The Daily Interview: The Market Opportunities for Stem Cell Research

The debate over whether the federal government should help fund stem cell research has scientists and pro-life groups in a fierce struggle. Little has been said, meanwhile, about the potential markets that stem cell medical procedures could spawn.

Rochelle Seide Partner Baker Botts

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Rochelle Seide, a partner and biotechnology patent attorney with the law firm of Baker & Botts in New York City, describes what stem cells are and what potential uses they have. Seide also tells Daily Interview why the big pharmaceutical companies have yet to become actively involved in stem cell research, and why the major players continue to be small biotechnology companies.

TSC: What are the various benefits of stem cells? There have been reports that they could lead to cures for a wide variety of diseases, including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver failure, spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis.

Seide: They haven't been shown to do anything yet. This is only what's been postulated as their potential. We don't have [pill] treatments for diabetes. We haven't found the magic pill for a lot of treatments, certainly Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or anything else. These devastating diseases cost the country millions and billions of dollars. The potential of regenerative medicine is enormous.

TSC: What is a stem cell? ...