BioTime, Inc.’s Subsidiary, Embryome
Sciences, Inc., Licenses Virus-Free iPS and Embryonic Stem Cell
Differentiation Technology
ALAMEDA, Calif. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) August 21, 2008 --
Embryome Sciences, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BioTime, Inc.
(OTCBB:BTIM), announced today the license of a portfolio of patents and
patent applications from Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (“ACT”)
relating to induced pluripotent stem cells (“iPS”)
and embryonic stem cell differentiation technology. The license is for
the commercialization of products in human therapeutic and diagnostic
product markets.
The technology licensed by Embryome Sciences covers methods for the
transformation of cells of the human body, such as skin cells, into an
embryonic and pluripotent state. Pluripotent means that the cells have
the potential to become any kind of cell found in the human body.
Because this iPS technology does not involve human embryos or egg cells,
and classical cloning techniques are not employed, the use of iPS
technology may eliminate ethical concerns that have been raised in
connection with the procurement and use of human embryonic stem cells in
scientific research and product development. This type of cell
derivation may also prove to be more practical for the commercial
production of stem cell products than previous methods.
Speaking on the subject of iPS technology in his 2008 State of the Union
Address, President Bush said, “This
breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of
the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction
of human life. So we are expanding funding for this type of ethical
medical research.”
The portfolio of patents and patent applications licensed by Embryome
Sciences covers methods to produce iPS cells that do not carry the viral
vectors or added genes. Other iPS technology, currently being practiced
by other researchers, utilizes viruses and genes that are likely
incompatible with human therapeutic uses. Embryome Sciences believes
that technologies that facilitate the reprogramming of human cells to
iPS cells without using these viruses could be advantageous in the
development of human stem cell products for use in medicine and are,
therefore, important advancements in the field.
Sublicensed from ACT for all human therapeutic and diagnostic
applications are US patent application numbers 10/032,191, titled “Methods
for cloning mammals using reprogrammed donor chromatin or donor cells,”
and 10/910,156, “Methods for altering cell
fate.” These patent applications relate to
technology to alter the state of a cell, such as a human skin cell, by
exposing the cell’s DNA to the cytoplasm of
another reprogramming cell with differing properties. In a second series
of patent applications licensed nonexclusively from ACT for use in
commercializing the previously-mentioned patents are technologies for
the use of reprogramming cells that overexpress RNAs for the genes OCT4,
SOX2, NANOG, cMYC, LIN28, and other factors known to be useful in iPS
technology (PCT/US2006/030632), methods of resetting cell lifespan by
extending the length of telomeres (10/790,640 and 11/079,930), the use
of the cytoplasm of undifferentiated cells to reprogram human cells
(PCT/US2000/018063), the use of hemizygous HLA O- stem cells for blood
and other cell banking (PCT/US2006/040985), methods of screening for
differentiation agents (PCT/US02/26945), and stem cell-derived
endothelial cells modified to disrupt tumor angiogenesis (11/228,549).
“These technologies, when combined with our
existing intellectual property, give us a path to create
patient-specific stem cells of any kind without the difficulties of
current iPS approaches,” said Michael D.
West, Ph.D., CEO of BioTime and Embryome Sciences. “Our
license of the iPS technology adds to our portfolio of in-licensed
embryonic stem cell patent licenses that includes the core technology
from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), and other
technology sublicensed from Lifeline Cell Technology, LLC and Advanced
Cell Technology, Inc. We plan to use the newly-acquired technologies in
developing and marketing additional near-term stem cell products.”
The license package also includes US application #11/025,893, titled “Method
of differentiation of morula or inner cell mass cells and method of
making lineage-defective embryonic stem cells”
that contains technology useful in producing embryonic progenitor cells
without the utilization of embryonic stem cell lines. In addition, US
application #s 11/028,345, 11/211,174 and 11/478,780, called “Novel
culture systems for ex vivo development,”
contains technology for utilizing avian cells in the production of stem
cell products free of viruses and bacteria. These patent applications
were licensed to Embryome Sciences exclusively for all applications
other than drug testing, commercial research use, and use in the
diagnosis or treatment of human diabetes, liver diseases, retinal
diseases and retinal degenerative diseases, which are covered by a
license from ACT to Lifeline Cell Technology, LLC (“Lifeline”).
Embryome Sciences and Lifeline are already parties to an agreement for
the production of commercial research products, which may include
products using this technology.
Embryome Sciences is presently marketing cell growth media called ESpanTM
in collaboration with Lifeline. These growth media are designed for the
culturing of human embryonic progenitor cells. Additional new products
that Embryome Sciences has targeted for development are ESpyTM
cell lines, which will be derivatives of human embryonic stem cells that
send beacons of light in response to the activation of particular genes.
The ESpy™ cell lines will be developed in
conjunction with Lifeline using ACTCellerate™
technology licensed from ACT and other technology sublicensed from
Lifeline. Embryome Sciences also plans to bring to market new growth and
differentiation factors that will permit researchers to manufacture
specific cell types from embryonic stem cells, and purification tools
useful to researchers in quality control of products for regenerative
medicine.
About BioTime, Inc. (BTIM.OB):
BioTime, headquartered in Alameda, California, develops blood plasma
volume expanders, blood replacement solutions for hypothermic (low
temperature) surgery, organ preservation solutions, and technology for
use in surgery, emergency trauma treatment and other applications.
BioTime's lead product Hextend is manufactured and distributed in the
U.S. by Hospira, Inc. and in South Korea by CJ CheilJedang Corp. under
exclusive licensing agreements.
BioTime has recently entered the field of regenerative medicine through
its wholly owned subsidiary Embryome
Sciences, Inc. where it plans to develop new medical and research
products using embryonic stem cell technology. Additional information
about BioTime can be found on the web at www.biotimeinc.com.
Hextend®, PentaLyte®,
HetaCool®, EmbryomicsTM,
ESpyTM, and ESpanTM,
are trademarks of BioTime, Inc.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results,
future growth in research, technology, clinical development and
potential opportunities for the company and its subsidiary, along with
other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans,
or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking
statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but
not limited to statements that contain words such as “will,”
“believes,” “plans,”
“anticipates,” “expects,”
“estimates,”)
should also be considered to be forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including,
without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or
commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results of
clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain
future capital, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual
results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these
forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with
the many uncertainties that affect the company's business, particularly
those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in the company's
Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company disclaims any
intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
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