Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam released a report Stem cell by the YES Bank at ISB campus here today. According to the report, stem cells is an emerging field which has the potential of altering the world of diagnosis, treatment and drug discovery.
Stem cells which are cells with the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells, are different from other cell types in two important characteristics – they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity; and under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions, the report said. The sources of Stem Cells are embryos and adult tissues. Stem Cell treatments have shown promise in the following segments of Oncology , Cardiology, Bone & cartilage, Neurology, Hematology, Metabolic (Diabetes). Among these therapeutic areas, neurology is forecasted to have the strongest growth rate, with a CAGR of nearly 25% by 2015. Hematology and diabetes are also projected to lead the stem cell market in the coming years. According to Axis Research Mind, a reputed market forecast organization, the global stem cell therapy market was pegged at USD 21 Billion in 2010 and is expected to cross USD 60 Billion by 2015, tripling in size. Further, the global cord blood stem cells banking market for 2010 is estimated at about USD 4.0 Billion and is projected to reach USD 15.0 Billion by 2015. Asia has emerged as the major market with countries like Japan, China, Singapore, Korea, and Australia coming up as the major hubs for stem cells research. India has the potential to become a leader in the stem cell segment, with its growth projected to outstrip most developed and emerging markets in this area. India’s positive regulatory environment is a major contributing factor in it, the report said.