Obama Lifts Ban on Stem Cell Research: Cutting Edge Information Addresses Immediate Impact of the Decision

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC--(Marketwire - March 26, 2009) - With a stroke of his pen, on March 9 President Barack Obama lifted the ban on government-funded embryonic stem cell research -- but new therapies for hopeful patients will be a longer time coming.

According to pharmaceutical intelligence firm Cutting Edge Information, treatments derived from stem cell research could be more than a decade away from practical application. Embryonic stem cell research has been linked to therapeutic use for diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's. The process of turning scientific breakthroughs into treatments, however, is long, difficult and expensive.

President Obama was cautiously optimistic regarding the future benefits of stem cell work, but he assured the public that his administration "will vigorously support scientists who pursue this research."

According to Cutting Edge Information's newly published report, "Neurodegenerative Market Forecast to 2013" (http://www.cuttingedgeinfo.com/neurodegenerative), stem cell research has yet to produce a commercially viable drug candidate within the neurodegenerative space. It is likely that increased funding could be the jolt needed to speed up the scientific process. But for now, the fates of these diseases -- and all who are affected by them -- rest with the current pipeline of developmental drugs.

"Embryonic stem cells are certainly an exciting area for neurodegenerative research, and we can only hope that it will help cure some of these diseases," said Jeremy Spivey, research analyst at Cutting Edge Information. "But any new therapies in the neurodegenerative area developed from current stem cell research would be at least five to ten years away from commercialization."

Instead, Spivey is more concerned about the future of the new amyloid-beta treatments for Alzheimer's disease. With the failure of Myriad's Flurizan in Phase III trials last year, the market's focus has shifted to Wyeth's bapineuzumab. "It has the potential to be a blockbuster, but much remains to be seen from its current Phase III trial," he said. "The success or failure of this entire drug class could hinge on bapineuzumab's trial results."

More information on upcoming Alzheimer's treatments and other neurodegenerative drugs can be found in Cutting Edge Information's "Neurodegenerative Market Forecast to 2013" (http://www.cuttingedgeinfo.com/neurodegenerative). This report provides actionable information for drugs designed to combat multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

Download a complimentary report brochure at http://www.cuttingedgeinfo.com/neurodegenerative

Contact Information: CONTACT: Jeremy Spivey 919-433-0373