Geron Corp. announced that the Human Fertilization & Embryology Authority of the U.K. has authorized the Roslin Institute to derive new human embryonic stem cells from donated excess embryos created as a result of in vitro fertilization treatment.
The Company said the Institute's research, funded by and conducted in collaboration with Geron, seeks to establish new hES cell lines as well as improve the technology to produce and maintain hES cells in culture.
The HFEA is responsible for licensing and monitoring IVF prodcedures, donor insemination and human embryo research in the U.K. Any derivation of human embryonic stem cells in the U.K. requires a license from the HFEA.
Geron said the additional hES cell lines it expects to derive at Roslin will expand its current resource of six hES cell lines.
Geron is developing hES cell-based approaches to treating spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease, heart failure, diabetes, and other diseases.
Shares of Geron closed up $1.02, or 14.7%, to $7.98 Tuesday after the biotechnology company said it received a patent on its technology to purify human embryonic stem cells to increase their potency.