# They are killing stem cell research for insane reasons **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 21, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336 "2014-01-21T02:38:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anise/32/21721_2.png) [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/1 "2014-01-21T02:38:11Z")
A biotech company doing incredibly vital medical work at its most crucial stage, a NEW treatment that could save HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS from blindness and ruined lives, just got hit with a huge fine. I don’t care what they did!! I don’t care if there was insider trading or whatever. DO NOT CARE. Huge corporations get away with murder, but tiny little startup ACT, operating on a shoestring, is the one that got nailed. And come on, we all know why. They work with embryonic stem cell research, the only kind that is actually effective right now. The treatment for age-related macular degeneration could be two years away from hitting the market if they were not being undermined all the time. The studies are going great. There are absolutely no adverse reactions in patients. But because of the insistence that a stem cell= person, and apparently the people who are already born don’t count…who cares about all the old people, anyway… and ten year old children going blind from Stargaard’s disease aren’t important… ACT is being brought down. VILE AND DISGUSTING. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/2 "2014-01-21T02:48:04Z")
(drumming my fingertips with impatience because **Anise** has been here a long time and should know better) Cite? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/3 "2014-01-21T02:50:02Z")
Come again? Looking around I found people that are looking at this issue and they are not reporting anything unusual. > **[Search Foundation Fighting Blindness](https://www.fightingblindness.org/search?query=&category=research&news_types%5B%5D=&resource_types%5B%5D=&research_types%5B%5D=&research_types%5B%5D=eye-on-the-cure-research-news&event_types%5B%5D=#results)** > > The urgent mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness is to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and the entire spectrum... > [@](#): > > Stem-Cell Research: Moving at the Speed of Light > > By Rich Shea on December 19, 2013 | 16 Comments > > Dr. Dennis CleggWhen it comes to designing stem-cell-based treatments for retinal diseases, Dennis Clegg, Ph.D., is one of the go-to researchers. He not only heads his own lab at the University of California at Santa Barbara; he’s the recipient of a CIRM grant for a treatment of age-related macular degeneration, and can turn complicated science into a compelling narrative, as this TED Talk demonstrates. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/4 "2014-01-21T02:51:53Z")
> [@Anise](#): > > I don’t care what they did!! I don’t care if there was insider trading or whatever. DO NOT CARE. Clearly, you should have immunity from the law as long as you _believe_ you’re doing the right thing, right? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/5 "2014-01-21T03:01:42Z")
Really \*\*Anise \*\*, Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/6 "2014-01-21T03:04:20Z")
Christ, yes. Post a goddamned link. And if they were doing things that were unethical? **Fuck them.** I’ve worked in medical research, in **ophthalmic research** , for over a decade. Do it right or get out of the business. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/7 "2014-01-21T03:08:37Z")
[Here](http://www.wbjournal.com/article/20140109/NEWS01/140109928). Apparently the US Securities and Exchange Commission thinks that **billions** of shares of unregistered penny stocks will kill unborn babies for their stem cells or something, so they’re being big neocon meanies by making them pay back about $4 million in profits over the next 18 months. And their stock dropped [less than a percentage point](http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/momentum-stocks-in-focus-advanced-cell-technology-incotcmktsactc-lenovo-group-limited-adrotcmktslnvgy-latteno-food-corpotcmktslatf-reckitt-benckiser-plotcmktsrbgly-438819.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/8 "2014-01-21T04:34:15Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Clearly, you should have immunity from the law as long as you _believe_ you’re doing the right thing, right? Agreed. The law should be enforced impartially. It’s a bad idea to let the government decide a company should be allowed to break the law because it’s doing some greater good. ---
**Author:** ![zor7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zor7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zor7)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/9 "2014-01-21T11:32:43Z")
I am one of ACT’s shareholders. Those to blame are the late CEO, Bill Caldwell, and his successor, Gary Rabin, who was on the board of directors when Caldwell made unlegal financing deals. The fine ACT has to pay doesn’t undermine the company’s work. It will be payed on the back of the shareholders. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/10 "2014-01-21T15:42:30Z")
Their work is so obviously important and groundbreaking that they’ve…engaged in a cheap stock scam? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/11 "2014-01-21T16:32:58Z")
How about this rule instead: if a company is engaged in incredibly important scientific research, that company should not engage in Jordan Belfort-like schemes. Let’s just keep in mind that if the allegations are correct, this company was basically trying to steal other people’s money. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/12 "2014-01-21T16:56:34Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > How about this rule instead: if a company is engaged in incredibly important scientific research, that company should not engage in Jordan Belfort-like schemes. > > Let’s just keep in mind that if the allegations are correct, this company was basically trying to steal other people’s money. What about that parable that said it’s OK to steal from your investors and give to the blind? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/13 "2014-01-21T17:31:06Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > What about that parable that said it’s OK to steal from your investors and give to the blind? “Look not at the mote in a blind man’s eye but insert a beam into your own to get at that sweet, sweet shady scheme money.” - Great Antibob ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/14 "2014-01-21T18:37:19Z")
Is somebody going to explain what the OP was parodying? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/15 "2014-01-21T18:59:05Z")
Fines don’t make the technology vanish or even stop. It makes the research continue under different management or owners. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/16 "2014-01-21T19:09:21Z")
Financial lyes are one thing, but if a company like ACT was experimenting with LSD to furthur its work, I hope the regulators would see their way clear to turning a blind eye. I can understand why they’d be leary of such a solution, but it could really open some doors and result in a very powerful gambit. Who knows? ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/17 "2014-01-21T21:09:26Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Financial lyes are one thing, That’s what’s used to launder money, right? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/18 "2014-01-21T22:53:04Z")
Don’t listen to the naysayers OP. I believe you. Keep fighting the good fight. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/19 "2014-01-22T02:17:06Z")
> [@Anise](#): > > And come on, we all know why. They work with embryonic stem cell research, the only kind that is actually effective right now. Uhm, no, I don’t “know” that. You are making an assertion that it’s true, and are expecting us to validate your CT. Nope, not going to do it. Wouldn’t be prudent. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336/20 "2014-01-22T03:42:38Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Don’t listen to the naysayers OP. I believe you. Keep fighting the good fight. I always knew that he was in league with Money Smurf And Greedy Smurf. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-are-killing-stem-cell-research-for-insane-reasons/679336.md?page=2)