Stem Cell Sciences In-Licenses Breakthrough Discovery for the Production of Human Stem Cells (''Stem Cell Sciences'', ''SCS'')

  
    
  
  
    
      Stem Cell Sciences plc (SCS) (AIM:STEM) (ASX:STC), the global 
      biotechnology company focused on the commercialisation of stem cells and 
      stem cell technologies, is pleased to announce the exclusive 
      in-licensing of a breakthrough technology. This is expected to 
      significantly accelerate the application of human embryonic stem (ES) 
      cells in both research and cell-based therapies. This discovery 
      overcomes the key challenge in the effective scale-up of stem cell 
      technologies – cell death. When separated from 
      one another, during transfer from one growth vessel to another in 
      routine laboratory processes such as scale-up and genetic modification, 
      human ES cells commonly undergo cell death. The use of a selective ROCK 
      inhibitor to increase the robustness of the cells will allow for the 
      large-scale automated production that is needed for industrial research 
      and clinical application. SCS has secured exclusive rights to the 
      discovery in all global territories except Japan where the company holds 
      non-exclusive rights. Financial terms were not disclosed.
    
    
      The discovery, made by Professor Yoshiki Sasai’s 
      team at The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research of the RIKEN 
      Centre for Developmental Biology (Kobe, Japan), uses a class of 
      compounds known as ROCK (Rho-associated kinase) inhibitors to block the 
      onset of stem cell death when the clusters of growing cells are 
      dissociated for transfer and scale-up. This discovery, published on 27th 
      May in Volume 25 of the prestigious journal Nature Biotechnology, (a), 
      was effective on all human ES cell lines tested. The discovery 
      represents a world first in terms of stem cell technology.
    
    
      Dr Peter Mountford, Chief Executive Officer of SCS said: “We 
      anticipate that this discovery will have a very positive impact across 
      the human ES cell field. The RIKEN discovery will not only transform 
      human ES cell production but will also enhance our ability to engineer 
      human ES cell lines needed by the pharmaceutical industry for specific 
      drug discovery assays. In commercial terms, it will build revenues for 
      SCS through new and improved human ES cell culture media and cell-based 
      drug discovery products, as well as further strengthening our longer 
      term position in cell based therapies.”
    
    
      David Dodd, Chairman of SCS said: “Our 
      business is to provide products, tools and services that advance the 
      life-enhancing value capable of being achieved from stem cell biology. 
      It is our goal to continue to source leading edge technologies to 
      constantly improve and diversify the products that researchers need to 
      deliver maximum clinical benefit in the shortest possible time frames. We’re 
      delighted to have concluded this agreement with the RIKEN Centre for 
      Developmental Biology and are now preparing for the rapid dissemination 
      of this valuable technology throughout the medical research community.”
    
    
      References:
    
    
      (a) A ROCK inhibitor permits survival of dissociated human 
      embryonic stem cells
    
    
      Kiichi Watanabe, Morio Ueno, Daisuke Kamiya, Ayaka Nishiyama, Michiru 
      Matsumura, Takafumi Wataya, Jun B Takahashi, Satomi Nishikawa, Shin-ichi 
      Nishikawa, Keiko Muguruma, Yoshiki Sasai, Nature Biotechnology 25, 681 - 
      686 (2007), advance online publication, DOI:10.1038/nbt1310
    
    
      RIKEN Centre for Developmental Biology
    
    
      http://www.cdb.riken.jp/en/index.html
    
    
      http://www.cdb.riken.jp/en/04_news/articles/070528_rockhes.html
    
    
      Notes to Editors
    
    
      Stem Cell Sciences plc (SCS) (AIM:STEM) (ASX:STC) is a global 
      biotechnology company providing the biological infrastructure of cells 
      and cell culture media to the burgeoning stem cell research market.
    
    
      Stem Cell Sciences’ core objective is to 
      develop safe and effective cell-based therapies for currently incurable 
      diseases. SCS retains all rights to its technology for therapeutic use 
      and is targeting cell-based therapies for neurodegenerative disease and 
      injury.
    
    
      Revenues from Stem Cell Sciences’ research 
      business are delivered via an integrated network of business teams and 
      regional offices in Edinburgh and Cambridge (UK), Kobe (Japan), 
      Melbourne (Australia) and San Francisco (USA). This global reach 
      provides the Company with the direct access to markets through 
      experienced personnel and local business networks needed to drive SCS 
      business growth in each region.
    
    
      The key challenge for the successful application of stem cells in both 
      research and clinical applications is the reproducible supply of pure, 
      fully characterized stem cells and stem cell-derived specialised cells 
      such as nerves and muscle. This represents a significant technological 
      challenge that will require access to multiple technologies and a 
      globally integrated stem cell initiative.
    
    
      To access cutting edge technologies on a rapid and on-going basis, Stem 
      Cell Sciences has built an exceptional network of highly interactive 
      collaborations with academic centres of excellence in the stem cell 
      field. These collaborations have been the source of our founding 
      technologies and continue to provide an expanding pipeline of products 
      and intellectual property that are central to the Company’s 
      strategy and success.
    
    
      To facilitate research and technology transfer with its major 
      collaborating academic institutions, Stem Cell Sciences’ 
      business and scientific teams are usually co-located on site or adjacent 
      to the centre of excellence in independent company facilities. The 
      Company’s key collaborating institutes 
      include the Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research (University of 
      Cambridge), the Institute of Stem Cell Research (University of 
      Edinburgh), RIKEN Centre for Developmental Biology (Kobe) and the 
      Australian Stem Cell Centre (Melbourne).
    
    
      Academic and commercial use of stem cells in basic research and drug 
      discovery provides the Company with immediate and growing revenue 
      streams and offsets the cost of technology development for full scale 
      cell production of SCS cell-based therapeutics.
    
    
      For further information on the company please visit:
    
    
      www.stemcellsciences.com