Presentation on Placentrex – an aqueous extract of human placenta at National Conference on 'Complex Diseases, Novel Therapeutics & Delivery Challenges' 2014, India

The presentation on aqueous extract of human placenta at National Conference on 'Complex Diseases, Novel Therapeutics & Delivery Challenges' 2014, India by Dr. Piyali Datta Chakraborty, Scientist, Albert David Ltd, Kolkata opened up before the attendees a lesser known domain for many. Her presentation was based on 'Placentrex' - the commercial flagship product of Albert David Ltd, is a purified extract of human placenta and is commercially available in the Indian market as injections & gel for topical application. The event took place at Gupta College of Technological Sciences (GCTS), Asansol, West Bengal, India during January 23-24, 2014.

Excrept from the proceedings:

*Courtesy: Avik Das*, B.Pharm, M.S (USA) Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Gupta College of Technological Sciences, Asansol, West Bengal, India *Correspondence: avik.tox@gmail.com; Tel.:+919748207856

The session of Dr. Piyali Datta Chakraborty, Scientist, Albert David, Kolkata who spoke of the signature product of their company 'Placentrex', which is a purified extract from the placenta of the newborn. Placenta which is the biological life line of the baby in the mother's womb consists of a wide array of biological substances which are known to have immense therapeutic potential. Besides, this biological treasure house also serves as a rich source of pleuripotent stem cells which may help in the repair mechanism of the body. In her talk here, Dr. Chakraborty emphasised specially on the use of the aqueous extract of placenta in the treatment of non healing wounds and also advocated its usage in surgical dressings and burn injuries. She spoke about the different techniques for the commercial production of 'Placentrex' and also discussed shortly about the probable mechanism of action of the product. She also threw light on the benefits of adding proteolytic enzymes in proportionate quantity to the extract to gain a synergistic effect in the process of wound healing. The session indeed opened up before the audience a new idea which in near future is envisaged to become a torchbearer in the field of pharmacotherapeutics i.e. pharmacobiotech.

Source:

Read Full Article @ Journal of PharmaSCiTech

USFDA approves Israel-developed stem cell for use in studies

In March 2014, USFDA approved Israeli company Pluristem Therapeutics to mass produce therapeutic human-placenta-derived stem cell products within its commercial-scale manufacturing facility in Haifa, Israel. Pluristem is moving into mass-production of its human placenta-based muscle repair system.

Watch the Video [source: timesofisrael.com]

Pluristem’s use of human placenta to boost cell repair involves “a drug delivery platform that releases a cocktail of therapeutic proteins in response to a host of local and systemic inflammatory and ischemic diseases.” Though animal placenta, especially from horses, has been a popular form of treatment for cell repair, human placenta offers a naturally compatible genome.

Pluristem’s technology was cleared by the FDA to treat several conditions, The Times of Israel reported, including Buerger’s disease and aplastic anemia – both of which have no other treatment options. The FDA’s move follows the January approval of the process from Germany’s top medical treatment regulator, the Paul Ehrlich Institute.

Source:
Read Original Article @ TimesOfIsrael.com
Mass production of placenta stem cells gets FDA approval

Recent Advances in Research on the Human Placenta

Recently INTECH has published an online book "Recent Advances in Research on the Human Placenta" which provides a comprehensive and updated overview of the human placenta in current scenario. Interested readers can read it online or may download the book (in pdf format) - its free and no registration required.

This book contains the total of 19 chapters, each of which is written by one or several experts in the corresponding field. The objective of this book is to provide a comprehensive and most updated overview of the human placenta, including current advances and future directions in the early detection, recognition, and management of placental abnormalities as well as the most common placental structure and functions, abnormalities, toxicology, infections, and pathologies. It also includes a highly controversial topic, therapeutic applications of the human placenta. A collection of articles presented by active investigators provides a clear update in the area of placental research for medical students, nurse practitioners, practicing clinicians, and biomedical researchers in the fields of obstetrics, pediatrics, family practice, genetics, and others who may be interested in human placentas.

EDITOR
Dr. Jing Zheng
SUBJECT
Obstetrics and Gynecology
PUBLISHER
InTech, March, 2012
ISBN
978-953-51-0194-9,
Hard cover, 428 pages


The Indian scientists Piyali Datta Chakraborty and Debasish Bhattacharyya have also contributed in this book with their work "Aqueous Extract of Human Placenta as a therapeutic-agent" (Chapter 4).


