Re Agreement

RNS Number : 9320W

Stem Cell Sciences plc

18 June 2008

 



Press Release 

Stem Cell ScienceS LICENSES-IN FLUORESCENT PROTEIN TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE STEM CELL RESEARCH TOOLS AND SERVICES OFFERINGS

 ("Stem Cell Sciences", "SCS")

18 June 2008

Stem Cell Sciences plc (AIM:STEM, ASX:STC), a leading provider of stem cells and associated technologies for drug discovery, today announced the licensing of certain rights to green fluorescent protein (GFP) technology from Prolume Ltd (Arizona, USA). SCS will incorporate the GFP technology, which acts as a gene expression marker, into its SC Proven research reagents portfolio as well as certain stem cell technologies used in services assays for high-throughput drug screening and toxicity testing. SCS provides physiologically relevant stem cells as well as corresponding reagents and services on an industrial scale to pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners as tools to facilitate drug discovery and testing. Financial terms were not disclosed.

By introducing the gene for GFP into stem cells (both embryonic and adult), scientists are able to efficiently select for enriched stem cell populations and isolate particular cell types believed to have been derived from these cells. This allows for the generation of pure populations of specific cell types that are valuable in a variety of applications.  

In addition, through highly sensitive fluorescent monitoring of changes in specific gene expression levels, the GFP technology enables researchers to follow cellular responses seen as a result of external influences such as those experienced in drug screening or when stress is place on a cell during toxicity testing. 

"Prolume's GFP technology is a valuable addition to our SC Proven reagents product line as well as our technology service offerings to the pharma industry. Its flexibility and sensitivity means that we will be able to incorporate the technology quickly into our reagents and services portfolios and offer these enhanced features immediately to our customers," noted Rob Burgess, Vice President, Business Development - North America.

"Our GFP technology perfectly complements Stem Cell Sciences' SC Proven reagents line and services assays by providing an extremely sensitive gene expression monitoring mechanism," stated Bruce Bryan, Prolume President and CEO. 

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Stem Cell Sciences plc (United Kingdom)

Alastair Riddell, CEO

[phone]

Halsin Partners (United Kingdom)

Michael Sinclair, Director

[phone]

Stem Cell Sciences llc (United States)

Rob Burgess

[phone]

Talk Biotech (Australia)

Fay Weston, Director

[phone]

Notes to Editors

Stem Cell Sciences plc (SCS, AIM:STEM, ASX:STC) specialises in developing and commercialising technologies to grow, differentiate and purify embryonic, neural and other tissue-specific stem cells. Our patented technologies, proprietary cells, and automated processes and services provide pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with industrial-scale resources to accelerate drug discovery programmes and regenerative medicine therapies.

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, Merck & Co for the use of mouse neural stem cell technology for research applications and a collaboration in diabetes research with a major pharmaceutical company.

The company is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, in a new, fully equipped cell culture facility featuring state of the art automation for cell culture, with business offices in California (USA) and a research operation in Melbourne, Australia. For further information on the company please visit:  www.stemcellsciences.com.

 

END

 

 

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