Stem Cell Sci to develop novel agents for drug discovery

Stem Cell Sciences, an Australia-based global biotechnology company focused on the commercialization of stem cells and stem cell technologies in research and cell-based therapies, has signed an exclusive agreement with San Raffaele Scientific Institute of Milan, Italy, covering assay validation and future commercialization of novel human muscle stem cells for drug discovery and toxicology applications. Financial terms were not disclosed.

These muscle stem cells, a subset of pericytes (cells located around the circumference of small blood vessels), can be extracted from skeletal or heart muscle and retain the capacity to turn into muscle cells on demand. The cells were discovered by Professor Giulio Cossu, Director of the Stem Cells Institute, and his team at the San Raffaele.

SCS will initially conduct in-house technology development of the pericytes at its Cambridge, UK, automated cell production facility. Once consistent, automated and cost-effective muscle cell production is confirmed, the firm says that the technology will be made available to the pharmaceutical industry via a range of commercial options, including assay-ready formats or under license for in-house use.