AstraZeneca and CDI announce stem cell collaboration

AstraZeneca has announced a new centre of excellence agreement with Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) that will facilitate the use of stem cell technology in future drug development.

Through the new partnership, AstraZeneca will be able to take advantage of commercially available iCell products and CDI's recently launched MyCell Products for human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) reprogramming and differentiation.

Based on reprogramming adult cells from a blood sample or a skin biopsy to a pluripotent stem cell state, iPSC technology has shown promise in delivering robust human cell models of high utility in drug discovery, without the ethical concerns linked to the use of human embryonic stem cells.

Steve Rees, vice-president for screening sciences and sample management at AstraZeneca's discovery sciences division, said: "This agreement with Cellular Dynamics enables AstraZeneca to access world-leading expertise in stem cell technology so that we can better test potential new medicines for safety and efficacy."

Last month, AstraZeneca allied with Isis Pharmaceuticals to create new personalised cancer therapy options against a total of five targets.