1. ADVANCED CELL TECHNOLOGY: www.advancedcell.com
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (OTCBB:ACTC – News) is a biotechnology company applying human embryonic stem (“ES”) cell technology in the field of regenerative medicine with the goal of bringing effective, patient-specific therapies to the bedside. On August 23, 2006, Advanced Cell Technology announced a novel technique to generate ES cell lines without destroying the embryo, a breakthrough in the ethical debate surrounding stem cell research. The company recently published positive results for its hemangioblast (HG) cell program demonstrating the potential for using the HG cells to treat a variety of vascular indications including heart attack and limb loss. The company expects to file an IND for the HG program by the end of 2008. Advanced Cell also recently published data for its RPE cell animal model study and announced collaboration with the Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health and Science University to conduct preclinical trials for its RPE program. Advanced Cell expects to file an IND for its RPE program in the 2nd half of 2007. With an additional IND filing expected by the end of 2008, the company plans to have filed three IND’s in total by the end of next year. Advanced Cell Technology owns or licenses over 380 patents and patent applications and plans to use its proprietary technology to develop treatments for indications including dermal injuries, macular degeneration, and blood and cardiovascular diseases.
Advanced Cell Technology recently announced a significant milestone in its hemangioblast (HG) program by reporting for the first time that hemangioblast precursor cells derived from hESC’s can be used to achieve vascular repair. The research, which appeared in the journal Nature Methods, by the company and its collaborators, described an efficient method for generating large numbers of bipotential progenitors (hemangioblasts) from hESC’s that are capable of differentiating into blood vessels as well as into all blood and immune cell lineages. The ability to repair vascular damage using these cells could have a profound impact on a large number of diseases that are major human afflictions. The company is committed to moving this technology from the laboratory into the clinic and plans on filing an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) with the Food and Drug Administration for the first clinical application of these cells by the end of 2008.
ACT scientists are also researching the use of embryonic stem cell dermal technology to repair skin and the company expects to file an additional IND in 2008. In total, Advanced Cell Technology expects to file its first IND this year and two additional IND’s next year.
