Technique for Rapidly Reprogramming Adult Cells...

CAMBRIDGE, England, October 24 /PRNewswire/ --

    -  Technology In-Licensed by Stem Cell Sciences From University of
Cambridge



- ("Stem Cell Sciences", "SCS", "the Company")

    Stem Cell Sciences plc (AIM:STEM, ASX:STC), a company focused on the
commercialisation of stem cells and stem cell technologies, notes that a
paper describing a technique for reprogramming adult mammalian cells into
authentic induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells has been published in PLoS
Biology, the peer-reviewed scientific journal from the Public Library of
Science (PLoS)(1). This rapid and reliable new approach for generating
pluripotent stem cells without using mammalian embryos uses the combination
of chemical inhibitors in SCS' Culticell iSTEM(TM) media range to overcome
serious limitations in current approaches for producing such cells. Induced
pluripotent stem cells are expected to have enormous potential in medical
research, drug discovery and for the development of cell-based therapies.



    The newly described technique, which was developed by Professor Austin
Smith and his team at the University of Cambridge, features a key proprietary
step that forms the basis of a licence agreement signed recently between SCS
and Cambridge Enterprise, the technology transfer company for the University
of Cambridge. The licence is a significant addition to SCS' strong portfolio
of intellectual property around the development and commercialisation of stem
cell technologies.



    The key step as described in the PLoS publication for this rapid and new
approach for making iPS cells occurs at the transition point between
incomplete and complete reprogramming to pluripotency. Previous studies have
indicated that progression through the transition point had been notoriously
inefficient, but now via the use of chemical inhibitors (of the enzymes MEK
and GSK3) in combination with the cell growth promoter, leukemia inhibitory
factor (LIF), the inefficient process has been dramatically improved; partly
converted stem cells complete the transition efficiently and become
indistinguishable from authentic embryonic stem (ES) cells (i.e. those
generated from early stage embryos).



    The combination of chemical inhibitors used in this technique also forms
the basis for SCS' Culticell iSTEM(TM) media range, which is being bought and
used by researchers to establish pure and stable populations of authentic ES
cells. SCS' Culticell iSTEM(TM) medium was launched earlier this year and is
part of SCS' stem cell culture media business, which provides a growing and
important revenue source for the company.



    Dr Tim Allsopp, Chief Scientific Officer of Stem Cell Sciences,
commented, "This proprietary technique greatly facilitates the simple, most
reliable and efficient route to obtaining authentic induced pluripotent stem
cells and will form the basis for the industrialization of iPS cell
production. This peer-reviewed publication is an important validation of the
technology Professor Smith and his team have developed and Stem Cell Sciences
is very pleased to be working with Cambridge University and Professor Smith's
team on this important breakthrough."



    (1) Promotion of Reprogramming to Ground State Pluripotency by Signal
Induction. Silva, J. et al. (2008) PLoS Biol 6(10): e253
doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060253



About Stem Cell Sciences plc

    Stem Cell Sciences (SCS) is an international research and
development company focusing on the commercial application of stem cell
biology technologies for drug discovery and regenerative medicine research.
Stem Cell Sciences is now focussing on building revenues through the sale of
products, collaborative research and licensing deals with international
biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.



    Stem Cell Sciences has a substantial portfolio of patents and
patent applications in both adult and embryonic stem cell fields. The Company
has been active in the stem cell research field since 1994, principally
focused on technologies to grow, differentiate, and purify adult and
embryonic stem cells. These include technologies to permit the generation of
highly purified stem cells and their differentiated progeny (specialised
tissue cell types) for use in genetic, pharmacological and toxicological
screens. Moreover, these technologies may be able to provide pure populations
of appropriate cell types for transplantation therapies in the future.



    The Company has its main research base and headquarters in
Cambridge, UK with a second research base in Monash near Melbourne, Australia
and a business development office in San Francisco, USA.



    For further information on the company please visit:
http://www.stemcellsciences.com.



    
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    (1) Promotion of Reprogramming to Ground State Pluripotency by Signal
        Induction. Silva, J. et al. (2008) PLoS Biol 6(10): e253
        doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060253


    For further information, please contact:
    Stem Cell Sciences plc (United Kingdom)
    Alastair Riddell, CEO
    Tim Allsopp, Chief Scientific Officer
    [phone]

    Stem Cell Sciences pty ltd (Australia)
    Paul Bello, Operations Manager
    [phone]

    Citigate Dewe Rogerson (United Kingdom)
    Mark Swallow / Emma Palmer Foster / Amber Bielecka
    [phone]

    Talk Biotech (Australia)
    Fay Weston, Director
    [phone]

    Daniel Stewart & Company (United Kingdom)
    Simon Leathers / Simon Starr
    [phone]