Stem cell innovation at risk

PA 95/09 Despite great hopes for stem cell therapy, major structural and cultural changes within the NHS are needed if it is to succeed in the UK. Currently the chances of getting effective treatments into routine use in the short-term are small and the industry is at serious risk of 'market failure'. These are the findings of two major studies into the commercialisation and adoption of stem cell therapy carried out by researchers at The University of Nottingham. Dr Paul Martin, from the Institute of Science and Society said: "While the government has identified regenerative medicine as a national priority and the US has lifted its ban on stem cell therapy, urgent public policy action is needed if it is to become a reality. Although cell therapy is now established as an important branch of medicine, innovative firms struggle to make money, putting the UK industry in a very vulnerable position in the short term. Unless the situation changes the industry will contract and the progress needed to develop important cell therapies will be adversely affected." The research, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) identified a number of important barriers to knowledge translation. It found that closer collaboration with clinicians was needed along with better funding for clinical studies, greater regulatory certainty and clearer reimbursement policies.