Product Launch

RNS Number : 0253V

Stem Cell Sciences plc

22 May 2008

 



Press Release

Stem Cell ScienceS lAUNCHES novel stem cell MEDIA BASED ON NEW UNDERSTANDING OF es cell SELF-RENEWAL PUBLISHED IN NATURE BY pROF AUSTIN SMITH 

("Stem Cell Sciences", "SCS")

22nd May 2008

Stem Cell Sciences plc (AIM:STEM, ASX:STC) today announced the launch of Culticell iSTEM, a novel, serum-free, feeder-free embryonic stem (ES) cell research media product, that maintains cells in their basal, pluripotent state. Culticell iSTEM provides researchers with a purer starting point for investigating the biological potential of ES cells. 

The development of Culticell iSTEM was based on pioneering work of Professor Austin Smith, a scientific founder of SCS, and his team at The Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, Cambridge University (UK), and which was published in today's issue of Nature (Vol. 453, No.7194). Professor Smith's research found that self-renewal properties of ES cells are innate and can be maintained by providing a neutralised culture environment, without needing to add external stimulation from cytokines and growth factors. Since mouse ES cells were first described more than 26 years ago, they have been cultured and derived using combinations of feeder cells, cytokines, growth factors, hormones and serum. Prof Smith's research suggests these additives were shielding the true nature of the ES cells and are not required to maintain pluripotency.  

The research also demonstrated that ES cells with greater purity can be cultured by blocking external signals in the culture environment to pERK, a protein that triggers differentiation, instead of providing an external stimulus to activate the signalling protein STAT3 to block differentiation. SCS's Culticell iSTEM provides all these elements in one product. Further information and how to order Culticell iSTEM can be found at www.stemcellsciences.com/istem.  

"Professor Smith's research is a major step forward in embryonic stem cell research and elucidates some of the early mechanisms involved in self-renewal and differentiation," noted Dr Tim Allsopp, Chief Scientific Officer of Stem Cell Sciences. "We have now leveraged this significant advance into our novel media product Culticell iSTEM, which we believe will help provide researchers with a more pure starting point for embryonic stem cell research."   

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For further information, please contact:

Stem Cell Sciences plc (United Kingdom)

Alastair Riddell CEO

Tim Allsopp, Chief Scientific Officer

[phone]

Halsin Partners (United Kingdom)

Michael Sinclair, Director

[phone]

Stem Cell Sciences Pty Ltd (Australia)

Paul Bello, Scientific Programme Manager

[phone]

Talk Biotech (Australia)

Fay Weston, Director

[phone]

Stem Cell Sciences llc (USA)

George Murphy 

[phone]

Notes to Editors

Stem Cell Sciences plc (SCS, AIM:STEM, ASX:STC) in a leading provider of cells and cell culture media to the burgeoning stem cell research market. The successful application of stem cells in both research and clinical applications is the reproducible supply of pure, fully characterised stem cells and stem cell-derived specialised cells such as nerves and muscle. By providing these products, to the life sciences industry and academia for use in basic research and drug discovery, Stem Cell Sciences has multiple potential revenue streams.

Stem Cell Sciences has multiple industry collaborations, including Millipore Corporation for the marketing and distribution of HEScGRO™, its serum free media for the growth of human embryonic stem cells and Merck & Co for the use of mouse neural stem cell technology for research applications.

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. 

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

 

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