For Further details, refer to:

• Recent Advances in Research on the Human Placenta
• Aqueous Extract of Human Placenta

Courtesy:

INTECH

USFDA approves first human cord blood product - HEMACORD

U.S. drug regulators have for the first time approved a therapy that uses cells of human blood from the placenta and the umbilical cord to treat people with blood-forming disorders or cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration (USA) on Thursday (Oct 10, 2011) licensed HEMACORD, manufactured by the New York Blood Center (NYBC), a therapy that contains self-recreating cells similar to stem cells from human cord blood. This therapy is known as hematopoietic progenitor cells-cord (HPC-C) cell therapy.

Those blood-forming types of cells, known as progenitor cells, are infused into patients and make their way to bone marrow, where they divide and mature. As they move into the bloodstream, they can help build new blood cells or restore their capacities, including immune function.

Hemacord is approved for use in blood-restoring stem cell transplants, which can use cells from three sources: cords, bone marrow and peripheral blood, the flowing blood that circulates through the body.

"We have been using cord blood for years," said Dr. Machi Scaradavou, medical director of the NYBC's National Cord Blood Program." Recently, FDA decided that it needs to be licensed and this is the first cord blood product and stem cell product to be licensed."

In 2009, the FDA guided manufacturers of such therapies to submit by Oct. 20 applications either for a license or for an approval as an investigational new drug. National Cord Blood Program is the first to get FDA's nod, Scaradavou said.

"The use of cord blood hematopoietic (blood-forming) progenitor cell therapy offers potentially life-saving treatment options," said Dr. Karen Midthun, director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in a statement.
 

Source:  

FDA Press Release - FDA approves first cord blood product

REUTERS - U.S. Ok's therapy using human cord blood cells

KFDA requests for the study of HPE role on Fatigue recovery

For the readers of this blog we have come up with the following study recently conducted by a Korean team on the efficacy and safety of Human Placental Extract solution on fatigue. Fatigue is a common symptom, but only a few effective treatments are available. This study was supported by a grant from Unimed Pharm., INC. and was conducted at the requests of the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA).

                                                                                                                                  

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 130875, 6 pages
doi:10.1155/2012/130875

Research Article

Efficacy and Safety of Human Placental Extract Solution on Fatigue: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

Kang-Kon Lee,¹ Whan-Seok Choi,^1,2 Keun-Sang Yum,¹ Sang-Wook Song,¹ Sun-Myeong Ock,¹ Sat-Byul Park,³ and Moon-Jong Kim⁴

¹Department of Family Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine, Seocho-gu 137-701, Republic of Korea²Department of Family Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu 137-701, Republic of Korea³Department of Family Practice and Community Health, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 443-721, Republic of Korea

⁴Department of Family Medicine, Pundang CHA General Hospital, College of Medicine, Pochun Chung-mun University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea


Received 24 May 2011; Revised 28 July 2011; Accepted 30 July 2011
Academic Editor: Pradeep Visen
Copyright © 2012 Kang-Kon Lee et al. 


Abstract
Introduction:
Fatigue is a common symptom, but only a few effective treatments are available. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of the human placental extract solution, which has been known to have a fatigue recovery effect. 

Methods:

A total of 315 subjects were randomly assigned to three groups: group 1 (with Unicenta solution administration), group 2 (with exclusively human placental extract administration, excluding other ingredients from the Unicenta solution), and the placebo group. Subsequently, solutions were administered for four weeks. 

Results:

The fatigue recovery rate was 71.00% in group 1, 71.72% in group 2, and 44.21% in the placebo group, which show statistically significant differences between the group 1 and the placebo group (P value = 0.0002), and between group 2 and the placebo group (P value = 0.0001). 

Conclusion:

The oral human placental extract was effective in the improvement of fatigue. The adverse event frequency in the experimental groups was similar to that in the placebo group.

It is likely that more comprehensive results that can address the limitations of this study can be obtained if a study that has a sufficient period of study process and precisely classifies the subjects’ ages and degrees of fatigue is conducted.

