Protecting Patients

Stem Cells

Many Americans support stem cell research but are unwilling to give drug companies a blank taxpayer check to develop it without appropriate controls. About a dozen states have passed or are considering taxpayer subsidized programs for stem cell research. Proponents of California's Prop 71 stem cell program promised that all Californians would have access to new medical breakthroughs and that the state would receive royalties that would payback the public's investment.

The California stem cell oversight board, rife with conflicts-of-interests with private companies and universities seeking research grants, could make matters much worse if drug companies are allowed to control new medical technologies developed with taxpayer funds.

Read about Consumer Watchdog's work to make sure that the public receives a return on their investment. One entity, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), owns the patents to all human patents.

Read about Consumer Watchdog's efforts to remove roadblocks to research by stripping overreaching patents.

Recent Articles:

Palo Alto Biotech Company Grants License to Children's Hospital, Allowing Stem Cell Research

By Lisa M. Krieger, CONTRA COSTA TIMES
June 15, 2010

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Legal Challenge Between Palo Alto Company, Orange County Hospital Halts Stem Cell Research

By Lisa M. Krieger, SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
May 23, 2010

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Decision Could Boost Stem Cell Research

By Dean Calbreath, THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
May 4, 2010

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WARF Loses a Round in Stem Cell Patent Dispute

By Kathleen Gallagher, JOURNAL SENTINEL (Milwaukee, WI)
May 3, 2010

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Patent on Human Embryonic Stem Cells Rejected After Consumer Groups' Appeal

CONTACT: John M. Simpson, cell; (310) 292-1902; or Dan Ravicher, (212) 461-1902
May 3, 2010

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Recent Posts in Protecting Patients:

Will 'progressives' let middle class burn to prove their point?

August 30, 2010 | Posted by Jamie Court

When Anthem Blue Cross announced its controversial premium increases in California recently, the insurer claimed, "a carrier must be able to receive actuarially sound rates." So it is remarkable that "progressive" San Francisco State Senator Mark Leno, a single payer health care advocate, recently introduced eleventh hour legislation codifying Anthem Blue Cross's "actuarially sound" defense of premium increases in law.

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New rates at Blue Cross are a meager victory

August 25, 2010 | Posted by Judy Dugan

At the shoe store, 40% off qualifies as at least pretty good. So why does regulators' approval of new, lower rates by Blue Cross of California not feel like victory? There are lots of reasons, but first is that the revised Blue Cross rate hikes are still in double digits, averaging 14% and as high as 20%, while average wages are still falling. And Blue Cross could announce another rate hike whenever it pleases, just as many insurers continue to do.

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Health reform regulation scorecard: The big stuff is headed to court

August 19, 2010 | Posted by Judy Dugan

Wouldn't it be great if we could all deduct our federal income and investment taxes from next year's income? And if we could also deduct that stress-reducing trip to a spa in Bora Bora? And if the government would just take our word for it? Fantasy for us, but the health insurance industry think that's what federal health reform ought to allow, on a corporate scale.

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Seattle Story: Pretty good ending

August 17, 2010 | Posted by Judy Dugan

The worst definitely didn't happen in Seattle. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners deferred the worst insurance industry demands for weakening the implementation of health care reform. For a body so closely linked to...

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Obama's victory lap in rush hour gridlocks LA to raise $1 million for Congress

August 17, 2010 | Posted by Jamie Court

It took my wife an hour and half to make the two mile commute home Monday, after the secret service closed some of LA's busiest streets at rush hour to shuttle the president from his Beverly Hills hotel to a fundraiser for Congress...

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