Patient Advocates, Researchers Launch Nationwide Ad Campaign to Support "Therapeutic Cloning" (Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer)

4/3/2002

From: Maggie Goldberg for the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, 973-379-2690 Ext. 115

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) today launched a national advertising campaign to support Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT), promising new medical research sometimes called "therapeutic cloning."

"We are very proud to be able to educate the American public and United States Congress with this campaign," said Michael Manganiello, President of CAMR, which is sponsoring the campaign. "These ads cut through the scare tactics of SCNT opponents and help clear up the myths."

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a bill banning SCNT in April or May. In the first phase of the campaign, during the Congressional recess, CAMR is buying radio and print ads in major cities in the home states of key Senators. CAMR plans to expand the reach of the ads, and include television ads before the Senate vote.

"We urge Senators not to deny hope to millions of people with life-threatening diseases, and to listen to those for whom SCNT could be a matter of life and death," said Christopher Reeve, Chairman of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, a member of CAMR. "These ads explain that SCNT produces stem cells, not babies, using the patient's own DNA, not sperm."

The ads present the voices and faces of some of the 100 million Americans who could be helped by SCNT -- men, women and children with spinal cord injury, ALS, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Rett syndrome, cancer, AIDS, diabetes and many more conditions for which there is now no cure.

"It's hard to believe the Senate is actually considering putting people in jail for doing life-saving research," said Kris Gulden, a paralyzed former police officer featured in the radio ads. "SCNT has nothing to do with copying human beings and everything to do with generating stem cells that can be used to treat life-threatening medical conditions. And it's strongly supported by the National Academy of Sciences."

"For me, this is all about the hope of finding new treatments and cures for millions of children who suffer every day," said Monica Coenraads whose daughter, Chelsea, is featured in the print ads. Chelsea has Rett Syndrome, an incurable genetic disorder that prevents her from walking, talking, or using her hands.

Copies of the print ads and a radio script are attached. For an MP3 version of the radio ad, please visit www.camradvocacy.org.

--- TRANSCRIPT OF RADIO AD

My name is Kris Gulden. I'm a former police officer and triathlete.

Due to a spinal cord injury, I'm now in a wheel chair. In my dreams I still walk and run. And I wake up every morning hoping for a cure.

I'm sure someone close to you -- someone with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's or diabetes does too.

But now we have hope, thanks to a new kind of medical research, called somatic cell nuclear transfer -- or SCNT. Some people call it therapeutic cloning, although it has nothing to do with copying human beings.

SCNT produces stem cells that can be used to treat life-threatening medical conditions. And it's strongly supported by the National Academy of Sciences.

But the U.S. Senate is considering a ban on SCNT -- even though it could help people you know. And someday it might help you.

So call your Senators today. Tell them to support SCNT and the hope it could bring to a 100 million afflicted Americans, like me dreaming for a cure.

Paid for by the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research.

--- TEXT OF PRINT AD

EDITOR'S NOTE: Text is accompanied by photo (child in walker). For a copy of the full ad, or the accompanying photo, please contact Maggie Goldberg of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation at 973-379-2690.

Her Dream Is To Walk Again. Her Nightmare Is That Politicians Will Stand In Her Way.

Millions of Americans who suffer from incurable medical conditions such as spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's disease, Rett syndrome, cancer and diabetes have new hope. It's called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) -- also known as "therapeutic cloning."

SCNT is fundamentally different from human reproductive cloning. SCNT produces stem cells to treat disease. SCNT does not produce babies.

The nation's leading medical scientists -- including the National Academy of Sciences -- and major patient advocacy organizations oppose human reproductive cloning -- but strongly support SCNT as a way to develop therapies and cures for the millions of Americans who suffer from life-threatening disease.

However, the U.S. Senate is considering a ban on SCNT that would stop this hope dead in its tracks. The ban would not only outlaw vital research and jail scientists searching for cures, but it could also imprison patients who go abroad to seek treatment and therapy not provided in America.

Don't let politics deny hope.

Please call 202-224-3121 and urge your Senator to support somatic cell nuclear transfer.

------ The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR), is comprised of nationally-recognized patient organizations, universities, scientific societies, foundations, and individuals with life-threatening illnesses and disorders, advocating for the advancement of breakthrough research and technologies in regenerative medicine -- including stem cell research and somatic cell nuclear transfer -- in order to cure disease and alleviate suffering.