Category Archives: Stem Cell Research

Referenced Stocks: ILMN, LIFE, TMO

Given the recent flurry of activities, it seems that Life Technologies Corporation ( LIFE ) is focused on strengthening its foothold in the field of stem cell research. The company recently signed a non-exclusive agreement with iPS Academia of Japan for its induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell patent portfolio. Based on this agreement, the company will be able to expand its portfolio for the iPS cell research community.

Besides, it is well placed to create iPS cells and differentiate them into various cell types to be used in drug discovery and pre-clinical research. The license also enables Life Technologies to provide creation, differentiation and screening services of iPS cell to scientists globally. We consider the agreement to be a significant achievement for the company in the field of stem cell research as iPS cells are gaining attention for use in the areas of drug discovery, disease research and other areas of biotechnology.

The agreement with iPS Academia of Japan comes on the heels of the partnership with Cellular Dynamics International, the world's largest producer of human cells derived from iPS cells. The partnership will aim at commercializing a set of three new products optimized to consistently develop and grow human iPS cells for both research and bioproduction.

These initiatives undertaken by Life Technologies should strengthen its Research Consumables segment. This segment includes molecular and cell biology reagents, endpoint PCR and other benchtop instruments and consumables. These products include RNAi, DNA synthesis, sample prep, transfection, cloning and protein expression profiling and protein analysis, cell culture media used in research, stem cells and related tools, cellular imaging products, antibodies and cell therapy related products. In the most recent quarter, this division recorded a 4% year-over-year increase in revenues to $420 million on the back of growth in cell culture workflow products, endpoint PCR products and molecular and cell biology consumables.

Life Technologies enjoys a strong position in the life sciences market, though management prefers to maintain a cautious but optimistic outlook for the remainder of the year. We are encouraged by the improvement in margins amidst the tight competitive scenario with the presence of players such as Thermo Fisher Scientific ( TMO ), Illumina ( ILMN ), among others.

We have a Neutral recommendation on Life Technologies. The stock retains a Zacks #3 Rank (hold) in the short term.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.

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LIFE Focuses on Stem Cell Research - Analyst Blog

Given the recent flurry of activities, it seems that Life Technologies Corporation (LIFE) is focused on strengthening its foothold in the field of stem cell research. The company recently signed a non-exclusive agreement with iPS Academia of Japan for its induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell patent portfolio. Based on this agreement, the company will be able to expand its portfolio for the iPS cell research community.

Besides, it is well placed to create iPS cells and differentiate them into various cell types to be used in drug discovery and pre-clinical research. The license also enables Life Technologies to provide creation, differentiation and screening services of iPS cell to scientists globally. We consider the agreement to be a significant achievement for the company in the field of stem cell research as iPS cells are gaining attention for use in the areas of drug discovery, disease research and other areas of biotechnology.

The agreement with iPS Academia of Japan comes on the heels of the partnership with Cellular Dynamics International, the world's largest producer of human cells derived from iPS cells. The partnership will aim at commercializing a set of three new products optimized to consistently develop and grow human iPS cells for both research and bioproduction.

These initiatives undertaken by Life Technologies should strengthen its Research Consumables segment. This segment includes molecular and cell biology reagents, endpoint PCR and other benchtop instruments and consumables. These products include RNAi, DNA synthesis, sample prep, transfection, cloning and protein expression profiling and protein analysis, cell culture media used in research, stem cells and related tools, cellular imaging products, antibodies and cell therapy related products. In the most recent quarter, this division recorded a 4% year-over-year increase in revenues to $420 million on the back of growth in cell culture workflow products, endpoint PCR products and molecular and cell biology consumables.

Life Technologies enjoys a strong position in the life sciences market, though management prefers to maintain a cautious but optimistic outlook for the remainder of the year. We are encouraged by the improvement in margins amidst the tight competitive scenario with the presence of players such as Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO), Illumina (ILMN), among others.

We have a Neutral recommendation on Life Technologies. The stock retains a Zacks #3 Rank (hold) in the short term.

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LIFE Focuses on Stem Cell Research

Public release date: 19-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jeremy Moore jeremy.moore@aacr.org 215-446-7109 American Association for Cancer Research

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. Results of some preclinical trials have shown that low doses of the antidiabetic drug metformin may effectively destroy cancer stem cells, a group of cells that are considered to be responsible for tumor initiation and, because they are resistant to standard chemotherapies, tumor relapse.

