"Genzyme's (GENZ) stance, for one, is fairly typical of big biotech's. The Cambridge, Mass., company is no stranger to cell-based treatment and therapy, having explored the field for more than a decade. "Cell and gene therapy in the last 20 years has tended to over-promise and under-deliver," says John McPherson, head of its biologic research. Still, Genzyme says it continues to study the field, and this includes watching for small promising companies to buy."

"Merck (MRK) has provided funding in exchange for shares -- with warrants to buy more -- in Geron (GERN), a Menlo Park, Calif., biotech company that works with embryonic stem cells."

"Boston Scientific (BSX), which makes the nation's top-selling drug-coated heart stent, has a joint venture with Osiris to develop its stem-cell treatment for heart disease."

"General Electric's (GE) health-care unit has acquired exclusive global rights to distribute a device from ThermoGenesis (KOOL) that extracts and stores stem cells"

"Provacel stem-cell treatment for heart disease."

"Cord-blood stem-cell treatment for cardiac disease."

"Distribution of device for extracting/storing stem cells."

"Make device for extracting stem cells from cord blood."