Advanced Cell Technology Inc of the US has entered into an agreement with Roslin Cells Ltd of Scotland to establish a bank for GMP-grade human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines that could be used in future research or in clinical trials.
An autologous stem-cell treatment for patients with damaged heart muscle following an acute myocardial infarction has resulted in improved perfusion, a trend towards improved cardiac function, that was dose dependent, according to US research.
Evotec AG has entered into a licensing agreement with the AstraZeneca Plc subsidiary, MedImmune, to generate biological factors that play a role in beta cell regeneration. The deal includes a €5 million upfront payment to Evotec.
A team of scientists from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center have reported generating functioning human intestinal tissue in the laboratory from pluripotent stem cells. The findings were reported online in Nature on 12 December.
Cephalon Inc is to pay $130 million upfront for access to stem-cell technology developed by Mesoblast Ltd of Australia as part of an alliance to develop and commercialise adult mesenchymal precursor stem cell therapeutics for disease.
AstraZeneca Plc has signed a research agreement with the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Massachusetts to use stem cells to generate new research tools for investigating the causes of Type 2 diabetes.
Scientists from the University of Cambridge and Edinburgh University have reported identifying several genes which appear to be active in the natural repair of myelin, the protective sheath around nerve cells which is damaged in multiple sclerosis.
Scientists at Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts have reported being able to promote optic nerve regeneration in an animal by activating two molecular pathways synergistically. Separately, the pathways have a less pronounced effect.
ReNeuron Group Plc has treated the first patient in a Phase 1 trial of a new stem-cell therapy that has been developed to treat patients left disabled by an ischaemic stroke. The trial is taking place in Glasgow, Scotland.
Researchers from the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University’s Baptist Medical Center have seeded human liver cells in a laboratory and reportedly maintained them in a specialised bioreactor for up to one week.