Biotech company Geron has called a halt to its entire stem cell program, the largest of its kind in the world. That includes a trial to treat 11 people with spinal injuries, which began a year ago.

Geron says its decision is purely financial and not based on moral reasons or negative results from the four paralyzed patients treated so far . The company will now focus all its resources on developing anti-cancer drugs. The company had to choose between stem cells and cancer, and saw cancer as the better bet.

Geron has also coaxed hESCs into cells for treating several other conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and ligament damage.

Most other treatments are based on adult stem cells but some based on hESCs are continuing, including a treatment for a form of blindness called Stargardt’s macular dystrophy.