BioTime, Inc. unveiled its plan to build a relational database for its Embryome Sciences subsidiary that will display information useful in identifying the hundreds of cell types that can be made from human and mouse embryonic stem cells. This database would be the first of its kind in the stem cell field, said the company.
"Human embryonic stem cells have enormous potential in medicine due to their ability to become all of the cell types of the human body," said Michael West, Ph.D., chief executive officer, BioTime. "A careful delineation of markers of embryonic cell pathways will create a map of the embryome that will facilitate the purification of many therapeutically-useful cell types. The identification of specific therapeutic cell lines will, in turn, help ensure that future cell-based therapies are safe and unlikely to suffer serious side effects, such as tumour formation."
The relational database will be built using core software licensed, on an exclusive basis for this purpose, from Targeted Therapeutics Consulting, Inc., which currently operates a relational database for cancer therapy research and the development of anti-cancer drugs. When the new embryome database is operational, Embryome Sciences will provide researchers access to it through an internet website. Embryome Sciences plans to launch this new website early next year beginning with a database map of the embryome of the mouse, and plans to add the human embryome by June 2008.
In addition to providing access to its embryome database, Embryome Sciences' new website may also be used to market stem cell research products developed by Embryome Sciences and by other companies.
Other products that Embryome Sciences plans to develop include growth and differentiation factors that can be used to induce embryonic stem cells to become desired cell types, and a line of purification tools useful to researchers in purification and quality control analysis of products in regenerative medicine.
BioTime believes that the development of products such as these in the Embryomics sector would allow Embryome Sciences to commercialise products more quickly, using less capital, than developing therapeutic products from stem cells. Embryome Sciences' plan is to market its products and services to companies and academic researchers, such as those working under the $3 billion California stem cell initiative, in this growing industry, and to provide them the tools they need to attain their goals.
BioTime, headquartered in Emeryville, California, develops blood plasma volume expanders, blood replacement solutions for hypothermic (low temperature) surgery, organ preservation solutions, and technology for use in surgery, emergency trauma treatment and other applications.
Targeted Therapeutics Consulting (TTC), a Mill Valley, California-based company, has created a unique information platform and project management tool for cancer drug development professionals in industry and academia. TTC utilizes its web-based information technology to provide individualized consulting solutions.