In addition, when metformin was combined with a standard chemotherapy used for pancreatic cancer, the combination treatment was able to efficiently eradicate both cancer stem cells and more differentiated cancer cells, which form the bulk of the tumor, according to data presented by Christopher Heeschen, M.D., Ph.D., at the American Association for Cancer Research's Pancreatic Cancer: Progress and Challenges conference, held in Lake Tahoe, Nev., from June 18-21, 2012. Heeschen is professor for experimental medicine at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre in Madrid, Spain.

Most clinical trials of pancreatic cancer conducted during the last 15 years have failed to show marked improvement in median survival, suggesting that the selected approaches were not sufficient for several reasons, according to Heeschen. In recent years, researchers have identified cancer stem cells which, as opposed to the cancer cells that make up the bulk of the tumor, are a small subset of cells that are resistant to conventional therapy.

"Therefore, efficiently targeting these cells will be crucial for achieving higher cure rates in patients with pancreatic cancer," he said. "Our newly emerging data now indicate that metformin, a widely used and well-tolerated drug for the treatment of diabetes, is capable of efficiently eliminating these cells."

Specifically, the researchers found that metformin-pretreated cancer stem cells were particularly sensitive to alterations to their metabolism through the activation of AMPK. In fact, metformin treatment resulted in the death of cancer stem cells. In contrast, treatment of more differentiated cancer cells with metformin only arrested the cells' growth.

"As the cancer stem cells represent the root of pancreatic cancer, their extinction by reprogramming their metabolism with metformin in combination with the stalling of the proliferation of more differentiated cells should result in tumor regression and long-term, progression-free survival," Heeschen said.

The researchers generated data to support this idea when they treated immunocompromised mice implanted with a diverse set of patient-derived tumors with a combination of metformin and gemcitabine, the standard chemotherapeutic treatment for pancreatic cancer. They found that the treatment resulted in reduced tumor burden and the prevention of relapse as compared with treatment with either drug alone.

"Intriguingly, in all tumors treated with metformin to date, relapse of disease was efficiently prevented and there were no noticeable adverse effects," Heeschen said.

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Metformin treatment caused cancer stem cell death in pancreatic cancer cell lines

Development of stem cell research for treating human cells damaged through injury, disease or ageing has taken a step forward in Queensland.

Stem Cells Ltd, based at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at The University of Queensland, is set to receive $470,000 in Queensland Government science funding.

The funding will ensure the growth of stem cell research in Queensland, taking the state's leaders closer to developing cell-based therapies for a host of diseases.

Stem Cells Ltd Queensland manager Victoria Turner said her team would work with stem cell scientists to advance research into diseases such as schizophrenia, Down syndrome, Parkinson's disease and heart disease.

Ms Turner said Stem Cells Ltd would ensure Queensland remained at the forefront of cutting-edge stem cell research.

Stem cell research is an exciting and rapidly expanding field that is vital for basic research and understanding of diseases, she said.

Most importantly, stem cells are set to have a major impact on healthcare and innovation, offering novel scientific insights that can be used to direct the treatment of a multitude of diseases and, ultimately in the future development of cell-based therapies when cells become damaged by illness or injury.

Stem Cells Ltd is a not-for-profit company established to grow the capacity of stem cell research in Australia, providing researchers in the field with highly specialised stem cell products, services and training.

This enables scientists to access valuable stem cell strategies for modeling human diseases, which in many cases represents the only option for gaining a better understanding in order to direct treatment.

Stem Cells Ltd is also expected to break down the barriers for new stem cell scientists to enter the field, providing them with the specialist technical expertise they need for stem cell culture and keeping up with the pace of development.

Continued here:
Step closer to stem cell answer for human diseases

European researchers discover that embryonic stem cell properties are impacted by the laboratory conditions used to grow them.

In their groundbreaking study, a European team of researchers evaluated embryonic stem cells grown in a pure undifferentiated state. The use of next generation sequencing technology enabled them to analyse gene expression (i.e. transcriptome) and chromatin modifications (i.e. epigenome). The study is presented in the journal Cell. The results pinpoint key differences between pure stem cells and embryonic stem cells grown in laboratory settings.

What allows embryonic stem cells to stay pluripotent? Researchers have been investigating this mystery for some time. Now a team of researchers from Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom provide key answers, giving us information we need to know about how cells are controlled and what is the optimal way to grow them. The findings overturn previous reports suggesting that embryonic stem cells are both unstable and primed to differentiate. This information could help lead to the development of new and effective treatments.

