Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACT) announced an expanded, non-exclusive commercialization agreement with Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). The expanded agreement grants Advanced Cell rights to the commercial use of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to develop human therapies, with the exception of neuronal, pancreatic beta cells, and cardiac applications, and enables the marketing of a broad array of research products.
This agreement bolsters Advanced Cell's existing patent estate which currently consists of over 380 owned or licensed patents and patent applications worldwide by granting commercial access to an additional 150 important stem cell technology patents and patent applications.
"We believe that the expanded license will afford our company greater flexibility and accelerate the process of bringing ACT's therapeutic programs toward human clinical trials and, ultimately, to commercial adoption and bedside use," said Michael D. West, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of Advanced Cell Technology. "The combination of these technologies and the rapidly-growing pipeline coming from our ACTCellerate platform lead us to believe that other clinical applications, in addition to our current target indications, are feasible. These additional therapies include treatment for disorders of the endocrine, craniofacial, muscle, bone, cartilage, liver, kidney, and respiratory systems."
"We have a long history of collaboration with WARF dating back to when our company's president, Dr. West, the founder of Geron Corporation, facilitated the collaboration with Dr. James Thompson at the University of Wisconsin that led to the isolation of the human embryonic stem cell. The addition of these important WARF patents further strengthens ACT's existing broad intellectual property rights in hESC technology," said William M. Caldwell, IV, Chairman and CEO of Advanced Cell Technology.
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. is a biotechnology company applying embryonic stem cell technology in the emerging field of regenerative medicine. The company operates facilities in Alameda, California and Worcester, Massachusetts.
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation supports world-class research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison by protecting the intellectual property of University faculty, staff and students, and by licensing inventions resulting from their work.