Plasticell signs technology agreement with Sigma-Aldrich: Collaboration to produce novel turnkey solution for stem cell research

01-Dec-2010 - United Kingdom

Plasticell has announced the signing of a collaboration agreement with Sigma-Aldrich, a leading provider of technologies and reagents to the life science research market.

In the collaboration, Sigma-Aldrich will use its CompoZr® Zinc Finger Nuclease Technology to engineer various human stem cell lines that enable tracking of differentiation to specific mature cell types via fluorescent reporters, integrated directly into developmentally expressed genes. The technology enables highly efficient, precisely targeted knock-in of reporters, resulting in more reliable reporter systems than conventional transgenic methods which integrate reporters randomly throughout the genome. Plasticell will then use these cell lines in its CombiCult™ high throughput screening (HTS) system to develop novel stem cell differentiation protocols.

Under the Agreement, Plasticell will own resulting protocols for high efficiency, directed differentiation of stem cells, with Sigma-Aldrich marketing the reporter stem cell lines. Cells and media may be commercialised together in kits, while reporter cell lines can be linked to specific CombiCult™ screens, for optimised differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (ESC) or induced pluripotent cells (iPSC).

Financial terms were not disclosed.

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