Living Cell Technologies Limited (LCT) has extended the research collaboration with Centocor Research & Development Inc and granted an exclusive two year option to take up a world-wide licence for LCT’s encapsulation technology which is to be made available only for human cell lines for a specific, but undisclosed, field of use.

Dr Paul Tan, chief executive officer LCT said, “Significant progress made in our research collaboration to date has shown that our proprietary encapsulation technology for our lead product Diabecell, is applicable to other cells.” The agreement includes a Centocor funded research program for two years. The option to licence is for two years with a fee payable each year. Upon exercise of the option, the parties will enter into a licensing agreement with terms that have been agreed upon including upfront, annual, milestone and royalty payments but, for commercial reasons, LCT is not able to disclose details.

LCT’s encapsulation technology places cells in capsules made of alginate derived from seaweed. The capsules protect the cells from rejection by the immune system and allow the cells to be implanted without using immunosuppressive drugs. LCT’s lead product, Diabecell, comprises encapsulated pig insulin-producing cells designed to normalize blood glucose levels in type-1 diabetes sufferers. Diabecell is presently in phase-II human clinical trials in New Zealand and Russia.

Living Cell Technologies (LCT) is developing cell-based products to treat life threatening human diseases.