Review
Commercial development of stem cell technology: lessons from the past, strategies for the future
Published Online:23 Nov 2006https://doi.org/10.2217/17460751.1.6.801
Abstract
This paper presents historical and contemporary survey data on the commercial development of stem cell technology from the 1990s to the present day. We describe the first wave of industrial investment in hematopoietic stem cells during the 1990s and contrast this with the more recent expansion of the sector. In particular, we explore the cell types used, diseases targeted and business models adopted by firms. We conclude, by arguing that the commercial prospects for stem cell technologies remain highly uncertain and that innovative public policies should be adopted to prevent ‘market failure’.
Bibliography
- 1 Wilan KH, Scott CT, Hererra S: Chasing a cellular fountain of youth. Nat. Biotechnol.23(7),807–815 (2005).
- 2 Martin P, Thomas S: The development of gene therapy in europe and the United States: a comparative analysis. Final project report/ STEEP Special Report No 5. Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex, UK (1996).
- 3 Haematopoietic Stem Cells: The Dynamics of Expectations in Innovation. Grant awarded under ESRC’s Stem Cell Initiative and held with Philip Bath, Alison Kraft and Nik Brown (ESRC RE-340–25–0007).
- 4 Understanding User Needs in Tissue Engineering - linked project as part of EPSRC funded Grand Challenge Award Regenerative Medicine – A New Industry. Remedi – A Grand Challenge. Grant number EPSRC: EP/C534247/1
- 5 Civin C, Strauss LC, Brovall C et al.: Antigenic analysis of hematopoiesis. iii: a hematopoietic progenitor cell surface antigen defined by a monoclonal antibody raised against kg1a cells. J. Immunol.133,157–165 (1984).
- 6 Bar-Shalom A, Cook-Deegan R: Patents and innovation in cancer therapeutics: lessons from cellpro. Milbank Q.80(4),637–676 (2002).
- 7 Martin P, Thomas S (Ibid.) (1996).
- 8 Brown N, Kraft A: Blood ties – banking the stem cell promise. TASM18,313–327 (2006).
- 9 Brown N, Kraft A, Martin PA: The promissory pasts of blood stem cells. Biosocieties (2006) (In Press).
- 10 Helmsley R, Martin PA: Unpublished survey of the tissue engineering industry. IGBiS, University of Nottingham (2006).
- 11 Sprigg N, Bath PMW, Zhao L et al.: Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor mobilises bone marrow stem cells in patients with sub-acute ischaemic stroke: the Stem cell Trial of recovery EnhanceMent after Stroke (STEMS) pilot randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN 16784092). Stroke (2006) (In Press).
- 12 Rothman H, Kraft A: Downstream and into deep biology: evolving business models in “toptier” genomics companies. J. Commer. Biotechnol.12(2),86–98 (2006).
- 101 UK Stem Cell Initiative: Report and Recommendations. Department of Health (2005) www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/uksci. and www.ukscf.org.
- 102 UK Stem Cell Foundation www.ukscf.org.
- 103 Information regarding clinical trials in human volunteers www.clinicaltrials.gov
