By Satish Totey, M.S., D.V.M., Ph.D. and Aparna Khanna, Ph.D.

Stem cells have been the subject of considerable excitement and debate over the last decade. Significant progress has been made in understanding their mechanisms and unraveling their potential for therapeutic application. Widespread use of stem cell-based therapies is still a long way off, but could one day benefit a vast number of patients. This is clearly reflected in the growing number of scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and the increase in clinical trials using stem cells. There is a growing consensus amongst policy analysts and scientists that India and China are likely to play a key role in the scientific, clinical and commercial development of stem cell research. Although still at a nascent stage, stem cell therapy is a rapidly growing field in the Indian Market. The market potential for stem cell-based therapeutic products in India and Asia-Pacific is very large.