Stem-cell research may hold the key to cardiac regeneration by replacing many of the dead cardiomyocytes with functional cells and even prevent scar formation.
Most stem cell research targeted at the heart uses adult stem cells, which are injected directly into the heart muscle. There are less-invasive techniques being tried though, like injecting stem cells from the bone marrow into the skeletal muscles of limbs.
According to Dr. Douglas Losordo, a cardiologist at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, it is conceivable that this treatment could be widely used in a little over four years.
Here is a list of public and private companies developing stem cell therapies for the heart:
- Bioheart, Inc. (BHRT)
- Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (ASTM)
- Geron Corporation (GERN)
- Aldagen, Inc.
- Angioblast Systems, Inc.
- Amorcyte, Inc.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates which adult stem cell techniques are allowed to go into clinical trials and sets the requirements for more routine use.
“Whether the FDA will become more or less lenient in these respects is unclear,” said Techung Lee, associate professor of biochemistry at the State University New York at Buffalo.