Cellartis, WARF sign license agreement for human embryonic stem cells
Cellartis AB, a premier provider of human embryonic stem cell (hES) derived products and technologies, and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), the private, nonprofit patenting and licensing organization for the University of Wisconsin–Madison, announced today (Jan. 15) that they have signed a license for hES patents that enables Cellartis to commercialize undifferentiated hES cell products in the U.S.
“This is another significant and timely step forward for Cellartis, and we are delighted to make this announcement,” says Mats Lundwall, Cellartis CEO. “Our business is at an exciting point in its evolution as we broaden our range of products and drive growth through innovative collaborations. This license opens the door to the large and important U.S. market, alongside additional emerging partnering opportunities in the U.S. which fits well into our growth strategy.”
“We are extremely pleased to announce our licensing agreement and welcome Cellartis as a new commercial partner,” says Andy DeTienne, WARF’s licensing manager for stem cell technologies. “As a key provider of human embryonic stem cells and related products, we are pleased Cellartis is interested in entering the U.S. market. The expansion of Cellartis’s business strategy complements WARF’s goals for supporting growth in the human stem cell industry.” He notes this licensing agreement with Cellartis reflects that commercial interest in human embryonic stem cells continues to be strong.
Cellartis AB is a premier provider of human embryonic stem cell (hES) derived products and technologies that will drive unprecedented innovation in drug discovery and regenerative medicine today and in the future. Today, alongside fully characterized, ethically derived human embryonic stem cell lines, the company offers custom prepared human cardiomyocytes and mesenchymal progenitors derived from hES cells along with stem cell antibodies and tools. Cellartis is engaged in programs for the production of homogenous populations of hepatocytes suitable for use as bio-tools in industrial applications. In addition, Cellartis has built the world’s first large-volume automated production facility for human ES cells and can provide human ES cells for screening campaigns. The company was founded in 2001, has more than 50 employees and is located in Gothenburg Sweden and Dundee, Scotland.
WARF was established in 1925 as the world’s first university-based technology transfer office. WARF licenses a wide range of technologies and has completed 35 licensing agreements for stem cell technologies with 27 companies to date. It supports world-class research at the university by protecting the intellectual property of its faculty, staff and students, and licensing their discoveries to companies for commercial use to benefit humankind. Through WARF’s work, university research benefits the public by bringing resources back to the university to continue the cycle of investment, research and invention.