Citation:
Kang-Kon Lee, Whan-Seok Choi, Keun-Sang Yum, et al., “Efficacy and Safety of Human Placental Extract Solution on Fatigue: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study,” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2012, Article ID 130875, 6 pages, 2012. doi:10.1155/2012/130875


Read the full article here

Courtesy:

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

PLACENTA ENCAPSULATION - Placenta Pill Makers Turn Afterbirth Into Nutritional Supplement For New Moms

Swapan Das, Calcutta

Our HPE blog is not into placenta encapsulation, but we thought to share this news with our readers as they should be aware of such things, and this news is from USA the country which is considered to be very strict with issues related to bio-products, human tissues. Globally, Placenta encapsulation is so far confined at the most to a cottage industry state.

Lisa Fortin, of Brooklyn, N.Y., USA makes pills from placentas for new mothers to get over the baby blues. There aren't clinical trials to back up Fortin and her fellow placenta encapsulation specialists, as they like to be called. But the capsules have their roots in Chinese medicine and the animal kingdom where most mammals, except camels and sea mammals, eat their placenta after giving birth.

The following article & image is courtesy of: HUFFPOST WEIRD NEWS

Lisa Fortin is one of the rare people who makes a living by cooking, but never actually tastes what's in her pot. That's because Fortin, the founder of Placenta Healing Arts in Brooklyn, is part of a small, but growing profession that cooks placentas for new moms and makes them into pills that allegedly stave off postpartum depression, provide an energy boost and enhance milk production.

Sounds weird, bizarre and disgusting? Then watch the video & read the full story HERE

Albert David - Placentrex: Current Status & Future Plans

By Swapan Das, Calcutta.

Albert David Ltd., the Rs. 214 crore Kolkata-based pharmaceutical company, a unit of the Kothari group had a press conference in Chennai on June 20, 2011.  Talking to reporters on this occasion Albert David Limited Executive Director K.P. Mundhra spoke about PLACENTREX - their HPE based product’s current status and company’s future plans.

On Company’s flagship product Placentrex:

K.P. Mundhra
ADL- Executive Director

• Production of placentrex injection and placentrex gel has restarted in Kolkata manufacturing plant following a Delhi High Court verdict and the central government lifting the ban on it May 30, 2011. The company challenged the decision in the Delhi High Court where the the government could not prove the reasons for the ban either scientifically or through material evidences.

• Placentrex,is  used to treat pelvic infections in women and heal open wounds, including burn injuries, and there are no safer or efficient alternatives to Placentrex.

• Efforts are being made to register the product in Russia. Currently the drug is exported to South Korea, Myanmar and Syria.

• The company's HPE formulations, Placentrex (gel and injection) is the only human placenta based product in India developed through indigenous research.

• Placentrex is manufactured using Human Placenta Extract (HPE) and has been recommended by more than 30,000 doctors in India over the past 50 years.

• Not a single negative adverse drug reaction or side effect had been noted in the 60 years of use of the injection and 11 years' use of the gel. The placentas are collected from multiple city hospitals in Kolkata, thanks to a special arrangement with the State's Health and Family Welfare Ministry. About 300 placentas are collected every single day, refrigerated, transported to the factory, where they are stored for seven days after which the process of extraction begins.

• During the processing, the product is tested at three stages for harbouring viruses or bacteria. As per the Company, the temperature used as part of their patented process, it is impossible for these organisms to survive. 

• The company had lost Rs.14 crore due to the ban.

On future plans of Albert David Ltd.:

• Albert David is scouting for manufacturing facilities to produce laxatives, vitamin, anti-oxidants and herbal products, which are currently being outsourced.

• The Company is looking to acquire WHO-certified, Current Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant readymade facilities close to their Ghaziabad plant for their brands Evict (laxative), Sioplex (vitamin) and Siooxy (anti-oxidant) and herbal products.

• The company, which makes pharmaceutical formulations, bulk drugs and injections, has three manufacturing plants — in Kolkata (for tablets, ointment and injections), Ghaziabad (for IV fluids) and Mandideep (needles). It plans to move into a new facility in Kolkata and is identifying land. This unit will also house an R&D centre.

• Albert David, which hopes to clock a turnover of Rs 250 crore this year, plans to invest Rs 50 crore in four years – on manufacturing and marketing of new products in the gynaecological and lifestyle diseases segments.

Compiled from: Albert David - Placentrex: Chennai Press Release
Compiled by: Swapan Das
Courtesy: Albert David Ltd. and the press media mentioned in the above link.

Cow's Placenta Extract capable of treating baldness: Scientists

This piece of news is not related to HPE, but  since the news is related to placenta, we thought to share this news from the domain of CPE (Cow Placenta Extract) with our readers. The Courtesy for this news and image is Deccan Chronicle.

