Novo enters diabetes stem cell R&D alliance

Danish diabetes specialist Novo Nordisk AS has signed a collaborative research agreement for the development of insulin-producing cells from human stem cells with Anglo-Swiss biotechnology firm Cellartis AB and Sweden's Lund University Stem Cell Center.

The collaboration aims to develop a cell therapy for insulin-dependent diabetes and, in the longer term, a cure for diabetes. Under the terms of the deal Novo acquires exclusive rights to further develop and commercialize potential products for the treatment of diabetes, while Cellartis acquires the exclusive rights to certain other products resulting from technologies developed under the collaboration.

The deal builds on a long-standing collaboration between Cellartis, Lund University professor Henrik Semb and Hagedorn Research Institute, Novo Nordisk's basic research center in Denmark. So far, this accord has focused on understanding how the formation of insulin-producing cells during embryonic development can be mimicked by directing stem cells in culture. The collaboration will now consider how to program stem cells to turn into insulin-producing beta cells that can be used to treat diabetes.