STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 14, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has granted an infrastructure award for human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research to the Swedish company Cell Therapeutics Scandinavia AB. This award will stimulate the use of human embryonic stem cells in basic research and make two more hESC lines available for researchers in the US. It will provide funds for expansion, testing, quality assurance, and distribution of existing cell lines that were derived before August 9, 2001 and thus meet the criteria for federal funding of research on human embryonic stem cell in the US.
At present, there is a general lack of human embryonic stem cell lines worldwide and so far only 12 human embryonic stem cell lines have been available for use by non-profit institutions that receive grants from the NIH in the United States. Access to a variety of cell lines is important to researchers, since some cell lines may be more suited to their particular research than others. Within the agreement with NIH, Cell Therapeutics Scandinavia and the Sahlgrenska Academy at Goteborg University will provide an additional two human embryonic stem cell lines to scientists at the NIH and elsewhere for non-commercial research.
About Cell Therapeutics Scandinavia AB
Cell Therapeutics Scandinavia AB is a world leading partner for researchers and developers using defined human stem cells towards novel technologies and therapies, e.g. screening and testing in the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotech, biomaterials and cosmetics industries.
The company is located in Gothenburg, Sweden. It started its operation based on the pioneering research by founders at Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska University Hospital and the network is now expanded to include academic research at numerous centres. The company recognises fully the need for careful, ethical application of stem cell technologies and has entered into several commercial agreements with local and international companies.
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