Merck Millipore licenses iPS cell patent technology from AJ

Merck Millipore has secured a global licensing agreement for the induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell patent portfolio of iPS Academia Japan (AJ).

The non-exclusive deal will allow Merck Millipore to continue to develop and commercialise iPS cells for research applications, meaning it can maintain production of its STEMCCA reprogramming kits.

Discovered by Dr Shinya Yamanaka, iPS cells are adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state, making them invaluable for life science research.

Using Merck Millipore's STEMCCA kits, researchers can generate human and mouse iPS cells using a single, excisable polycistroniclentiviral vector that delivers all four reprogramming factors discovered by Dr Yamanaka.

John Sweeney, head of the bioscience business unit at Merck Millipore, said the alliance will help the company to "provide our customers with the tools necessary in this important, breakthrough area of stem cell research".

Last month, the company launched Cellvento CHO-100, a non-animal origin, chemically-defined medium that promotes better cell growth and productivity.