Researchers from Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences (NCMLS) and Radboud University in the Netherlands, as well as the Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, Stem Cell Institute and the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, and Technische Universitt Dresden in Germany confirmed that transcriptome analysis allows scientists to identify which genes are turned on or off inside the cells. The gene's level of activity is also calculated through this method. Meanwhile, epigenome analysis provides researchers insight into how genes are controlled. This study went a step further by unlocking the mystery of how embryonic stem cells maintain their pluripotency, which experts describe as the capacity to make various cell types.

Through this study, researchers obtained key reference information in their quest to create a novel kind of human pluripotent stem cell equivalent to mouse embryonic stem cells. According to the team, the data represents the ground state of pluripotency.

Commenting on the results of the study, EUROSYSTEM ('European consortium for systematic stem cell biology') coordinator Austin Smith said: "These findings show how much we are still learning about stem cells. They also point to an underlying difference between true embryonic stem cells isolated from mice and the currently available human stem cells which are less pure and more variable."

More information: Marks, H., et al. 'The Transcriptional and Epigenomic Foundations of Ground State Pluripotency', Cell, 2012, 149(3), 590-604. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2012.03.026

Journal reference: Cell

Provided by CORDIS

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European researchers crack embryonic stem cells mystery

RIO DE JANEIRO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Cryopraxis established in 2001 as the pioneer private umbilical cord blood bank in Brazil will be present at Bio 2012 in Boston. Eduardo Cruz, chairman of the board, will be a speaker at the Brazilian break-out session speaking about The Brazilian Biotechnology Sector and showing the results of the company's commitment to R&D. Cryopraxis has already collected and processed more than 25000 cord blood units (CBU) and is actively involved in several R&D projects in Brazil and abroad.

A spin-off of Cryopraxis, Cellpraxis, has recently finished one of the world's first cell therapy project clinical trials in Brazil: ReACT. ReACT is a stem cell formulation. This regenerative medicine pioneer product aims on treating an orphan disease condition called refractory angina. Refractory angina patients suffer from untreatable severe chest pain and the results of the clinical trial in a 5 years follow up proved ReACT to positively interfere in the course of the pathology. Most of the individuals treated experienced relief in pain and better quality of life. ReACT will be presented at Bio2012 as an example of Brazil's dynamic biotechnology research.

Cryopraxis is accredited by the American Association of Blood Bank since 2009.

According to Tatiana Lima, Technical Director at Cryopraxis, "extensive training and strict adherence to good laboratory practices are basic principles in Cryopraxis' corporate strategy." Janaina Machado, cell lab director describes the company's primary mission: "maximizing safety and efficiency of collection procedures to make sure our clients get what they look for: the highest quality standards."

Cryopraxis is part of Axis Biotec (www.axisbiotec.com.br) and it has the largest biological cryogenic storage facility in Brazil and one of the largest in the World. It is the largest umbilical cord blood bank in Brazil. The company is involved in several research projects in Brazil and abroad.For more information, visitwww.cryopraxis.com.brand http://www.cellpraxis.com

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Cryopraxis, Sponsor of Stem Cell Research is Represented at Bio2012 in Boston

2011 saw the stem cell market earn revenues of $148.4 million in 2011 and this is forecast to reach $322 million by 2017. The segments covered include: bio-imaging and microscopy, cell biology tools, immunochemical, molecular biology tools, and protein biochemistry tools.

The US is one of the major stem cell markets in the world, and the country has been witnessing a significant level of positive growth over the past few years. The US stem cell market was estimated to reach around $830 Million in 2010, up from $500 Million in 2009.

This market growth can be attributed to a number of supporting factors, such as huge investment, strong demand, and rising disease incidences. Forecasters have predicted that these factors will lead to the US stem cell market generating revenues of $3 billion by 2013.

A key step forward for the market has been the stem cell regulations in a few countries allowing the use of certain cell lines. In some countries such as France, for instance, stem cell regulations are being renewed for the procurement and use of stem cells.

Standardised research guidelines are needed to control and encourage the development of gene therapy and stem cell treatments. Regenerative medicine is seen as an area with high future potential, as countries need ways to cope with the burden of an aging population.

Stem cell research is very dynamic with research trends, focus, and approaches evolving extremely rapidly. The tool market has to quickly adapt to these challenges and develop innovative tools that address and accelerate research accomplishments.

