The non-exclusive license provides Stemcell with rights under certain Geron’s patents to develop, manufacture and sell cell culture media and matrix surfaces for research use only. Geron will receive license payments and is entitled to royalties on sales of products developed under the license.
The license granted to Stemcell includes rights under Geron’s patents covering the growth of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) without the need for feeder cells or feeder-conditioned medium. Conventionally, hESCs have been grown in direct contact with mouse or human feeder cells or in media conditioned by such feeder cells.
Terry Thomas, Stemcell’s vice president of R&D, said: “Our goal is to provide innovative tools and reagents to meet these challenges and enable researchers to take their investigations to the next level. This agreement is a mechanism to supply researchers working with human embryonic stem cells with the tools they need.”