Stem Cell Sciences wins EU funding for drug discovery from neural stem
cells
16 October 2007 Stem Cell Sciences plc (SCS; AIM:STEM, ASX: STC) is to
lead an EU-funded, multinational novel drug screening collaboration using
stem cells. The project, named NEUROscreen, will use Stem Cell Sciences’
proprietary neural stem (NS) cell technology and has received a contribution
from the EU’s 6th Framework Programme for Research and Technical Development
(FP6).
The EU’s contribution to the NEUROscreen project is worth €2.4 million
over three years, of which approximately €0.42 million will flow directly to
SCS over the three-year period. NEUROscreen brings together a unique
partnership of leading European academic research institutes and biotech
companies from several nations, including the UK, Germany and Italy. The
Programme involves designing unique bioassays based on SCS’ neural stem cell
technology, which will then be used to discover new candidate medicines for
the treatment of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and epilepsy. Neural
stem cells can differentiate into neurons and glia, therefore offer
potential in treating CNS disorders.
SCS’ NS cells grow stably and uniformly, consistently producing neurons
after many months in culture. The cells adhere to tissue-culture vessels and
can be expanded to large volumes using state-of-the-art laboratory robots.
These are features that provide a direct advantage to users of neural cells
for drug screening.
SCS has validated a process for NS cell expansion using robotics from its
commercial partner, The Automation Partnership. This process guarantees a
consistent production of high quality cells delivered in quantities to suit
most drug-screening campaigns. SCS’ component of the project will be
performed at its automated stem cell production facility in Cambridge (UK)
by the SC Services team of assay design specialists.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to validate our human NS cell and NS
cell-derived cell types for drug discovery, all within a single, well
defined programme of work,” said Dr. Lilian Hook, SCS’ European Research
Programme Manager. “We expect that NEUROscreen will significantly add to the
value of our NS cell platform and broaden its utility in neural drug
discovery and development.”
Peter Mountford, Chief Executive of SCS, said: “We are very pleased that
the EU has decided to fund SCS as co-ordinator for NEUROscreen. The €420,000
that SCS will receive as leader of this project demonstrates that our
technology and capabilities are distinctive in the industry. We look forward
to increasing the range of drug discovery applications and adding to our
list of four large industry licensees of the technology. NEUROscreen also
provides SCS with the exciting prospect of discovering proprietary drug
leads.” To top
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