2008 FEI Survey

the investment opportunities. But despite the differences between adult and embryonic stem cells, the stocks of all stem cell companies tend to trade in tandem. That's why the shares of adult stem cell companies also got a boost when the Obama administration decided to loosen restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. "Whatever is good for embryonic [stem cells] is good for adult [stem cells]. Investors at least at this point don't really tend to differentiate much between the two," says Ren Benjamin, a senior biotech analyst from Rodman & Renshaw. Some analysts say investors should heed the differences. Robin Young, a medical industry analyst from RRY Publications, estimates that gross sales of adult cellular therapies will be well over $100 million in the United States this year. By 2018, he says stem cell therapy revenues could grow to $8.2 billion. Indeed, several pharmaceutical companies are now taking notice of research advancements in adult stem cells -- and their proximity to reaching the market. "Adult derived cells are the ones that have been studied for the past 10 to 15 years and are ready for prime time," says Debra Grega, the executive director of the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. "Large pharmaceutical companies are now wanting to get into the adult stem cell therapeutic area. That indicates to me that there is enough safety and enough efficacy that they are willing to put money in." (Sites:www.aboutworld.cn)