Whilst armchair critics think the FDA is opposed to stem-cell...

Whilst armchair critics think the FDA is opposed to stem-cell treatments, there are many dozens of trials underway in the US, which have been cleared by the FDA for trials - the US trials website (https://clinicaltrials.gov actually lists 8744 returns for stem-cell trials). The most recent one announcing success (as I post on here weekly lately) is in macular degeneration:

https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/discovery-by-usc-investigators-shows-long-term-viability-of-stem-cell-derived-retinal-implant

The worse advertisement in the US for stem-cells was the blinding of three US women five years ago by cowboy Doctors applying MSc stem-cells (and other blood based plasmas) with no idea what they were doing.

Its not insignificant for the regulatory backdrop of OCC and other stem-cell companies that progress as been made in the very area of bad press for stem-cells in the US, in an FDA cleared trial. Roll on OCC's proposed phase III ATI trial in the US, hopefully partnered by DePuy.