Date: Mar 04, 2010 Source: (
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Zen-Bio, Inc., (ZB) a leading global provider of advanced cell-based
solutions and services to the life science, cosmetics, and personal care communities, announced today that it is partnering with Beta-Pro LLC, a Virginia-based biotechnology firm, as a distributor to provide diabetes researchers with clinical-grade islet cells. ZenBio will now provide the diabetes research community with a robust human islet cell system for use in elucidating cellular function, mechanism of action and the physiological role these islet cells play in diabetes and insulin processing and response. The transplant-grade human islet cells will be provided as IEQ (Islet equivalents) in cellular suspension within 2-3 days post-processing. Cells will be extensively evaluated for a variety of parameters including glucose stimulation/insulin secretion, viability and purity as well as endotoxin contamination. Additionally, ZenBio will also supply non-islet human pancreatic tissue for metabolic disease researchers.
Diabetes affects more than 220 million people globally with projected deaths resulting from diabetes-related complications to double by the year 2030. The overall risk of death doubles in patients with diabetes compared with peers that have not been diagnosed with the disease. The WHO estimates global economic impact of diabetes to be significant with nearly 10% of all health care expenditures for some countries attributed to treating diabetes or complicating conditions. In recent calculations, it has been reported that approximately 1.1 million people have died from diabetes in 2005.
"We are very excited about this partnership with Beta-Pro and believe it is a good strategic fit for both companies building on complimentary portfolios in the metabolic disease research market", remarked Will Plentl, Director of Business Development of ZenBio, Inc.
Beta-Pro provides pharmaceutical researchers with a high quality, consistent supply of human pancreatic islets and other biomaterials for crucial research relating to diabetes. The firm isolates and distributes insulin-producing human pancreatic islets from surplus organs not placed for whole organ transplant in an FDA-approved, cGMP "clean room" facility. Beta-Pro recovers the costs for organ procurement, processing, preservation, quality control, storage, handling, and delivery of islets and other biomaterials from customers.
"In 2010 alone Beta-Pro has placed more than a quarter of a million high quality islets to organizations around the world," said Beta-Pro Co-founder and Managing Director Cynthia M. Barber, Ph.D. "We believe this strategic alliance with Zen-Bio will expand our distribution capabilities so we can focus on what we do best: isolating islets for an underserved market."
In addition, Beta-Pro also provides ancillary pancreatic biomaterials such as acinar tissue, RNA and tissue sections facilitating in vitro models for researchers in academic, biotech and pharma institutions. For more information, please contact www.betaprollc.com.
