British firm plans trial

A British company is planning human trials of a new technique which it says can transform white blood cells into stem cells that can be used to treat leukaemia and a range of other diseases.

London-based TriStem says the method it has developed eliminates the need for embryos and foetuses, rich sources of the stem cells that can develop into any cell type. The use of early embryos has been a major stumbling block in the use of stem cells.

"TriStem has been claiming for years that it can take a half litre of anyone's blood, extract the white blood cells and make them revert to a stem cell-like state," New Scientist magazine said yesterday.

"The company has now finally provided proof that at least some of its claims might be true," it added.