Industry Update

Abstract

At first glance, it might appear that the US government is keeping American scientists out of the international arena of stem cell research. While many countries have encouraged stem cell research in their academic institutions, the USA has made unilateral efforts to declare embryonic stem cell research unconstitutional. Despite the promise this controversial work holds for victims of diseases, such as insulin-dependent diabetes and Parkinson’s, US President George W Bush banned the use of federal funds for embryonic stem cell research in May 2001. In the state of California, legal proceedings are currently preventing the allocation of $3 billion for stem cell research approved by a wide majority (61%) of resident voters in 2004. Embryonic stem cell research is prohibited in several states in the USA including Michigan, home to one of the top medical schools in the country. Are legal obstacles stymieing American stem cell research, while the UK, Spain, Israel, Singapore, China, Iran, and other countries race to the forefront of an innovative and promising medical technology? Despite legislative obstacles, this is not the case. Although work with human embryonic stem cells in the USA is restricted and heavily regulated, work with stem cells from adult tissues is permissible to academic and private investigators alike. Privately funded research ventures are not currently restricted to adult-derived cells. In fact, major pharmaceutical and biomedical corporations in the USA and abroad, as well as a number of new ventures, are on the cutting edge of both adult and embryonic stem cell research. The following is a survey of the latest developments in the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine compiled from publicly available information and press releases from non-academic institutions. This overview encompasses a period from January 16 through February 15, 2006.