Stem Cell Sciences deal to develop neural cell lines for drug discovery

UK stem cell specialist Stem Cell Sciences plc has entered an agreement with the Myelin Repair Foundation of Saratoga, California, for the development of techniques that will lead to scalable and sustainable sources of uniform human brain cells for research, target validation and drug discovery assays.

Having a supply of human brain cells would be a significant step forward in confirming results from animal experiments in demonstrating the relevance of any new drug therapy for central nervous system disorders.

Under the terms of the agreement, researchers at the Human Neural Assay Center, at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, who are supported by the Myelin Repair Foundation, will optimize methods for culturing Stem Cell Science’s human neural stem cells and their subsequent differentiation into the three principal cell types found in the brain - neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes.  

In general, access to primary human brain tissue suitable for cell culture has been extremely limited and tissue that was available has been difficult to sustain in culture.  Using human neural stem cells should overcomes this problem, providing a constant, dependable and unlimited source of brain cells.

Through this collaboration the parties expect to develop new methods and materials for use by the entire neuroscience community. Stem Cell Sciences has the right to first negotiation on commercialising any new products.

“The inherent limitations of animal models in all disease research have been a source of considerable frustration to scientists and those involved in commercial drug discovery,” says MRF Chief Operating Officer Russell Bromley. “The inability to achieve concordance between the results achieved in animal models and humans is one of the most common reasons for the failure to advance even the most promising drug targets into commercial development and patient treatments.”