CONTACT:
Media:
Joleen Rau
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Cellular Dynamics International, Inc.
608 310-5142
jrau@cellulardynamics.com
Robert E. Flamm, Ph.D.
Russo Partners LLC
(212) 845-4226
robert.flamm@russopartnersllc.com
Investor Relations:
Gitanjali Jain Ogawa
The Trout Group, LLC
(646) 378-2949
gogawa@troutgroup.com
Cells Provide a More Relevant In Vitro Model for Neurological
Disorders, Including Parkinson’s Disease and Schizophrenia
MADISON, Wis. — Cellular Dynamics
International, Inc. (CDI) (Nasdaq:ICEL) today announced the launch of
iCell(r) DopaNeurons, the company’s neural floor plate-derived midbrain
dopaminergic neurons generated from human induced pluripotent stem
cells (iPSCs).
Key points:
— Dopaminergic neurons, specifically those located in the floor
plate-derived midbrain, are implicated in neurological disorders such as
Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia; thus iCell DopaNeurons provide a
highly relevant in vitro model to investigate these types of pathologies.
— Midbrain dopaminergic neurons develop from an early developmental stage
of the brain called the floor plate. Other commercially available
iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons do not follow this developmental path,
but instead are derived from neural stem cells. Only midbrain
dopaminergic neurons have been shown to be engraftable in animals (1),
indicating the promise for the development of cell-based therapies.
— In addition to iCell DopaNeurons, CDI’s MyCell(r) process can be applied
to develop and manufacture cells from donors with dopaminergic
neuron-based diseases.
— CDI exclusively licensed the technology, invented by Lorenz Studer, M.D.,
and his laboratory team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, to
create floor-plate-derived midbrain dopaminergic neurons for use in
research.
Quotes:
Lorenz Studer, M.D., director, Center for Stem Cell Biology at Memorial
Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, said, “We are pleased that Cellular
Dynamics has licensed our technology to create dopaminergic neurons for
research use that are specific to the substantia nigra, the small area
of the brain implicated in Parkinson’s disease. Research in our
laboratory has shown that iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons that follow
the midbrain dopaminergic developmental pathway are able to engraft in
animal models for Parkinson’s disease. We’re excited that CDI will make
these cells widely available for research purposes, enabling
researchers to better understand dopaminergic neuron-based diseases and
work toward possible patient therapies.”
Chris Parker, chief commercial officer of CDI, said, “Despite decades
of effort and resources applied by pharmaceutical companies to treat
diseases such as Parkinson’s, there are no cures available. iCell
DopaNeurons now offer a human in vitro system that we believe more
closely reflects human biology than other model systems available
today. CDI’s manufacturing capabilities enable these specialized
neurons to be developed at a high purity and quantity with rigorous
quality control so that researchers studying dopaminergic diseases have
a stable supply source of a relevant in vitro model.”
(1) Nature. 2011 Nov 6;480(7378):547-51. doi: 10.1038/nature10648.
About Cellular Dynamics International, Inc.
Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (CDI) is a leading developer and
manufacturer of fully functioning human cells in industrial quantities
to precise specifications. CDI’s proprietary iCell Operating System
(iCell O/S) includes true human cells in multiple cell types (iCell
products), human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and custom
iPSCs and iCell products (MyCell Products). CDI’s iCell O/S products
provide standardized, easy-to-use, cost-effective access to the human
cell, the smallest fully functioning operating unit of human biology.
Customers use our iCell O/S products, among other purposes, for drug
discovery and screening; to test the safety and efficacy of their small
molecule and biologic drug candidates; for stem cell banking; and in
the research and development of cellular therapeutics. CDI was founded
in 2004 by Dr. James Thomson, a pioneer in human pluripotent stem cell
research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. CDI’s facilities are
located in Madison, Wisconsin, with a second facility in Novato,
California. See www.cellulardynamics.com.
Forward-looking Statements
To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not
descriptions of historical facts regarding Cellular Dynamics
International, Inc., including statements regarding our products, they
are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and
expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as
“may,” “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,”
and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions
referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this
release involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause
our product development efforts, actual results, performance or
achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by
the forward-looking statements. Cellular Dynamics undertakes no
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a
further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking
statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the Company in
general, see Cellular Dynamic’s annual report on Form 10-K/A filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2013, which risks
are incorporated herein by reference, and as may be described from time
to time in Cellular Dynamics’ subsequent SEC filings.
