WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Investor Responsibility Research Center's newly released Stem Cell Research: An Analysis for Investors, 2nd Edition, is the resource of "choice" for inves-tors grappling with the ethical, scientific and financial decisions associated with investments in companies conducting stem cell research. Institutional investors can count on an impartial and concise analysis of the stem cell research debate that covers the most up-to-date developments on the political, social and financial fronts affecting the industry.

"With stem cell research inextricably linked to the controversies surrounding abortion and clon-ing, many institutional investors are struggling to develop a policy regarding investments in this fast-paced field," says Craig Metrick, Director of Corporate Benchmarking Service at IRRC. "Portfolio managers who need information on this issue can obtain historical and the most cur-rent data available in this report."

While this promising new industry has the potential to reap significant profits by developing treatments for many chronic and degenerative diseases, it has become the topic of a controver-sial debate on when human life begins and when it should be protected. Stem cell research uses cells derived from human fetal tissue, human embryos or cloned human embryos, umbili-cal cord blood and adult stem cells. Each of these types of stem cell research evokes varying levels of support from scientific, religious and political communities. The second edition of Stem Cell Research: An Analysis for Investors, reviews the complex patch work of fed-eral guidelines and legislation influencing stem cell research in the United States, highlighting legislation under consideration in Congress that could affect advancements in this field. The re-port also addresses the history of research involving stem cells, recent developments made in the industry, and the regulatory future of stem cell research and cloning. A synopsis of select international policies affecting stem cell research worldwide is an added feature along with cap-sules of 25 of approximately 40 publicly traded companies identified as involved in stem cell re-search. Some of the most well known include Amgen Inc., Geron Corp., Eli Lilly, Sanofi-Aventis and Johnson & Johnson. IRRC conducted media reviews for corporate operations in this indus-try in the last quarter of 2004 and first quarter 2005 and has been following developments in this sector for the past few years.

About the study: Stem Cell Research: An Analysis for Investors provides an overview of the debate over stem cell research; identifies the various types of stem cell re-search, including their potential to develop effective disease treatments, prospects for funding and their proponents; and existing and proposed legislation affecting the industry. The report also provides a snapshot of the industry by profiling publicly traded companies conducting stem cell research. In addition, the report includes a useful glossary of terms to help investors and portfolio managers wade through the field's terminology and legal jargon. The 78-page report is available for $100 from IRRC. Visit the Bookstore at www.irrc.com to order online. The research on this topic is also avail-able as a custom datafeed. For more information, call IRRC at 202.833.7689.

About IRRC: For more than 30 years, IRRC has been the pre-eminent source of high quality, impartial information on corporate governance and social responsibility issues affecting investors and corporations worldwide. Today, IRRC provides research, software products and consulting services to nearly 500 subscribers and clients representing institutional investors, corporations, law firms and other organizations.

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