An important milestone in the development of stem cell technology occurred in 2007, when researchers induced human cells into a stem cell state using defined genetic factors. These cells are now known as induced pluripotent stem (IPS) cells; they offer an alternative to using embryonic stem cells. This report takes the implications of IPS cells and other developments into account. Some essential technologies are already in place and stem-cell based therapies have already begun to appear in the marketplace. The stem cell market is already divided into three segments—cell-based treatments, umbilical cord blood banking, and the use of stem cells to evaluate the efficacy and safety of new drugs developed by other methods. Global sales reached $410 million in 2008, and will grow to $2.68 billion by 2012. This growth will reach a projected $5.1 billion in 2014, providing a realistic, and even cautious forecast of the commercial potential these segments.
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