Is your receding hairline giving you sleepless nights? Rest easy, for if experts are to be believed the cure for baldness has been found… in the 'goshala'.

Experts say that the extract obtained from a cow’s placenta or umbilical cord is capable of regrowing hair and treating baldness. A Korean team of scientists have been experimenting on Indian cows in goshalas and their findings are quite remarkable.

Though baldness is an irreversible process, certain hormones present in the placenta of the cow can trigger hair growth on a bald head. Cow placental extract is a natural and cheap equivalent to the chemical, minoxidil, which is used by hair experts.

“The hormones and cytokins in a cow’s placenta promote hair growth not only by elongating the hair shaft but also by increasing the number of hair follicles,” said Dr L. Mira, a part of the Korean team involved in the research.

According to Dr Mira, cow placenta extract is also useful in other cosmetic applications including whitening of the skin and enhancing tone and texture.

The discovery comes close on the heels of a finding by a team of German bacteriologists that cow dung has actually been protecting Indians from outbreaks of Escherichia coli.

The E. coli strain present in cows and buffaloes is more harmful than the strains that exist in human colon.

Originally Published at: Deccan Chronicle: Cow's umbilical cord capable of treating baldness: Scientists

Albert David - Placentrex: Chennai Press Release

Swapan Das, Calcutta. 

Congratulations & a Big Thank You to ADL Team from our HPE Blog for fighting back and keeping the HPE flag flying high. The Albert David’s initiative will also boost the supporters of HPE in other countries. Would request this Indian Company to take initiative in creating awareness about the benefits & safety regarding HPE.

THE PRESS RELEASE:

Kolkata-based pharmaceutical company Albert David Ltd., a unit of the Kothari group had a press conference in Chennai on June 20, 2011. Talking to reporters on this occasion Albert David Limited Executive Director K.P. Mundhra said the company challenged the decision in the Delhi High Court where the Union Government could not prove the reasons for the ban either scientifically or through material evidences.

Read more about the press meet at the following links:

Albert David seeks new overseas markets for drug
MSN India
Chennai June 20 (IANS) Kolkata-based Albert David Limited has restarted production of placentrex injection and gel and is looking at new overseas market for ...

Placentrex injection being produced again Chennaionline News
Thanks to the lifting of the ban by the Union Government on the directions of the Delhi High Court, the Kolkata-based Albert David Limited has started ...
news.chennaionline.com/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID...

Drug made from human placenta back in the market
Times of India
The makers of Placentrex, used to treat pelvic infections in women and heal open wounds, including burn injuries, said there were no safer or efficient ...

Ban lifted on human placental drug PLACENTREX.
Health(Y) Destination
Albert David Limited, a Kolkata based drug manufacturing company has resumed its production of its product PLACENTREX extracted from human placenta. ...

Times Chennai Placentrex injection being produced again
Placentrex is manufactured using Human Placenta Extract HPE and has been recommended by more than 30000 doctors in India over the past 50 years Albert David ...
www.timeschennai.com/index.php?mod=article&cat...

Business Line : Companies News : Albert David scouting for ...
Mr Mundhra was in the city to announce that the ban on the company's product ' Placentrex' has been lifted. Placentrex, made from human placental extract, ...
www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article2120801.ece

The Hindu: Ban on use of placental extracts and formulations for human use goes

CHENNAI: The Central Government has withdrawn its February 10 ban on the use of human placental extracts and their formulations for human use.


Sify: Albert David seeks new overseas markets for drug
Chennai June 20 (IANS) Kolkata-based Albert David Limited has restarted production of placentrex injection and gel and is looking at new overseas market for the product, a top company official said Monday.

Times Of India (TOI): Drug made from human placenta back in the market

CHENNAI: The union health ministry has lifted a ban, imposed in May on the manufacture, sale and distribution of drugs made from human placenta, following a Delhi high court order. The makers of Placentrex, used to treat pelvic infections in women and heal open wounds, including burn injuries, said there were no safer or efficient alternatives to their product.

Read the full article here-> Times Of India (TOI): Drug made from human placenta back in the market

PLACENTREX - The Indian HPE drug wants to penetrate International Markets

By Swapan Das, Calcutta
PLACENTREX, the flagship brand of Albert David Ltd. who are the pioneers in human placenta extract (HPE) domain in Indian Sub-continent is gearing up for international market. The recent rational review of the HPE by the 9-member Indian expert committee and Delhi High Court's judgment established the efficacy of Indian HPE brand - Placentrex. We at HPE blog have also observed that the awareness of this domain has increased compared to what it was four months ago, and have received good international traffic (several visits from countries like Russia, Ukraine, US, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan etc.) to our blog. 

