UniStemCell bank

is the life science industry’s first collection of non-embryonic histocompatible human stem cells available for research and commercial use. International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO) has developed a proprietary technique for creating histocompatible stem cells. The process called parthenogenesis uses unfertilized human eggs and results in the cells inheriting a duplicate set of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes. This significantly reduces the possibility of the derived cells being rejected by an individual’s immune system making a single cell line suitable for treating millions of individuals. A relatively small number of such cell lines could be sufficient to provide “immune matched” cells to a large percentage of the world’s population.

The Parthenogenic Advantage

Parthenogenesis utilizes unfertilized human eggs to create “parthenogenetic” stem cells (hpSC) that are potentially histocompatible with millions of individuals of differing sexes and racial backgrounds. This means a relatively small number of hpSC lines could provide sufficient immune-matched cells to cover large parts of the world’s population.

Unlike human embryonic stem cells (hESC), hpSC do not require viable human embryos, thus avoiding most ethical concerns.

Unlike induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), hpSC do not require the transfection of genes into somatic cells with the associated possibility of introducing unwanted additional genes.

UniStemCell

In the medium term, revenue will be generated from universal stem cell bank franchises across populations and scientists accessing these lines. This provides a “multiple-shots-on-goal” strategy where ISCO’s hpSC lines will be tested and developed by others across a range of potential applications and, longer-term, will provide the company with royalty from sales of each successful, hpSC-derived cellular therapeutic.