18 Beyond Market 04th Feb ’11 A Medical Breakthrough The embryonic stem cell research is a big opportunity for the pharma sec<strong>to</strong>r and a boon <strong>to</strong> patients su�ering from a range of devastating diseases It’s simplified...
India is one of the few countries in the world that is seriously pursuing stem cell research. But regenerative medicine comprising stem cell therapies and tissue engineered products are in a nascent stage in our country. As per industry estimates, about 164.4 million patients who will be suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, neurological disorders, burns and wounds, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, degenerative and traumatic disorders of bone and cartilage, liver disorders by the end of 2011, will benefit from stem cell therapies in India. Stem cell therapies have already demonstrated reasonable efficacy in treating certain ocular, cardiovascular and neurological disorders. Stem cell research is a niche industry and has been gaining considerable attention in India over the last few years. The industry is well-positioned <strong>to</strong> have a promising future. According <strong>to</strong> Stem Cell Global Foundation, a Delhi-based organization, stem cell banking was worth `100 crore in India in 2008-09. It is expected <strong>to</strong> grow <strong>to</strong> an estimated `140 crore, a 35% rise, by 2010-11. In India, over 55 programmes have reportedly been identified and supported on various aspects of stem cell research till now. The sentiments for the industry are upbeat, as reflected by a prediction of an overall increase in stem cell banking cus<strong>to</strong>mers in India from around 25,000 currently <strong>to</strong> about 1,00,000 by 2012. Growing awareness about the benefits and the potential applications of stem cell technology <strong>to</strong> develop cures for chronic diseases, which do not respond <strong>to</strong> conventional treatment has facilitated the setting up of various firms in this segment. Research in this field is being promoted by the government as well as several institutes and hospitals. More than 20 research organizations and 15 companies are working on stem cells in India. There are many institutions conducting research in stem cell therapy like the AIIMS, New Delhi. But clinical trials in the true sense are few and far between. By clinical trials, it means that they should be double blind, randomized placebo-controlled trials, with definite inclusion and exclusion criteria and with definite start and end points. The clinical trials should also throw light on how a particular stem cell has or has not worked. It should not vaguely state that the trial has been beneficial. Instead, definite parameters need <strong>to</strong> be set before the actual trial Beyond Market 04th Feb ’11 <strong>to</strong> gauge the degree of improvement. The industry is dominated by companies involved in umbilical cord blood banking. There are several companies and institutions engaged in various aspects of stem cell research. These include LifeCell, CryoStemCell and Reliance Life Sciences. Some firms have also begun identifying and developing cell-based therapy treatments for various disease areas, including cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetes and retinal degeneration. Recognizing the potential of this field, the Department of Biotechnology has allocated more than `300 crore over the last five years <strong>to</strong>wards basic and applied research in stem-cell technology. Bengaluru-based National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) is the key organization leading the government’s efforts in the field of stem cell technology. And the major players in this industry are prominent public-funded institutes like LV Prasad Eye Institute, CMC Vellore, IISc, NCCS, NBRC, CCMB, NCBS, CDFD, Nizams, TIFR, Nimhans, PGI Chandigarh, AIIMS as well as IIH (ICMR). On the other hand, private sec<strong>to</strong>r companies include Reliance Life Sciences, LifeCell, Pacific Stem Cells – Hyderabad, Stempeutics Research Pvt Ltd, Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine, LifeLine Hospitals and Manipal Hospital - Bengaluru. The regenerative medicine and stem cell technologies market is expected <strong>to</strong> grow <strong>to</strong> a US $500 billion business globally over the next 20 years. Recognizing the potential, several institutes and companies have ventured in<strong>to</strong> this field in India. In stem cell research, AIIMS, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Centre for Stem Cell Research at CMC Vellore and National Centre for Cell Sciences are some institutes focusing on regeneration of damaged muscles due <strong>to</strong> heart attack, stroke or damage <strong>to</strong> cornea. Companies in the private sec<strong>to</strong>r <strong>to</strong>o have started coming <strong>to</strong> the forefront in this field. CURRENT SCENARIO In India, the stem cell industry mainly focuses on using adult stem cells for treating various diseases. These cells are called Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Mesenchymal Stromal Cells, Mesenchymal Adult Progeni<strong>to</strong>r Cells (MAPC), Human Somatic Stem Cells, among other names. The other area of banking, cord blood stem cells, is not an active research area in India. Usually, it involves It’s simplified... 19
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