Reference: MSN India - Indo-Asian News Service: Albert David seeks new overseas markets for drug

CIPI decides to surrender its petition at Madras High Court

Seeing many visitors on our blog looking for the latest news on the ongoing case at Madras High Court, we from our HPE Blog spoke to CIPI chairman T.S. Jaishankar on Saturday June 18, 2011 to have the latest update on this. Readers following this issue must be aware of the fact that the association, Confederation of Indian Pharmaceutical Industries (CIPI) took the  initiative by filing petition at Madras High Court to raise voice against the Govt. decision of sudden banning of drugs without giving enough time to the companies to liquidate the stock.

The latest update is:

IBN LIVE - Ban on HPE, Placentrex relaxed by HC: Albert David Limited

Lucknow, Jun 12 (PTI) Albert David Limited today said that ban imposed on human placenta extract (HPE) and its formulations (Placentrex) by the Centre on Feb 10 has been relaxed by it on directives of the Delhi High Court."The manufacturing and marketing of HPE and its formulations has been permitted for topical application for wound healing and injections for pelvic inflammatory disease," Executive Director Albert Davit Limited, KP Mundhra told reporters here.He said that a gazette notification has been issued by the Centre on May 30 in this regard.Stating that HPE is an original research product of Albert David, a Kolkata based pharmaceutical company of Kothari group with over Rs 218 crore turn over, Mundhra said during its presence for more than five decades not even a single case of adverse during reaction or cross infection was reported from anywhere.He said during the course of ban between Feb 10 and May 20 this year the company suffered loss of about Rs 14 crores but denied to file any damage suit for the losses the company had.

Courtesy:IBN LIVE

The Hindu says ‘Ban on drugs from human placental extract relaxed'

The following got published in The Hindu:

(By Staff Reporter Posted: Wed, Jun 08, 2011)

The ban imposed by the Centre on manufacture, sale and distribution of drugs from human placental extract has been relaxed after a Kolkata-based pharmaceutical company took the matter to the Delhi High Court, company executives said here on Tuesday.

The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry had passed a gazette notification to ban human placental extract and its formulations, among other drugs, on February 10 citing concerns about the safety of the product.

A city-based company, Albert David Ltd., which has been manufacturing drugs based on human placental extract for over five decades, challenged the order and filed a case in the Delhi High Court.

Albert David gets nod for 'placental extracts’ drugs

The following got published in The Financial Express:
(By INDU BHAN Posted: Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 0225 hrs IST)

Kolkata-based pharma company Albert David has received a shot in the arm following the Delhi High Court asking the Centre to allow use of human placental extracts for its topical application for wound healing and injectibles for pelvic inflammatory diseases. A division bench comprising justices Sanjay Kishen Kaul and Rajiv Shakdher while noting the health ministry’s submissions that the government had accepted the recommendation's of a expert panel to amend its earlier notification, which banned the drug, said that the company “would be able to carry the necessary activities in terms of the notification” (amended).

Read more at The Financial Express
Check Out: 
Human Placental Extract & Its Formulations Returns With A Bang In India!
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Ministry of Health & Welfare releases Gazette Notification for Human Placenta Extract & its Formulations

The Central Government has released Gazette Notification for Human Placenta Extract & its Formulations. This confirms the use and manufacturing of Human Placental Extract for human use in India for:

• Topical application for wound healing, and
• Injection for pelvic inflammatory disease

CLICK HERE for Gazette Notification G.S.R 418(E) dated May 30, 2011

This confirms the efficacy and safety of Indian brand "PLACENTREX" which is based on human placental extract.

Courtesy: Official website of Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India)

Check Out: 

Human Placental Extract & Its Formulations Returns With A Bang In India!

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Human Placental Extract & Its Formulations Returns With A Bang In India!

By Swapan Das, Calcutta

For the supporters of Human Placental Extract & its Formulations in India, the wait is all but over!

Human Placental Extract and its Formulations is back vide the Gazette Notification No. G.S.R. 418(E) dated May 30, 2011 of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

On Friday May 20, 2011, the Delhi High Court on its verdict has given clearance to the manufacturing, sale and distribution of Human Placental Extract and its formulations for human use in India on the basis of the report submitted by the 9-member expert committee on Human Placental Extract and its formulations.

