New Applications in Drug Discovery Platforms to Fuel Advance of Stem Cells, Says Frost & Sullivan

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• Publié par: frost-sullivan
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• Langue: English

Extrait

New Applications in Drug Discovery Platforms

to Fuel Advance of Stem Cells, Says Frost &

Sullivan

PR Newswire

LONDON, June 13, 2012

- Ethical, Clinical and Commercial Issues to be Navigated before Full

Potential of Stem Cell Therapies can be Unleashed

LONDON

,

June 13, 2012

/PRNewswire/ -- Stem cells offer exciting potential in

regenerative medicine, and are likely to be widely used by mid-2017.

Pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies are showing increased

interest in stem cell research.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.pharma.frost.com),

Analysis of

the Stem Cell Markets-Unlocking the New Era in Therapeutics

, finds

that the market will be driven by stem cell applications in drug discovery

platforms and by successful academia –commercial company partnership

models.

"The high attrition rates of potential drug candidates has piqued the interest of

pharmaceutical and biotech industries in stem cell use during the drug

discovery phase," notes Frost & Sullivan Consulting Analyst Vinod Jyothikumar.

"Previously, animal cell lines, tumours, or genetic transformation have been the

traditional platform for testing drug candidates; however, these 'abnormal' cells

have significantly contributed to a lack of translation into clinical studies."

Many academic institutes and research centres are collaborating with

biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in stem cell research. This will

provide impetus to the emergence of novel cell-based therapies.

Key challenges to market development relate to reimbursement, ethics and the

complexity of clinical trials.

Securing reimbursement for stem cell therapeutic products is expected to be

critical for commercial success. However, stem cell therapies are likely to be

expensive. Insurers, therefore, may be unwilling to pay for the treatment. At

the same time, patients are unlikely to be able to afford these treatments.

"The use of embryonic stem cells raises a host of thorny ethical, legal, and

social issues," adds Jyothikumar. "As a result, market prices for various

products may be affected."

Moreover, many research institutes are adopting policies promoting the ethical

use of human embryonic tissues. Such policies are hindering the overall

research process for several companies working in collaboration with these

institutes.

"In addition to apprehensions about how many products will actually make it

through human-based clinical trials, companies are also worried about which

financial model can be applied to stem cell therapies," cautions Jyothikumar.

"Possibly low return on investment (ROI) is also resulting in pharmaceutical

companies adopting a cautious approach to stem cell therapeutics."

To push through policy or regulatory reforms, the technology platform and

geographical location of stem cell companies should complement the terms