Geron Corporation (MENLO PARK, Calif) and the University of Edinburgh (EDINBURGH, Scotland) announced that they have entered into a collaboration to conduct preclinical safety and efficacy studies with three cell types derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Two of the cell types, osteoblasts and chondrocytes, are intended to be used for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis, bone fractures, and osteoporosis. The studies, based at the University's Centre for Regenerative Medicine, will be under the direction of Professor John Iredale, Dr. Phil Newsome, Dr. Brendon Noble, and Professor Hamish Simpson. Geron will contribute its expertise on the design and execution of Investigational New Drug (IND)- enabling studies. 

In a prepared statement, David Greenwood, Geron's executive vice president and chief financial officer, said, "We are continuing our research activity in the UK because we know there is a pool of knowledgeable and talented hESC scientists there. We are now sponsoring six UK-based hESC R & D programs. Moreover, in addition to the scientific talent and the general receptivity in the UK for hESC technology, there is funding support."

The University of Edinburgh's Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CRM) is based at the Centre for Biomedical Research (CBR). The CBR combines an 870-bed teaching hospital with the University of Edinburgh's Medical School and Research Institute. The CRM is under the direction of Professor Ian Wilmut, who led the team that cloned Dolly the sheep at the Roslin Institute in Scotland. The CRM was launched in December 2005 and provides state-of-the-art facilities to advance basic research in stem cells and regenerative medicine with the goal of translating science and technology into clinical application.

Earlier in 2006, Geron collaborators at the Medical School, University of Edinburgh, and the Roslin Institute reported on methods to generate osteoprogenitor cells from both hESCs and bone-marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). They compared the capacity of the two cell types of bone-forming cells to repair a full thickness, critical size calvarial defect generated in rats. Their results show significantly more bone formation in vivo in rats receiving hESC-derived osteoprogenitors compared with those receiving MSC-derived osteoprogenitors. The hESC-derived cells were detected throughout the calvarial defect and were highly integrated into the matrix carrier used to deliver the cells to the lesion. These studies are the first to show in vivo bone-forming activity of hESC-derived osteoprogenitor cells. Geron believes that these cells may be useful for the treatment of hip fractures, nonunion bone fractures, and osteoporosis in the elderly.

Geron has been in business since 1992. In addition to the company's headquarters and main facilities in Menlo Park, California, Geron Bio-Med Ltd, Geron's wholly-owned subsidiary in Edinburgh, Scotland, is developing cell-based products for therapeutic use and as tools for drug discovery and predictive toxicology.

— A. Techman

E-mail any comments to .