EMD Millipore signs agreement to license AJ iPS cell patent portfolio

Under the agreement, EMD Millipore will provide its STEMCCA reprogramming kits for use of iPS cells in research applications.

iPS cells, which are discovered by Shinya Yamanaka of Center for iPS Cell Research and Application at Kyoto University, are adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state by being forced to express genes and factors important for maintaining the defining properties of embryonic stem cells.

iPS cells also have potential to further various aspects of stem cell research, from the establishment of patient-specific stem cell populations to disease models.

EMD Millipore bioscience business unit head John Sweeney said, "To collaborate with the founder of iPS cell discovery provides the ideal opportunity for EMD Millipore to build upon our current product offering of the STEMCCA reprogramming kits, as well as further advance our research and discovery in the area of stem cell technology, and to provide our customers with the tools necessary in this important, breakthrough area of stem cell research."