The stem cell effort consists of technology development in the U.S. aimed at the production, expansion, and differentiation of multipotent stem cells. Revivicor’s program involves the de-differentiation of skin fibroblast cells, thus bypassing the need for creating and then destroying human embryos or fetal tissues. It should be noted that this proprietary method does not provide the ability to create an embryo, and thus is not "therapeutic cloning."
In addition to benefits from the ethical perspective, this method has the advantage that because it uses readily-available skin cells as the starting material, it is not subject to supply constraints of existing sources of embryonic material. This new and unlimited source of stem cell lines could be used to produce differentiated cell lines for a variety of targets
The stem cell program is currentlysupported by a grant from the US Department of Commerce Advanced Technology Program (“ATP”), totaling $1.9 million over three years (ending Jan. 04). The ATP grant has served to not only provide early-stage technology development funding, but also establishes a third party independent validation of the cutting edge science and technological potential which exists in this program. The company has made significant progress in developing tolerogenic cells from differentiated stem cells, and has patented this technology. In addition, therapeutic cell lines will be developed for diabetes as well as neuronal cell applications (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and spinal cord repair).
Proof of concept has been demonstrated for stem-like cells from bovine, porcine, and rhesus systems via dedifferentiation Revivicor’s plan is to continue the work in the US in generating non-embryo derived stem cells, and later partnering with various groups that will focus on differentiation of embryonic stem cells into specific cell types (with the initial focus on derivation of insulin-producing cells) using embryonic-derived cells. The two programs will then be combined, such that large numbers of non-embryo derived stem cells will be differentiated using the methods developed in the mouse and human ES cell systems.
This strategy has a number of key advantages. First, it provides for the ability to generate stem cells without the supply constraint that is clearly apparent by the lack of a large number of embryonic-derived lines available in the world. Second, it provides for a proprietary position, as Revivicor’s source of stem cells will be obtained through nuclear transfer-like methods, similar to the technology which created Dolly and the cloned pigs, and which is a core competency of the company. Third, Revivicor’s source of stem cells removes all of the ethical concerns about creating/using/destroying a human embryo. Revivicor would act as a supplier of stem cells using our proprietary method and license rights to the technology to various groups with expertise in stem cell differentiation. Revivicor may grant full marketing and manufacturing rights in such a deal, or, simply act as a manufacturing supplier intermediate. This strategy has the benefit of providing near term revenue, as well as later manufacturing profits and royalties on in market sales as the technology develops into commercial products
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