Licensing opportunity
The University of Edinburgh is seeking licensees for a defined (serum and feeder-free) method which isolates anterior definitive endoderm (ADE) cells from embryonic stem cells.
ADE progenitor cells are proven to give rise to endoderm-derived differentiated cells, such as liver and pancreas cells, for use in drug discovery and potentially and for therapeutic use.
The new method recapitulates the stepwise process of natural embryogenesis and focuses on purification of an intermediate in vitro-derived ADE cell from embryonic stem cells. The scientists say this is the only effective method for specifically generating anterior endoderm.
The method is serum and feeder cell-free and works with cell monolayers, offering a versatile process that is suitable for research, screening, and high throughput multiwell applications. This solves problems associated with existing methodologies and it is claimed it will offer significant opportunities to take this field of research forward.
The method has been shown to successfully isolate both murine and human ADE cells, with a subsequent superior rate of differentiation into liver and pancreatic cells, of more than five times existing methods.
The protocol uses entirely adherent monolayers suitable for real time observation and high throughput screening.
These cells have been repeatably demonstrated to meet the literature description, including morphology, gene profiling and differentiation properties of ADE cells.
Patents have been filed in the EU and USA with a priority date of 24/08/2007.
The technology is available to license from Edinburgh University to: (i) develop and sell a defined media for isolation of ADE cells from ES cells; or (ii) access cell lines for internal use or (iii) develop and sell cell lines for toxicology and compound screening.
For more information, visit the project’s site at: http://www.university-technology.com/details/defined-media-for-culturing-regionalised-anterior-endoderm-cells
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