
