Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) has launched iCell Cardiomyocytes for use in testing of new drug candidates by the pharmaceutical industry. These human heart cells are designed to aid drug discovery and improve the predictability of drug compound efficacy and toxicity screens, weeding out ineffective and potentially toxic compounds early in the pharmaceutical pipeline process.
iCell Cardiomyocytes are derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, spontaneously beat in vitro and exhibit the electrophysiological and biochemical properties of normal human heart cells.
iCell Cardiomyocytes are produced in-house by CDI from a master cell bank of iPS cells expanded from a single clonal population reprogrammed from fully mature human cells using Dr. Thomson’s patented technology. Based on strong intellectual property and exclusively licensed patents from several universities, CDI has developed a proprietary process to industrialize iCell Cardiomyocytes production. CDI has successfully engaged in pre-launch validation testing with several pharmaceutical customers.
Robert Palay, chief executive officer of CDI, said: “Launching iCell Cardiomyocytes to the pharmaceutical industry is an important step for Cellular Dynamics. We have shown that we can manufacture and provide validated human iPS cell-derived terminally differentiated cardiomyocytes in the quantity and quality needed by our customers. We look forward to growing this product with our pharmaceutical customers and developing line extensions of iCell Cardiomyocytes, including panels with multiple iPS starting materials, as well as launching other iPS cell-derived iCell products.”
James Thomson, chief scientific officer of CDI, said: “Rapid application of stem cell technology has been a goal both of my laboratory at the University of Wisconsin and CDI. Utilizing human iPS cells for new drug toxicity testing should improve the drug discovery process in a timeframe that has an effect on human healthcare now, not 10 years from now. Ultimately applications of stem cell technology in drug discovery will provide great utility and enable movement toward a long-term goal of cellular-based therapeutics and personalized medicine.”