EMD Millipore and the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine Collaborate to Optimize Conditions for …

- Collaboration to Deliver Optimized Methodologies for Cultivation of Stem Cells on Microcarriers in Mobius CellReady Bioreactor Systems

BILLERICA, MASSACHUSETTS and TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 12, 2012) -

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.

EMD Millipore, the Life Science division of Merck KGaA, and the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) today announced a collaboration to develop optimized conditions for bioreactor-based cultivation of stem cells.

This joint project will focus on the development of a proprietary monitoring and control methodology, enabling robust growth of adherent human pluripotent stem cells in EMD Millipore's Mobius CellReady stirred tank bioreactor. Ultimately, the project will deliver a commercially available kit containing reagents and associated methodologies for bioreactor culture of stem cells on microcarriers.

"As the demand for stem cells used in drug discovery and clinical applications grows, effectively translating the promise of stem cells into therapeutic reality will require large-scale, industrialized production under tightly controlled conditions," states Robert Shaw, Commercial Director of EMD Millipore's Stem Cell Initiative. "At this time, production is typically achieved using stacks of 2D tissue culture vessels, which is an expensive and labor intensive process. This joint project will address those challenges and facilitate optimized, large-scale cultivation of stem cells which can accelerate the progress of therapies into the clinic."

"When CCRM was created, we had industry partnerships like this in mind," says Michael May, CEO of the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine. "We are delighted to have EMD Millipore as our first project partner. Their production expertise and technologies will help CCRM to develop products that will benefit industry, academia, and the patient community. We appreciate that EMD Millipore has commissioned us to undertake this project and recognizes our strength in bioprocessing engineering."

CCRM will be employing EMD Millipore's Mobius CellReady stirred tank bioreactor in its product development facility at the University of Toronto's Banting Institute. The work began on February 27, 2012.

For more information, please visit http://www.millipore.com and http://www.ccrm.ca.

About EMD Millipore

See original here:
EMD Millipore and the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine Collaborate to Optimize Conditions for ...