The Raelian Movement
for those who are not afraid of the future : http://www.rael.org
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http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-12-27/news/36022204_1_cell-therapy-cell-biology-and-regenerative-regenerative-medicine
A clear policy in stem cell therapy will foster innovative healthcare
The rising cost of healthcare has been a cause of concern around the globe. The global economic crisis has seen governments such as the US and Japan attempting to minimise the cost of state-funded healthcare.
The increased prevalence of cardiovascular disorders, metabolic diseases, cancer, etc coupled with the emergence of more virulent forms of existing diseases poses a challenge for current medical therapies.
India is already seen as the world's low-cost pharmacy as far as conventional therapies are concerned. And the recent economic and epidemiological changes present a lucrative opportunity for the Indian biotech industry to replicate this success in the field of innovative healthcare therapies that include biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, regenerative medicine, etc.
The Indian biotech industry registered a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20% in the past decade. While biosimilars — generic versions of biologic drugs — currently make the most significant contribution to the top-line, another promising field is regenerative medicine. This is a novel multi-disciplinary field that relies on cell therapeutics and bio-engineering techniques to enhance the functionality of organs and tissues.
Among various types of medical therapies that can be classified under regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy is, perhaps, the most well-known. Stem cell therapy began with bone marrow transplants.
Since then, the field has expanded to using adult stem cells, human embryonic stem cells and found uses in in-vitro-fertilization (IVF), biomaterial engineering, etc.
With stem cell products being rolled out in various parts of the world, the global stem cell market is poised to grow at a rate of 30% from 2010 to 2012 and projected to be around $1.2 billion by 2012 and expected to reach around $16 billion in 2017.
However, the stem cell market in India is still underdeveloped. In the next few years, the field of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine is likely to move towards translational research and eventually to clinical practice in India.
According to the GBI Research report, the stem cell market in India is estimated to touch $600 million by 2017. The Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR), the apex body for the regulation of medical research in India and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) have until now only approved indications for stem cell therapies in bone marrow transplantation, labelling all other procedures as experimental and it needs to be conducted only in the form of clinical trials.
However, stem cells have been used to restore vision in patients who have suffered corneal damage due to chemical injuries or burns. Therapies involving stem cells are also being offered as treatments for spinal cord injuries, heart ailments and Parkinson's disease. Worldwide, scientists have even used stem cells to generate cartilage and insulin producing cells in the pancreas.
Stem cell technology seems to have huge health benefits and business potential; but it is essential to develop a framework to tap into this immense potential in a planned manner.
The government has drafted guidelines for stem cell R&D, but a definitive law is yet to be formulated. This has led to expensive procedural delays of 12-18 months that effectively drive investors away to destinations such as Malaysia that have a clear policy and decision within 90 days.
Another problem arising from the lack of regulation is that some companies have been advertising fraudulent claims and selling unapproved treatment options at exorbitant prices.
India represents a growing market for regenerative medicines and stem cell therapies. This further highlights the need to take immediate steps to develop strong regulatory policies so that the country does not miss out on this opportunity to provide cheap and innovative healthcare solutions.
India has the potential to become a leading global player for stem cell products and services. So, the government must act fast in implementing a clear policy for cell therapy.
While the stem cell market is emerging in India, recent approval of clinical trials of stem cell-based products by DCGI has created immense interest among global players and Big Pharmas to collaborate and co-develop stem cell products in India.
The initiative taken by DBT in creating a world-class stem cell research centre in Bangalore is a positive step in nurturing valueadded stem cell research in India. We can leverage availability of rich talent pool in stem cells field.
CMC Vellore, IISc Bangalore, AIIMS Delhi, LV Prasad Eye Institute Hyderabad, Stempeutics Bangalore, NCBS Bangalore and other institutes / companies are doing pioneering work in this field. Another area where India can take a lead in stem cells is in Stem Cells Production Technology i.e. large-scale upscaling of stem cells.
(The author is the chairperson, ABLE Committee on Regenerative Medicine)
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WARNING FROM RAEL: For those who don't use their intelligence at its
full capacity, the label "selected by RAEL" on some articles does not
mean that I agree with their content or support it. "Selected by RAEL"
means that I believe it is important for the people of this planet to
know about what people think or do, even when what they think or do is
completely stupid and against our philosophy. When I selected articles
in the past about stupid Christian fundamentalists in America praying
for rain, I am sure no Rael-Science reader was stupid enough to believe
that I was supporting praying to change the weather. So, when I select
articles which are in favor of drugs, anti-Semitic, anti-Jewish, racist,
revisionist, or inciting hatred against any group or religion, or any
other stupid article, it does not mean that I support them. It just
means that it is important for all human beings to know about them.
Common sense, which is usually very good among our readers, is good
enough to understand that. When, like in the recent articles on drug
decriminalization, it is necessary to make it clearer, I add a comment,
which in this case was very clear: I support decriminalizing all drugs,
as it is stupid to throw depressed and sad people (as only depressed and
sad people use drugs) in prison and ruin their life with a criminal
record. That does not mean that there is any change to the Message which
says clearly that we must not use any drug except for medical purposes.
The same applies to the freedom of expression which must be absolute.
That does not mean again of course that I agree with anti-Jews,
anti-Semites, racists of any kind or anti-Raelians. But by knowing your
enemies or the enemies of your values, you are better equipped to fight
them. With love and respect of course, and with the wonderful sentence
of the French philosopher Voltaire in mind: "I disapprove of what you
say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
WARNING FROM RAEL: For those who don't use their intelligence at its
full capacity, the label "selected by RAEL" on some articles does not
mean that I agree with their content or support it. "Selected by RAEL"
means that I believe it is important for the people of this planet to
know about what people think or do, even when what they think or do is
completely stupid and against our philosophy. When I selected articles
in the past about stupid Christian fundamentalists in America praying
for rain, I am sure no Rael-Science reader was stupid enough to believe
that I was supporting praying to change the weather. So, when I select
articles which are in favor of drugs, anti-Semitic, anti-Jewish, racist,
revisionist, or inciting hatred against any group or religion, or any
other stupid article, it does not mean that I support them. It just
means that it is important for all human beings to know about them.
Common sense, which is usually very good among our readers, is good
enough to understand that. When, like in the recent articles on drug
decriminalization, it is necessary to make it clearer, I add a comment,
which in this case was very clear: I support decriminalizing all drugs,
as it is stupid to throw depressed and sad people (as only depressed and
sad people use drugs) in prison and ruin their life with a criminal
record. That does not mean that there is any change to the Message which
says clearly that we must not use any drug except for medical purposes.
The same applies to the freedom of expression which must be absolute.
That does not mean again of course that I agree with anti-Jews,
anti-Semites, racists of any kind or anti-Raelians. But by knowing your
enemies or the enemies of your values, you are better equipped to fight
them. With love and respect of course, and with the wonderful sentence
of the French philosopher Voltaire in mind: "I disapprove of what you
say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
--
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"Ethics" is simply a last-gasp attempt by deist conservatives and
orthodox dogmatics to keep humanity in ignorance and obscurantism,
through the well tried fermentation of fear, the fear of science and
new technologies.
There is nothing glorious about what our ancestors call history,
it is simply a succession of mistakes, intolerances and violations.
On the contrary, let us embrace Science and the new technologies
unfettered, for it is these which will liberate mankind from the
myth of god, and free us from our age old fears, from disease,
death and the sweat of labour.
Rael
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