Stem cell strength in numbers

Embryonic stem cells are a tricky business, as evidenced by Advanced Cell Technology's linkurl:recently announced;http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/54884/ financial woes. The technology is too nascent for guaranteed returns, but potential payoffs could be huge. Increasingly, biotechs are looking to navigate the uncertain funding waters by forging partnerships with pharmaceutical companies. Some biotechs working on embryonic stem cells have been able to get start up money from the state or angel investors for short-term operations. But, "The more serious problem is going to lie in long term funding," Elizabeth Donley, CEO of Stemina Biomarker Discovery, a privately owned embryonic stem cell biotech in Wisconsin, told The Scientist. In addition to approaching venture capital firms, Donley is looking to partner with biotech and pharmaceutical companies, she said. "We've been talking to a number of potential partners] about collaborative research projects. They are becoming more positive about using human embryonic stem cell research." Such partnerships...