Sigma-Aldrich to Launch XCell Science Genetically Engineered iPSC-Derived Neural Disease Cells
New Product Offering to Aid Scientists in Advancing the Research of Neurological Diseases
ST. LOUIS, June 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (NASDAQ: SIAL), a leading Life Science and Technology company, announced today it has entered into an agreement with XCell Science to launch genetically engineered human neural differentiated cells and accompanying culture media developed to advance the research of neurological diseases. These new products, in combination with Sigma-Aldrich's existing product portfolio, provide unique and versatile tools for the study of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), autism, schizophrenia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as for drug screening and toxicology applications in the neural space.
The range of isogenic iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cells)-derived neural cells include APOE knockout neurons and astrocytes, MAP2 and GFAP reporter lines, and a panel for assessment of neurotoxicity and neural protective drug candidates. All cell lines have been validated by genotyping, gene expression, karyotyping, and pluripotency, and have been further confirmed for their ability to differentiate into neural cells.
"The genetically engineered iPSC-derived neural lines provide researchers with disease models that can significantly contribute to deciphering the mechanism underlying the disease," said Shaf Yousaf, Vice President of Technology & Business Development at Sigma-Aldrich. "These new lines provide more consistent disease models than currently available for assessment of compound toxicity and efficacy, which can expedite drug development and considerably reduce cost."
"XCell Science is confident this arrangement will benefit the stem cell community by leveraging XCell's expertise with neural differentiated cells and Sigma-Aldrich's global reach and reputation. Our customers will be able to fully take advantage of the consistency and reproducibility these cell models provide, along with the ease of use enabled by engineered iPSC-differentiated cells," said Xianmin Zeng, Ph.D., XCell's founder and Chief Scientific Officer.
The genetically engineered iPSC-derived neural cells and media are available now as catalog products. To learn more or make a purchase inquiry about these cell lines, visit www.sigma-aldrich.com/Stem-Cell-Biology.
Cautionary Statement: The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "can contribute," "can expedite," "can reduce" or similar expressions, or by expressed or implied discussions regarding potential future revenues from products derived there from. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of management regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that this or any other product offering will assist the Company to achieve any particular levels of revenue in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding this product offering could be affected by, among other things, the Company's ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection; competition in general; government, industry and general public pricing pressures; the impact that the foregoing factors could have on the values attributed to the Company's assets and liabilities as recorded in its consolidated balance sheet, and other risks and factors referred to in Sigma-Aldrich's current Form 10-K on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Sigma-Aldrich is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich, a leading Life Science and Technology company focused human health and safety, manufactures and distributes 250,000 chemicals, biochemicals and other essential products to more than 1.4 million customers globally in research and applied labs as well as in industrial and commercial markets. With three distinct business units - Research, Applied and SAFC Commercial - Sigma-Aldrich is committed to enabling science to improve the quality of life. The Company operates in 37 countries, has approximately 9,300 employees worldwide and had sales of $2.79 billion in 2014. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its website at www.sigma-aldrich.com.
Sigma-Aldrich is a trademark of Sigma-Aldrich Co, LLC registered in the US and other countries.
SOURCE Sigma-Aldrich Corporation
Related Links
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article