Summary

Description (Web site quote)

The Company has recently launched a new product line, VITROCELL™, consisting of novel Human Cell Lines for Research and Development. These products represent unique opportunities for researchers to utilize proliferating human cell lines for a variety of research applications including basic research in diabetes, pancreatic cancer and endocrinology of the pituitary gland. The VITROCELL™ product line includes various supporting products and procedures that have been used by the Company to successfully establish long-lived, proliferating cultures. The product offering includes immortalized cells produced through the Company's patented technology resulting in extended proliferation beyond that of non-immortalized cell lines. The VITROCELL™ products also include non-immortal human cell lines providing researchers valuable tools for comparison with immortalized lines. Greater detail concerning the VITROCELL™ product line is presented in other sections of this web site.





The Company hopes to expand the VITROCELL™ product line to include other human cell lines of medical value. An initial target is the insulin-producing cells of the human pancreas (beta cells) that are destroyed in Type I diabetes. Such lines would be of value in ongoing efforts to develop a cell therapy for Type I diabetes. Earlier studies by Canadian scientists showed that diabetic patients may be successfully treated and no longer require insulin injections by transplanting purified beta islet cells and then treating them to prevent immune rejection of the transplanted cells. However, more widespread application of cell therapy requires additional sources of beta cells such as stem cell-derived beta cells and extensive clinical trials. The Company intends to provide researchers with valuable tools to support the development of cell therapy for Type I diabetes.