Date: Jan 08, 2014 Author: David Schuyler Source: bizjournals (
click here to go to the source)
By David Schuyler
Cellular Dynamics International of Madison will supply stem cells to the Nestle Institute of Health Sciences for research into foods for consumers with medical conditions..
Cellular Dynamics International Inc., a Madison provider of human induced pluripotent stem cells, said Wednesday that it has agreed to supply its iCell stem cell lines to Nestle SA for the global food company's growing health sciences unit.
Cellular Dynamics (Nasdaq: ICEL) did not disclose terms of the long-term supply agreement with the Nestle Institute of Health Sciences SA.
Nestle is advancing its research into the link between diet and diseases, according to a Reuters report. Nestle recently acquired stakes in companies that produce "medical foods," which are foods for people with various conditions including diabetes, dementia and depression.
The Wall Street Journal said Nestle will use the stem cells to study the effect of nutrients in the foods it makes.
Cellular Dynamics, founded by University of Wisconsin researcher James Thomson, developed a process of reprogramming adult tissue cells into a stem cell-like state, sidestepping the controversy over the use of human embryos in stem cell research. The so-called induced pluripotent stem cells are then differentiated into other types of cells. Cellular Dynamics' iCell product line now includes human brain, heart, liver, blood and blood vessel cells.
