Move along folks, no Obama cells were used

The headlines in the Dispatch certainly have an Obamarvelous ring, "U.S. OKs testing stem-cell use in paraplegics." But as I've noted many times, there was no restriction on stem cell research in the U.S., only on new lines using government money to harvest the embryos from the cottage industry of womb gardens.

Geron Corp. of Menlo Park still has to jump through the hoops of safety and efficacy of our federal government to launch the injection of stem cells into humans instead of lab animals (where they have more hoops due to animal rightists who care more about animals than embryos or fetuses of the human variety).

Dr. Thomas Okarma (total compensation about $2,500,000) says Obama's election has nothing to do with this stem cell research--the project has always been eligible for federal funding. Still, the company has spent at least $100 million of its own money, and I'm sure that if they are successful, they plan to recoup every penny. The study involves people treated within 14 days of their injury. Story in the WSJ.

Here's a little Obamadvance info for you on stem cells:

"Obama recently promised to lift former President Bush's ban on stem cell research. If signed into law, this controversial area of science will present the law community with a new challenge. Intellectual property lawyer Kent Cheng, a partner in the firm of Cohen Pontani Lieberman & Pavane, told Forbes that the ban lifting would provide more government funding to stem cell research. He added that this would give the government more control over who owns patents and would help bring products to market faster than if they were controlled by a corporation." Forbes

Sort of sounds like dual standards, doesn't it? Never let it be said that biopharm could benefit from its years of research. But it will mean full employment for lawyers, both private and federal.