Germ Line Pluripotent Stem Cell Research Cited by Senator Coburn in Pre-Veto Senate Debate Well Underway

With President Bush's expected veto of an embryonic stem cell bill, attention will shift to promising techniques involving alternative (adult) cells - in particular, the germ line adult cells mentioned by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) in the Senate debate.

These cells exhibit the most important characteristic of embryonic stem cells - pluripotency.

To provide further insight, PrimeCell™ Therapeutics' lead stem cell researcher, Francisco Silva, is available to discuss this adult source of stem cells that share the very characteristic that makes embryonic stem cells so promising - their elasticity, or pluripotency, the ability to transform into any other cell type in the body.

These adult cells already have been therapeutically reprogrammed into human heart, brain, bone and cartilage cells.

WHO: Francisco J. Silva is VP of R&D for PrimeCell Therapeutics, and is a principal contributor to the company's intellectual property portfolio – which includes PrimeCell™, potentially the first pluripotent adult, non-embryonic stem cell.  

WHAT: PrimeCell has the potential to be the first human adult pluripotent stem cell and shows great therapeutic promise.

It does not require the creation, use or destruction of embryos, and as such is not affected by the presidential veto.

WHEN: Francisco Silva is available for interviews immediately.

HOW: Schedule an interview with Silva by contacting:
           Meg Aldrich
           Edge Communications, Inc.
           626-825-0309
           [email protected]