A.I. Software, Inc., has reached an agreement with the Israel’s Weitzman Institute of Science and the Technion Institute to acquire the exclusive rights of stem cell expansion technology.
Medical experts stated that the patented technology currently in its developmental stages could be pivotal in enabling cord blood transplants in adults.
Researchers at Israel's top research institutions have developed a unique advanced technology in its early stages that expands stem cells from umbilical cord blood without differentiation, possibly allowing better results in cord blood transplants in adults.
As part of the agreement, A.I. will have the licensing rights to a stromal cell bioreactor—a unique process and protein that assists in restoring the bone marrow in adults suffering from leukemia, lymphomas, autoimmune disease and other blood-related disorders.
A.I. is acquiring the rights to the stem cell expansion technology for cash and future royalties. The company plans to provide cell expansion services to cord blood banks and transplant centers throughout the United States and Europe as well as selectively licensing the technology to industry partners.
Currently, success in cord blood transplants has been limited to babies and young children because of the small number of stem cells collected from umbilical cord blood. "The patented technology acquired by A.I. could expand stem cells in cord blood that would be ample enough to treat adults who need bone marrow transplants," Dr. Meretzki said.
Since 1989, cord blood has been used to restore the bone marrow of leukemia patients and cancer patients whose natural bone marrow was destroyed by radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Restoring bone marrow using cord blood transplant has been performed more than 3,000 times worldwide. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
