Cellular Dynamics Announces Agreement with AstraZeneca on Use of iPSC-derived Human Cells in Drug Discovery Research

Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (CDI) today announced a Center of Excellence agreement with AstraZeneca to accelerate the pace of drug discovery through the use of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines and tissue cells.

iPSC technology, based on reprogramming adult cells from a simple blood sample or a skin biopsy to a pluripotent stem cell state, shows promise in delivering robust human cell models of high utility in drug discovery and without the ethical concerns linked to the use of human embryonic stem cells.

Steve Rees, VP Screening Sciences & Sample Management, Discovery Sciences at AstraZeneca, said, “This agreement with Cellular Dynamics enables AstraZeneca to access world-leading expertise in stem cell technology so that we can better test potential new medicines for safety and efficacy.”

Bob Palay, chief executive officer of CDI, said, “This is the third Center of Excellence agreement we have entered into with a global pharma company, and these partnerships show customer recognition that leveraging CDI’s technical expertise and resources can help accelerate their discoveries. We are excited that AstraZeneca shares our vision that iPSC technology can be transformative. The Center of Excellence agreements show CDI’s leadership in developing best practices to employ human iPSCs to advance healthcare discoveries.”

Chris Parker, CDI chief commercial officer, continued, “Increasingly customers are recognizing CDI’s focus and investment on industrializing the manufacture of iPSC-derived cells. Utilizing these standardized cellular tools enables customers like AstraZeneca to concentrate on developing therapies rather than manufacturing cell types.”

Under the terms of the Center of Excellence agreement, AstraZeneca will take advantage of commercially available iCell® products and CDI’s recently launched MyCell™ Products for iPSC reprogramming and differentiation, and the two parties will collaborate on the development of one or more novel cell type(s). AstraZeneca will purchase CDI’s commercially available iCell products, including iCell Cardiomyocytes, iCell Neurons, iCell Endothelial Cells, and iCell Hepatocytes, for use in their safety, discovery, and regenerative medicine programs. Further, AstraZeneca will rely on CDI’s novel MyCell Products to genetically engineer and manufacture cells from specific patient groups for use as in vitro disease models. In addition, CDI will work in partnership with AstraZeneca toward development of new iPSC-derived cell type(s) to enable novel discovery screening applications.