"A new study on stem cell research is mind-boggling," notes emerging growth expert Toby Smith in support of his recommendation for Geron Corp. (NASDAQ: GERN).
The growth stock expert and editor of ChangeWave Investing explains, "Geron reported its scientists and collaborators have demonstrated that human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived cardiomyocytes improve heart function when transplanted after myocardial infarction.
"Published online on Aug. 26, in Nature Biotechnology, the landmark study is the first to document the potential clinical utility of regenerating damaged heart muscle by injecting hESC-derived cardiomyocytes directly into the site of the infarct.
"In addition, the research confirms the effectiveness of a scalable production system that enables Geron to manufacture the cardiomyocytes for use in ongoing large animal studies and, ultimately, testing in humans."
"'This is one of the most important publications on hESCs for Geron to date,' said Geron's president and chief executive officer Thomas B. Okarma, Ph.D., M.D. 'Our cardiomyocytes are the first human cardiac cells shown to survive after injection into an infarcted ventricle and to produce significant improvement in heart function. hESCs are the only cell type shown definitively to form cardiomyocytes.'
"According to Geron, approximately 5.2 million people in the United States suffer from heart failure, and approximately 865,000 people experience myocardial infarction each year. About 36% of this population progresses to heart failure within five years of a first infarction. More than one-third of all heart failure patients die within two years of diagnosis.
"Our take is that the implications of this study are mind boggling -- I mean simply breathtaking. This is the futuristic stuff that gives us the reason to buy GERN on pullbacks."
Each day, Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com features the latest stock picks and investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.
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