Earlier hearing the petition on April 6 filed by the Kolkata-based pharma manufacturer Albert David Ltd, which is a pioneer in human placental extract therapy in India, the Delhi High court asked the Indian Union Health Ministry to constitute a 9-member expert committee to go into the issue of efficacy and safety data of human placental extract. The expert committee was asked to submit a report on the matter by May 15, 2011. The 9-member expert committee formed by the Union Health Ministry which gave its clearance verdict after doing a thorough review on the issue of efficacy and safety data of human placental extract was consisted of:

• Dr YK Gupta of AIIMS, who headed the panel
• Dr Ajay Kumar of IMA
• Dr Vijay Kumar of IDRI
• Dr Sharma of ICMR
• Dr Kotwal of AIIMS
• Dr VK Tiwari
• Dr B.N. Chakraborty
• Dr CM Sharma
• Dr Lakhbir Dhaliwal of PGI, Chandigarh

Albert David Ltd., India applied the petition against the notification of the Union Health Ministry (GSR 82 E) dated February 10, 2011 in which Union Health Ministry had banned six drugs viz. non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide (below 12 years age), gastroprokinetic agent Cisapride, decongestant drug Phenylpropanolamine (PPA), human placental extract & its formulations, Sibutramine & its formulations and R-Sibutramine & its formulations.


And on 30th May 2011, the Central Government has released an amended version vide gazette notification no. G.S.R. 418(E) allowing the use of Human Placental Extract and its formulations.

The rational review of the issue by the 9-member expert committee and Delhi High Court's judgment will boost the ongoing research work on Human Placental Extract in India and the general awareness on this domain which is quite low is expected to increase after this decision.


SUMMARY: Delhi High Court ruling & Central Government (India)'s notification no. G.S.R. 418(E) dated 30th May 2011 means:

• Manufacture, sale and distribution of Human Placental Extract and its formulations is once again allowed in India following the guidelines of the amended notification.

• The use of Indian brand "PLACENTREX" manufactured by Albert David Ltd.  ,Calcutta will continue while complying with the guidelines of the notification.

• CLICK HERE for Gazette Notification G.S.R 418(E) dated May 30, 2011

'A victory for our scientists': US Court lifts ban on US Government funded stem cell research

The regular visitors of our site must have noted that off late we are coming up with news from the domain of stem  cells research that's happening world wide. This piece of news is a big news for the supporters of the stem cell research. Recently (April 29, 2011) a US federal appeals court overturned an injunction banning federal funding of research on human embryonic stem cells, handing a major victory to President Barack Obama's administration. This ruling reverses a previous decision that said the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines was in violation of a 1996 law that prohibits the use of taxpayer's money to pay for research that destroys human embryos. Though the case is not yet closed, the announcement grants a temporary reprieve to scientists.  

"Responsible stem cell research has the potential to treat some of our most devastating diseases and conditions and offers hope to families across the country and around the world," White House spokesman Nick Papas said.

"Today's ruling is a victory for our scientists and patients around the world who stand to benefit from the groundbreaking medical research they're pursuing," Papas added.

To know in detail, please refer to the following links:

• Mail Online
• The New York Times

SUMMARY: Court ruling means government funding can now be used for embryonic stem cell research.

Israeli Bio-Therapeutics Company Claims Stem Cells From Human Placentas Show Potential in Treating Heart Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and More

As there is so much buzz on Stem Cells research, we at HPE blog thought to look into this domain with an emphasis on human placenta as a source for stem cells. The first on this series would be the news from an Israeli bio-therapeutics Company, Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. which claims that the stem cells harvested from human placentas can help treat a host of diseases–and strengthen muscles in the process.


Our Courtesy to Fast Company and Pluristem Therapeutics Inc., Israel for this article.

University of South California (USC) Research Shows Critical Role of Human Placenta in Brain Development and may harbour cure for heart disease

For many the human placenta is just a passive organ, but it has significant synthetic capabilities and has a much more critical role than usually thought. Recently the researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California's (USC) Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute have come up with the groundbreaking findings. We at HPE blog wish to share this news esp. with our Indian and oriental readers as what’s happening in West.

We are reproducing it from the Zee News, and would request readers to visit the site of University of Southern California (USC) for more details. For this please refer to the links provided at the end of this post.