Easy Drug Rehabilitation

Experimental cancer drug IT-101 releases campothecin into cancer cells for effective treatment. We used a whole lot of trickery to make this piece for the PBS mini “Curious”. The whole episode for which we did loads of graphics is at thirteen.org/curious . Animated by Jordan Bruner

Researchers in the US western state of California now have government approval to begin the first human clinical trial of a treatment derived from human embryonic stem cells. The scientists will test a therapy that is designed to regenerate nerve cells in people who have suffered spinal cord injuries. The trial, however, has a limited goal of assessing the safety of the treatment. Still, Rachel Silverman reports for VOA, approval for the trial from the US Food and Drug Administration breaks what had been a significant barrier to stem cell research.