PrimeCell™'s Germ Line Reprogramming Lauded on Capitol Hill as 'Greatest Thing on the Horizon' for Stem Cell Research

The Congressional debates surrounding an embryonic stem cell research bill - and President Bush's subsequent veto of that bill - have drawn much-needed attention to promising alternatives involving adult stem cells.

During those debates, the adult germ line reprogramming conducted by PrimeCell™ Therapeutics LLC was lauded by leading physician-Members of Congress and others on Capitol Hill as the "greatest thing on the horizon" for stem cell research.

President Bush also referenced the type of research PrimeCell performs, in his remarks on July 19 on stem cell research policy: "Researchers are now also investigating new techniques that could allow doctors and scientists to produce stem cells just as versatile as those derived from human embryos. One technique scientists are exploring would involve reprogramming an adult cell."

The company has developed PrimeCell™, an adult stem cell derived from the germ line and reprogrammed to exhibit plasticity. Here's what several lawmakers said about the research:

Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. - A practicing physician who has used stem cell therapies in his medical practice, Sen. Coburn said on the Senate floor: "There is a germ stem cell line it is, without a doubt, the greatest thing on the horizon for us because it has none of the scientific problems associated with embryonic stem cells ... Germ cells - pluripotent stem cells - (are) just as powerful as embryonic, they can do everything that embryonic can."

Texas Rep. Ron Paul, M.D. - In his House floor statement, Rep. Paul said: "PrimeCell is making great progress in transforming non-embryonic stem cells into any cell type in the body. PrimeCell is already talking to health care practitioners about putting its findings to use to help cure diseases."

Mississippi Rep. Roger Wicker - Speaking from the House floor: "The overwhelming portion of non-government money is going to adult and germ cell research, because that is where the promise is."

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback - From the Senate floor, Sen. Brownback said: "With adult stem cells we know what they are about, we know what they are doing, and they are working, and people are being treated."

Florida Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D. - On the floor of the House, Weldon said: "German researchers have taken testicular cells in a mouse model, gotten them to behave just like embryonic stem cells, and there are venture capitalists funding a company in California devoted to doing this very thing."

"We're all after the same thing - therapies that will lead to effective treatments," said Thomas C.K. Yuen, PrimeCell Therapeutics chairman and CEO.

"The excitement is building around germ line stem cell research because it offers so much promise as a solution that will move us in the direction of therapies as quickly as possible."

PrimeCell Therapeutics' researchers have taken adult stem cells from mouse testes, the germ line, and reprogrammed them to exhibit pluripotentiality - the ability to transform into any other cell type in the body.

Using human cells, PrimeCell Therapeutics has already therapeutically reprogrammed adult germ cells into human heart, brain, bone, cartilage and liver cells.