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Three Technologies Promise to Shape the Future of Drug Discovery and Development: Monoclonal Antibodies, Gene Manipulation and Stem Cells

Posted on: Friday, 20 January 2006, 09:00 CST

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c31269) has announced the addition of Emerging Technologies: Stem Cells, Genes and Monoclonal Antibodies to their offering.

Three technologies promise to shape the future of drug discovery and development: monoclonal antibodies, gene manipulation and stem cells. One of these technologies has already provided multiple blockbuster drugs, while the others are poised to change the face of medicine as we know it.

Behind monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) lies a 30-year-old technology, but they are now taking the clinic by storm. Several monoclonal antibodies are blockbuster drugs, bringing in well over $1 billion in sales per year. Most are focused on cancer, but rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, transplant rejection and multiple sclerosis are also targeted. There are potentially thousands more waiting to be discovered, making this an extremely fertile ground for development. The newly updated 2nd edition of this report now includes a review of the 2005 performance of 14 monoclonal antibody companies including Genentech, Imclone, Abgenix, Biogen Idec and others.

Gene manipulation covers both gene therapy and gene silencing. Gene therapy is a simple concept that has been around for four decades: replace a defective gene with a new one. But it is very difficult to implement and has faced huge hurdles including a total moratorium on gene therapy trials called by the FDA. But given its high potential for curative therapies and blockbuster drugs, gene therapy is making a comeback with over 600 clinical protocols submitted to the FDA. Companies identified and discussed include Genzyme, GenVec,

Like gene therapy, gene silencing is a simple concept that is difficult to implement. Several different techniques are explored that attack the sequence or expression of a gene at different points in the life cycle. Included are knockouts, antisense, ribozymes, aptamers and RNAi. The promise of gene silencing is that it offers the potential for improved efficacy with fewer side-effects over more conventional therapeutics.

Stem cells represent one of the most promising new technologies. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most controversial. The key practical issues surrounding stem cell applications are sources, handling, survival, IP, and potential side-effects. The source issue is the main ethical controversy, centered around human embryonic stem cells, first isolated in December 1998. There are now 18 companies working on various forms of stem cell technology, many outside of the U.S.

This report examines the three technological advances that are rapidly opening broad new avenues for drug development and therapeutics: monoclonal antibodies, gene manipulation and stem cells. The underlying potential and challenges for each technology from a scientific, market and political perspective are explored. Over 60 public and private companies actively pursuing one or more of these technologies are identified and discussed, providing an in-depth view of the changing landscape of drug discovery and development.

Reasons to Purchase

-- Analyze the three technologies changing the face of drug discovery and development

-- Identify the companies leveraging these technologies to develop significant new drugs

-- Understand the competitive landscape encompassing over 60 companies

-- Examine the scientific, market and political factors driving the success or failure of these technologies and companies

-- Identify potential collaborative partners and/or investment opportunities

Target Audience

-- Business development execs/managers seeking partnership opportunities

-- Marketing and senior execs/managers wishing to understand the competitive landscape

-- Research and development execs/managers wanting to know the current state-of-the-art

-- Venture capitalists and fund managers seeking investments

-- Analysts and journalists researching the emerging therapeutics markets

-- Others seeking to understand the driving factors and market dynamics

Companies mentioned:

Aastrom

Abbott

Abgenix

Advanced Cell Technology

Alcon Inc.

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

Ambion

Amgen

Archemix

Avigen

Biogen Idec

BioInvent

BioRad

Cambridge Antibody Technology

Cancer Research Technology

Ceregene

Chiron

CombiMatrix

Corautus

Crucell

Curis

DanioLabs

DeltaGen

DevGen

Diacrin Inc.

Dyax

Elan

Eli Lilly

Exelixis

Eyetech

Genentech

GenMab

Genta

GenVec

Genzyme

Geron

Gilead

Hybridon

Imclone

Ingenium Pharmaceuticals AG

Invitrogen

Isis Pharmaceuticals

Johnson & Johnson

Lexicon Genetics

Medarex

Medizyme Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Merck

MorphoSys

Nexstar Pharmaceuticals

Novartis

Pfizer

Phenomix

Protein Design Labs

ReNeuron

Ribopharma AG

Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals

Sangamo

Shire Pharmaceuticals

Sirna Therapeutics

SomaLogic

StemCells

Targeted Therapeutics

Transkaryotic Therapies

ViaCell

Xenogen Biosciences

Xoma

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c31269

Source: Business Wire

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