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New Survey of Drug Industry Professionals Finds Strong Support for Cloning of Human Cells

Posted on: Thursday, 4 August 2005, 09:01 CDT

WESTBOROUGH, Mass., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Three quarters of bench scientists, industry leaders and pharmaceutical executives believe the United States should allow the cloning of human cells, according to a new survey released today by IBC Life Sciences. The survey measured industry views on current trends and issues in drug discovery and technology.

Of the 468 drug discovery professionals surveyed, 72 percent said that the United States should pass legislation allowing the cloning of human cells to make embryonic stem cells for use in research. Only 13 percent disagreed, and 15 percent said they were undecided on the topic of cloning.

The stem cell results were just one of several intriguing findings of the IBC Life Sciences Survey, which was conducted last month in advance of 10th Annual IBC Life Sciences' Drug Discovery Technology(R) & Development World Congress, August 8-11, 2005 in Boston, Massachusetts.

"Numerous public opinion polls have been conducted on drug discovery topics, but very few surveys have measured the views of the professionals working in the industry's labs and boardrooms," said Ellen Massa, marketing director at IBC Life Sciences.

"Our survey found that industry professionals are skeptical of the hype surrounding nanotechnology-enabled drug delivery systems, for example. In fact, many scientists and industry leaders identified protein therapeutics as having the best growth potential in the next few years. A significant percentage said they are expecting a decrease in the costs associated with drug development," Massa added.

Highlights of some of the survey findings include: * Some analysts believe nanotechnology-enabled drug delivery systems will generate revenues of more than $1.7 billion in 2009 and more than $4.8 billion in 2012. But, according to the IBC Life Sciences, 66 percent believe those revenue predictions are overstated. Thirty-one percent said analysts are on target and three percent described expert expectations are too pessimistic. * More than one-third of those surveyed (34 percent) chose protein therapeutics as the category of drugs that will experience the highest growth in the next five years, followed by small molecules (27 percent) and antibody therapeutics (25 percent). Only nine percent indicated that vaccines would foresee the highest growth. * Currently, the average drug development process takes 15 years and costs between $800 million and $1.7 billion. Approximately 40 percent of the industry scientists and professionals surveyed expect these costs will decrease. More than one-third (33 percent) said they expect drug development costs will increase over the next five years.

Survey respondents also answered questions regarding barriers in drug research and development; the FDA's new Critical Path Initiative; and, technologies that have significantly impacted drug research or development and companies' shift from drug discovery to drug development. A complete list of questions and survey results is available at http://www.drugdisc.com/survey.

In addition to conducting this survey on drug discovery and technology, IBC Life Sciences' Drug Discovery Technology(R) & Development World Congress will address several topics on the recent trends in drug discovery. FDA Commissioner, Dr. Lester Crawford will be the keynote speaker and additional sessions will be led by key industry leaders such as, Dr. John L. LaMattina, President of Pfizer Global Research and Development and Dr. Robert R. Ruffolo, Jr., President of research and development at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

About 10th Anniversary Drug Discovery Technology(R) & Development World Congress

The Drug Discovery Technology(R) & Development World Congress is designed for drug discovery researchers and business executives to evaluate and understand the latest scientific, business and informatics advances in drug discovery research. In addition to a full conference program of speakers and keynotes, this event features an exhibit hall of 350+ exhibit booths showcasing the newest technologies and products that are driving the drug discovery field. Drug Discovery Technology(R) & Development 2005 will be held August 8-11, 2005 at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston, MA. For conference details, visit http://www.drugdisc.com/us.

Free exhibit hall and keynote passes are available through Friday, August 5 at http://www.drugdisc.com/pass.

About IBC Life Sciences

IBC Life Sciences is an independent organizer that is in business to provide an unbiased forum for the evaluation of current research, market trends, technological developments and applications. IBC Life Sciences is part of IBC USA Conferences, Inc., part of The Informa Group plc (LONDON: INF) . The Informa Group has been a publisher and event organizer in the life sciences industry for over 20 years. IBC USA Conferences is headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts.

Information For questions contact: IBC USA Conferences Ellen Massa Senior Marketing Manager Telephone: (508) 616-5550 Ext. 213 E-mail: emassa@ibcusa.com http://www.drugdisc.com/

IBC Life Sciences

CONTACT: Ellen Massa, Senior Marketing Manager of IBC Life Sciences,+1-508-616-5550 Ext. 213, emassa@ibcusa.com

Web site: http://www.drugdisc.com/http://www.lifesciencesinfo.com/http://www.drugdisc.com/survey

Source: PRNewswire

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