Stem Cell Trial Coverage and Silent Testimony

News coverage of the California stem cell trial dropped sharply today with stories apparently only in the San Diego Union-Tribune and the Oakland Tribune. The San Francisco Chronicle sent a reporter Tuesday but apparently did not carry a story, based on a look at their web site.

The trial could be over today and is unlikely to produce any significant developments, which is why we aren't there today. The affair certainly will be over on Thursday. The next major development will be the filing of the final briefs and rebuttals by both sides.

Reporter Terri Somers of the Union-Tribune led with the focus on the constitutional issues involving CIRM and testimony by stem cell Chairman Robert Klein. She quoted Klein as saying,

“I'm thoroughly under the control of a spectrum of agencies of the government of the state of California.”

Reporter Rebecca Vesely of the Oakland Tribune wrote:

"Plaintiffs attempted to argue in Alameda County Superior Court that Klein, his board and agency staff operate outside state control and therefore violate state laws.

"'I'm extremely surprised by that concept,' Klein told the court. 'I am convinced we are under the authority and control of the state of California.'"

You could say that Klein's position on the relationship between CIRM and other state agencies has evolved. Last spring, the CIRM-Legislature connection was nearly malignant, but has since become less virulent.

But even at the worst stages, it would be hard for the plaintiffs to make the case that CIRM is outside of control of all state agencies. CIRM is certainly an extraordinary agency. Nothing like it has existed in California history. And it operates with greater freedom and lack of oversight than virtually any other branch of state government. But Tamar Pachter, deputy attorney general, has produced an impressive list of minor and major links between CIRM and other state agencies to make the case that CIRM is really a part of state government – not some other bureaucratic beast, as argued by plaintiffs. It was an enlightening display of how many state agencies could make serious mischief or worse for CIRM if it gets on the wrong side of some officeholders.

In another venue Tuesday, there was silent testimony to the weakness of the plaintiffs case. Advanced Cell Technology celebrated the relocation of its national headquarters to California, specifically Alameda, a small city on an island in San Francisco Bay.

Business reporter David Morrill wrote in the Oakland Tribune:

"'We came to California from Massachusetts because it allows us to be in an environment that we really believe will be the center or hub of this industry segment for the next 10 years,' said William Caldwell, chief executive of Advanced Cell Technology. 'We feel California provides more opportunities than Massachusetts because it not only provides an openness to do the research, but they are also funding that opportunity.' Advanced Cell's new 15,000 square-foot headquarters at 1201 Harbor Bay Parkway in Alameda were formerly used by Avigen Inc., which also has its headquarters on Harbor Bay Parkway."

ACT obviously does not believe the plaintiffs will prevail in their attempt to kill off CIRM.