antiquity
02-27-2002, 03:23 PM
ReNeuron climbs as UK backs human embryo cloning
LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Shares in British biotech firm ReNeuron Holdings Plc <REN.L> climbed as much as 12 percent on Wednesday after a UK Parliamentary committee gave a green light to the cloning of human embryos for scientific research.
Shares in Europe's first stem-cell research company closed up 2-1/2 pence or seven percent at 36-1/2p, valuing ReNeuron at around 13 million pounds ($18 million).
Stem cells, which can be coaxed into developing into many different kinds of tissue, have been hailed as a breakthrough in "regenerative medicine" that could treat a wide range of conditions including diabetes, heart disease and brain damage.
An influential House of Lords committee ruled on Wednesday that embryo cloning -- which federally funded academics in the United States are barred from carrying out -- should be allowed to proceed under strict conditions.
ReNeuron, which specialises in using brain stem cells to develop treatments for neurological disorders, welcomed the committee's ruling.
The research faces formidable technical hurdles, however, and in November ReNeuron told Reuters it was turning to mouse stem cells after failing to generate stable lines from human cells.
13:14 02-27-02
LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Shares in British biotech firm ReNeuron Holdings Plc <REN.L> climbed as much as 12 percent on Wednesday after a UK Parliamentary committee gave a green light to the cloning of human embryos for scientific research.
Shares in Europe's first stem-cell research company closed up 2-1/2 pence or seven percent at 36-1/2p, valuing ReNeuron at around 13 million pounds ($18 million).
Stem cells, which can be coaxed into developing into many different kinds of tissue, have been hailed as a breakthrough in "regenerative medicine" that could treat a wide range of conditions including diabetes, heart disease and brain damage.
An influential House of Lords committee ruled on Wednesday that embryo cloning -- which federally funded academics in the United States are barred from carrying out -- should be allowed to proceed under strict conditions.
ReNeuron, which specialises in using brain stem cells to develop treatments for neurological disorders, welcomed the committee's ruling.
The research faces formidable technical hurdles, however, and in November ReNeuron told Reuters it was turning to mouse stem cells after failing to generate stable lines from human cells.
13:14 02-27-02