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news.BioRestorative Therapies, a US-based life sciences firm focused on adult stem cell-based therapies for various personal medical applications, has entered into a two-year collaborative Research Agreement (Agreement) with Pfizer to study human brown adipose tissue and cell lines.
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As part of the deal, both the firms will jointly carry out a study titled ‘Development and Validation of a Human Brown Adipose Cell Model’, which will seek to further characterize the identity and metabolic function of these cell lines.
BioRestorative has accumulated a large collection of human brown adipose tissue samples, preadipocyte cell lines and immortalized cell lines for use in potentially developing a cell therapy product.
The results of the research may be used by both companies.
BioRestorative chief executive officer Mark Weinreb said the company is happy to be working with Pfizer on its ThermoStem program.
"Research into human brown fat to date has suggested that brown fat is correlated with the maintenance and regulation of metabolism," Weinreb said.
"Ultimately, we will look to determine if our cell lines have utility in the treatment of obesity, which is responsible for many diseases, including type 2 diabetes."
Brown fat is a population of adipose (fat) tissue found in the human body and it plays a major role in the evolutionarily conserved mechanisms underlying energy homeostasis in mammals.
Human newborns and hibernating mammals have high levels of brown fat and its main function is to generate body heat and regulate metabolism.
Recent studies have showed that brown fat is present in the adult human body and may be correlated with the maintenance and regulation of metabolism.
In June 2011, BioRestorative had launched the initial research phase of what it believes will develop into a technology that involves the use of brown fat in a cell-based therapeutic program referred to as the ThermoStem Program.
The ThermoStem Program will focus on treatments for type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as for hypertension, other metabolic disorders and cardiac deficiencies, and will include the study of stem cells, several genes, proteins and/or mechanisms that are related to these diseases and disorders.