From: Steven Victor MD eee Sent: 11/23/2012 1:06:38 PM To: cc: Subject: Report on Stem Cells future PUBLISHED: 22 NOVEMBER 2012 The view from the US: Stem cell therapy steps up a gear with first approval and improved political climate Special Report Peter Winter Positive clinical data, increases in federal funding and the first regulatory approval of a manufactured stem cell product mean momentum is building in the US. With the re-election of President Obama, this is likely to continue Share on twitterShare on linkedinShare on facebookShare on email Image: Bigstock When US President Barack Obama came into office he made good on his promise to overturn President George W. Bush’s executive order that - with the exception of a handful of existing stem cell lines - prohibited federal funding of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research. Stem Cell Research in Horizon 2020: Experts debate what Europe must do to maintain its lead in regenerative medicine The view from the US: Stem cell therapy steps up a gear with first approval and improved political climate View from Europe: Delivering on the vision of regenerative medicine and stem cells Talking to the experts: Why the EU should support human embryonic stem cell research in Horizon 2020 OVERVIEW: Regenerate the future - human embryonic stem cell research is crucial to deliver health and growth This easing of restrictions on hESC research was expected to engender enough confidence to attract investors into the space and encourage pharmaceutical and biotech companies to build robust product pipelines based on stem cell therapies. However, a tougher regulatory climate for biopharmaceuticals in general and a protracted legal challenge to the relaxing of rules on hESCs has served to keep both big pharma companies and venture capitalists on the sidelines to date. Nevertheless, there has been progress, particularly at the research end of the development spectrum. Three and a half years on stem cells are no longer high on