25th Jan 2007 13:43
Stem Cell Sciences plc25 January 2007 25 January 2007 Millipore's HEScGRO(TM) Medium Advances Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research As a direct result of an agreement between Millipore and Stem Cell Sciences,announced in October 2006, Millipore Corporation have today announced theavailability of HEScGRO animal component-free medium for human embryonic stem cell research. HEScGRO medium is the first commercially available animal component-free mediumtested successfully for human embryonic stem cell culture and shown to maintainhES cells in their undifferentiated state. The agreement between Millipore andStem Cell Sciences signed in October 2006 made it possible for Millipore tomanufacture and market SCS' serum-free media with SCS receiving royalties fromall future sales of HEScGRO. HEScGRO's unique serum-free, ready-to-use and complete formulation offers newease and reliability in growing human embryonic stem cells. Media containinganimal-derived components are subject to wide variability and may containfactors that promote differentiation of hES cells,as well as containing toxicproteins or immunogens that can adversely affect the cells themselves, HEScGROmedium is a defined, animal component-free formulation that successfullyaddresses these problems and allows scientists to grow human stem cells withconfidence. Commenting on the availability of HEScGRO, David Dodd, Chairman of Stem CellSciences, said: "We're very pleased with this agreement with Millipore Corporation and lookforward to the success of this unique new product." - Ends- For further information, please contact:Stem Cell Sciences plcDavid Dodd, Non-Executive Chairman of Stem Cell SciencesHugh Ilyine, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer 0131 662 9829 Weber Shandwick FinancialLouise Robson James White 020 7067 0700 Notes to EditorsStem Cell Sciences plc (SCS, AIM: STEM) is a global biotechnology company,established in Melbourne, Australia in 1994, providing products in theburgeoning stem cell research and drug discovery markets, in addition to thetargeted development of cell-based therapies for neurodegenerative disease andinjury. The Company has established a leading intellectual property (IP) and technologyportfolio that enables the commercial application of stem cells in drugdiscovery, providing the Company with early-stage revenue streams and technologydevelopment for at scale cell production of SCS cell-based therapeutics. SCSprincipal focus is in neurological disease. Revenues in the neurotech market,including pharmaceuticals, devices and diagnostics, grew 10% in 2005 to US$110billion (Neurotech Insights, Volume 2/3 April 30 2006). SCS operates as a group of independent operations with laboratories in Scotland,Japan and Australia, each of which is affiliated with an academic centre ofexcellence. These include the Institute of Stem Cell Research (ISCR), Edinburgh,UK, RIKEN Centre for Development Biology, Kobe, Japan and the Australian StemCell Centre, Melbourne, Australia. SCS has four business units focused on key sustainable business strategies. SC Proven(R) provides cell culture media (liquid formulations) and reagents thatenable the growth and differentiation of stem cells. The first commerciallyavailable product, a novel, serum free, stem cell growth medium, has beenexclusively licensed for manufacture and marketing to Chemicon, part ofMillipore Corporation. SC Licensing licenses SCS proprietary technologies, such as Internal RibosomeEntry Site (IRES) and Stem Cell Selection, for application in laboratory-basedresearch and discovery. SCS has licensed technology to major pharmaceutical andbiotechnology companies including Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, GSK, Deltagen Inc andLexicon Genetics Inc. SC Services provides specialised stem cell production for basic research anddrug discovery, including high-throughput applications. SC Therapies' goal is to develop safe and effective cell-based therapies forcurrently incurable diseases. SCS is conducting preclinical evaluations of itsneural stem cell lines in a number of therapeutic applications. The firstpreclinical programme is being undertaken by SCS' Japanese affiliate, whichrecently announced the exclusive licensing of human multi-potent adipose-derivedstem (hMADS) cells for therapeutic purposes. SCS KK will conduct preclinicalstudies for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in 2007-8. For further information on the company please visit:www.stemcellsciences.com About MilliporeMillipore is a leading provider of products and services that improveproductivity in laboratory research and bioprocessing manufacturing sites.Through its broad product portfolio, the Company drives growth throughinnovation and delivers higher value-added applications to the marketplace.Millipore experts have a comprehensive understanding of customers' research,which results in superior tools, technologies and services. The Company is partof the S&P 500 index and employs approximately 5,800 employees in more than 47offices worldwide. For additional information on Millipore Corporation, pleasevisit www.millipore.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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