Genea Stem Cells (GSC), a supplier and developer of disease-specific human stem cells, has reported that 25 new pluripotent stem cell lines have been placed on the USA National Institute of Health (NIH) human stem cell registry.
Consequently, the 25 disease-specific embryonic pluripotent stem cells are available for commercial use in medical research.
GSC general manager Dr Uli Schmidt said NIH accepted many of its lines.
"We believe that this year will see substantial commercial take up of these perfect in vitro research tools," Schmidt added.
One of the 25 cell lines is a disease-free pluripotent cell line, while the remaining 24 have individual mutations that give rise to several severe diseases, including cancer and cystic fibrosis, as well as rarer genetic diseases such as Trisomy 5, macular dystrophy, incontinentia pigmenti, juvenile retinoschisis, alpha thalassemia and autosomal dominant torsion dystonia.
All the cell lines, which are genetically unmodified, were derived in compliance with international regulatory and ethical guidelines, according to the company.
