VistaGen Therapeutics and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) have signed a license for human embryonic stem cell patents for the development and commercialization of stem cell-based research tools.
VistaGen is one of the world’s leading companies focused on using the power of stem cell technology to transform the ways drugs are discovered and tested. WARF is the private, non-profit patenting and licensing organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of the top-ranked public research universities in the U.S.
The licensed patents result from the research of stem cell pioneer Dr. James Thompson of the University of Wisconsin Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Center and director of regenerative biology at the new Morgridge Institute for Research. The license will accelerate VistaGen’s commercial programs focused on providing customized, nextgeneration, stem cell-based predictive toxicology and drug discovery screening assays to increase preclinical R&D productivity for the pharmaceutical industry.
“This agreement with WARF is another critical step in our strategy to become a ‘one-stop-shop’ for the world’s premier stem cell differentiation systems,” said Dr. Ralph Snodgrass, VistaGen’s CEO. “It enhances our fundamental expertise for capturing the value of human embryonic stem cell biology for predictive toxicology, drug discovery screening and drug development. When combined with our strong stem cell-based intellectual property estate, the key terms of the new license provide a strong foundation to support our commercial programs focused on high-end R&D services, strategic discovery collaborations and enabling licenses.”
“We are very pleased to have signed a licensing agreement with VistaGen,” said Andy DeTienne, WARF’s licensing manager for stem cell technologies. “VistaGen’s approach to the commercialization of human embryonic stem cell technologies as next-generation tools for drug discovery and development in the pharmaceutical industry strongly complements our ongoing efforts to support growth of the human ES cell industry.” He notes this licensing agreement with VistaGen demonstrates that commercial interest in human embryonic stem cells remains strong.