Organisations such as the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) publish recommended guidelines on working with stem cells, but these are not binding. Governments must therefore come together to determine a standardised framework for innovative medical research, in order that positive results and long-term follow-up data can be produced to solidify the reputation and investment potential of the regenerative medicine market.

For more information on the stem cell market, see the latest research: Stem Cell Market Report

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Stem cell market to reach $322 million by 2017

The emerging field of stem cell nutrition has the potential to eclipse the massive antioxidant supplement business according to the boss of the Californian firm responsible for creating a completely new category in nutritional supplements.

Ray Carter Jr, CEO of Stemtech International, was speaking to NutraIngredients-USA after signing a multi-million dollar deal with Australian biotech firm Marinova to include its proprietary Fucoidan ingredients in Stemtechs new SE2 supplement.

The next generation of Stemtechs best-selling StemEnhance supplement, SE2 also includes a concentrate of blue-green algae Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA), the herb Polygonum multiflorum and the fungus Cordyceps sinensis.

Adult stem cells, tissue maintenance and repair

SE2 helps increase the number of adult stem cells or master cells that are released into the bloodstream before migrating into tissues where they reproduce and become new healthy cells, effectively helping the body renew and repair itself, claimed Carter.

Stemtech products have already generated more than $200m in sales since 2005, he added: Stem cell nutrition addresses a brand new way to support health [and]has the potential to eclipse the massive antioxidant supplement business.

When consumers first heard the words stem cell, they were inundated with media reports about the controversy and promise of embryonic stem cell (ESC) research.

Fast forward to today, and they are beginning to learn that adult stem cells actually show much more clinical promise without the ethical and moral controversy surrounding ESCs.

The bodys natural renewal system

Adult stem cellshave been shown to be the bodys natural renewal system, he claimed.

Excerpt from:
Stemtech: Stem cell nutrition could eclipse antioxidant supplement market

HARTFORD Nineteen Connecticut-based researchers have been awarded $9.8 million in stem cell research funds, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced in a statement today.

Connecticuts continued support of stem cell research has allowed for exciting and innovative research to take place right here in our state, Malloy said. The research projects funded by these grants allow scientists to do revolutionary work that puts Connecticut at the forefront of bioscience industry.

The awards were made by the State of Connecticut Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee at its grant review meeting week in Farmington.

The projects funded by these grants will advance the clinical use of stem cells to treat some of the most debilitating diseases and injuries, stated Department of Public Health Commissioner and Advisory Committee Chairperson Dr. Jewel Mullen. The research conducted as a result of these grants brings hope to people coping with difficult health conditions.

Eighty-eight stem cell funding applications were accepted for consideration in January 2012. The Connecticut Stem Cell Research Peer Review Committee reviewed these applications in accordance with National Institutes of Health guidelines and provided to the Advisory Committee its recommendations with respect to the scientific merits of each application.

List of Connecticut-Based Researchers

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19 Connecticut-based researchers awarded $9.8 million in stem cell research funding (document)

Featured Article Main Category: Stroke Also Included In: Stem Cell Research;Neurology / Neuroscience Article Date: 17 Jun 2012 - 6:00 PDT

Current ratings for: 'Stroke Treatment Using Stem Cells Shows Early Promise In Controversial Trial'

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The hope is that the treatment, by repairing damaged brain tissue, will one day help stroke patients regain some movement and ability to speak. Even small improvements can make a big difference to a person who has been robbed of the ability to wash, dress and feed themselves.

The PISCES trial (Pilot Investigation of Stem Cells in Stroke) study, which is based in Scotland at the Institute of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board, is the first in the world to evaluate genetically engineered neural stem cells in people with disabling ischemic stroke.

The researchers presented the interim results at the 10th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSR), which took place from 13 to 16 June 2012, in Yokohama, Japan.

The lead investigator of the trial is Professor Keith Muir, SINAPSE Professor of Clinical Imaging, Division of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Glasgow. He told the press:

"We remain pleased and encouraged by the data emerging from the PISCES study to date."

The Phase I trial, which started towards the end of 2010, and follows five years of repeated regulatory rebuffs, is testing the safety of ReN001, a genetically engineered neural stem cell line made by UK biotech ReNeuron.

Excerpt from:
Stroke Treatment Using Stem Cells Shows Early Promise In Controversial Trial