Chemicon International Enters into a license to commercialise research products utilising human embryonic stem cell technology from Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (Warf)
Chemicon International, and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (Warf) have signed a license to commercialize research products derived from patented human embryonic stem (ES) cell technology.
Chemicon is the first broad commercial collaborator to enter into such a licensing agreement with Warf, allowing it to develop and provide researchers worldwide access to a wide variety of proprietary human ES cell products.
Chemicon acquires non-exclusive rights to Warf's complete patent portfolio of stem cell technologies, including patents invented by James Thomson, in order to facilitate and accelerate human embryonic stem cells research.
These seminal patents cover several widely used and referenced human ES cell lines and procedures for their culture, propagation, differentiation and storage.
The license covers a broad range of technologies that will make it easier, quicker and cheaper for scientists to conduct human embryonic stem cell research.
With access to Warf's vast leading-edge stem cell technologies, Chemicon further expands its leading position as a stem cell research tool provider.
The Warf patents will enhance Chemicon's current proprietary rights to ES cell reagents, including: Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF), the Specialty Media line of media, supplements, and cell lines, and ES Cell markers.
"Chemicon is proud to be aligned with WARF and to make a commitment to supplying critical research tools and solutions to the worldwide human ES cell research community," said Jeffrey Linton, president of Chemicon.
"The new products that will be developed out of this agreement will greatly enhance and propel growth of our portfolio of innovative tools for stem cell research".
"We believe our license with Warf and subsequent introduction of stem cell products will accelerate discovery in a field expected to be central to future medical breakthroughs, which could ultimately save the lives of individuals with tissue degenerative diseases," stated Linton.
"Serologicals is committed to partnering with scientists at leading academic, biotech industrial and government institutions worldwide to supply the research tools and services they require to achieve their promising breakthroughs in all areas of medicine including stem cell-derived therapies," said David Dodd, president and CEO of Serologicals.
"It is our business model and commitment to support all areas of science and this agreement allows us to fulfill that mission in the area of human stem cell research".
"This license contributes to Warf's mission by promoting the development of commercial products using technology discovered at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the benefit of the University, Chemicon, and humankind.
"This agreement demonstrates how seriously we take our responsibility in making this exciting discovery available to a wide variety of non-profit and for-profit entities that will work to identify and develop treatments and cures for the world's most devastating diseases," said Carl Gulbrandsen, managing director of Warf.
