Recently, Biological Industries (BI) submitted a Drug Master File (DMF) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for purposes of moving its NutriStem® hPSC XF Medium toward being certified for clinical applications. The product is a defined, xeno-free (XF), serum-free (SF) medium that supports the growth and expansion of human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs). [Read more…]
Specialty CRO Kimera Labs to Manufacture Stem Cell Exosomes in Florida
Kimera Labs, a specialty contract research organization (CRO), has announced the launch of a 6,000 sq ft, ISO:9001 certified exosome production facility in Miramar, Florida. As an FDA registered tissue facility, Kimera Labs Miramar will produce tissue specific mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) derived exosomes, as well as its Amnio2x amniotic fluid derived products. Amnio2x can be used for orthopedic, cosmetic and regenerative medicine applications.
Exosomes are small vesicles ranging from 30-100nm in size that are found in nearly all eukaryotic fluids and facilitate a range of important cellular functions. They transfer DNA, RNA, and proteins to other cells, thereby altering the function of the targeted cells. Exosomes are commonly found in blood, urine, saliva, synovial fluid, amniotic fluid, semen, and many other fluids. [Read more…]
CariCord Partners with Singapore’s CellResearch Corp to Join “Global Cord Registry” & Launch Cord Tissue Storage in U.S.
Singapore’s CellResearch Corporation has entered into an agreement with CariCord to provide umbilical cord tissue banking services within the United States. CariCord is the private cord blood and tissue banking partner of ClinImmune Labs at the University of Colorado.
As stated in the November 30, 2016, press release:
“CellResearch Corporation Pte Ltd (“CellResearch”), a Singapore-based company that specializes in stem cell technology, through its wholly owned subsidiary, CordLabs Pte Ltd (“CordLabs”), has entered into an agreement with CariCord Inc. (“CariCord”) to provide umbilical cord tissue banking services in the United States. CariCord is the private postnatal cord blood and tissue banking partner of ClinImmune Labs (“ClinImmune”) at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus (“UCAMC”).
This agreement extends CellResearch’s on-going collaboration with ClinImmune. The two groups are already working together to obtain US Federal Drug Agency (“US FDA”) approval for Corlicyte™, a drug for the treatment of diabetic wounds. ClinImmune will produce the world’s first Current Good Manufacturing Practices (“cGMP”) cord lining mesenchymal stem cell lines for therapeutic use.”
This license agreement also allows CariCord’s cord tissue clients to join CellResearch’s Global Cord Registry (“GCR”), “a proprietary registry for all clients who have saved cord lining stem cells with licensed partners.” The registry currently has 50,000+ registered clients, making it the largest group of its type in the world.
To learn more, read the full press release from CellResearch Corporation.
Axiogenesis and Metrion Biosciences to Develop Human iPSC-derived Cardiomyocytes and Neurons
Axiogenesis announced today that it will be collaborating with Metrion Biosciences to validate, optimise and commercialise iPSC-derived cell based assays to facilitate drug discovery and more accurately predict cardiac arrhythmia and neuronal risk. Metrion Biosciences a UK-based contract research organization (CRO) that is best known as an ion channel specialist.
Through this strategic partnership, Axiogenesis continues to strengthen its position within the iPS cell marketplace as a leading provider of cell-based solutions to facilitating drug discovery, safety, and toxicology applications. To learn more, see the full press release, included below with permission from Axiogenesis.
Axiogenesis is a fascinating company specializing in the development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and tissue types. It is the second largest iPSC company in the world after Cellular Dynamics International (CDI), in Madison, Wisconsin.
Axiogenesis was also the first European company to license and adopt Yamanaka’s iPSC technology in 2010. The company now specializes in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) products, including in vitro models of healthy and diseased cell types and tissues.
Cell Care Australia Acquires Insception Lifebank in Canada
The largest cord blood bank in Australia, Cell Care, has announced that it is acquiring the largest cord blood bank in Canada, Insception Lifebank. This acquisition is part of a larger trend occurring within the cord blood banking industry, which is the trend of maturation and consolidation.
Over the past five years, the cord blood and tissue marketplace has undergone substantial consolidation. One major event was the acquisition of the United States’ largest cord blood, Cord Blood Registry (CBR), by AMAG Pharmaceuticals for $700M in March of 2015. Previously, ViaCord had been acquired by the multinational company PerkinElmer in October 2007 for $300M. [Read more…]
