Some large companies in the United States are pursuing plans to study stem cells drawn from early stage human embryos, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, thrusting them into the heated debate over the controversial branch of drug research.

Companies that have initiated research programmes or have plans to are Becton, Dickinson & Co., Invitrogen Corp., Johnson & Johnson, General Electric Co. and the U.S.-based research operations of Swiss drug giant Novartis AG, the Journal said.

None of those companies immediately returned calls for comment.

Stem-cell research has been encouraged by patients with chronic ailments who hope the research leads to ways to replace cells damaged by diseases such as Diabetes and Parkinson’s. Opponents call the research immoral because it requires the destruction of early stage human embryos, most often obtained from fertility clinics.

Starting in August 2001, the Bush administration permitted federal funding for studies using embryonic stem cells, but it restricted support to supplies already taken from embryos at the time.