Liver Stem Cells Get U.S. Patent

StemCells, Inc. has received a U.S. patent covering purified populations of human liver cells, including the company’s human liver engrafting cells (hLEC), first isolated in the late 1990’s. According to company officials, the cells demonstrate robust bioactivity and are expandable.

While the company’s hLEC cells are purified from donated adult livers not suitable for transplant, the newly issued patent covers cells independent of their tissue source. Therefore, the patent has potential relevance to those deriving liver cells from iPS or ESC platforms. The term of the patent extends into 2022.

Martin McGlynn, president and chief executive officer of StemCells, Inc., said, “Because the liver is such a key organ, finding an expandable, reliable and well-characterized liver cell population is an important step forward in both medical research and drug development. Liver disease afflicts some 25 million Americans and transplantation of an expandable liver cell could potentially address many of the shortcomings of whole liver transplantation.

StemCells, Inc. is engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of cell-based therapeutics and tools for use in stem cell-based research and drug discovery. The ompany is conducting a Phase I/II clinical trial in chronic spinal cord injury in Switzerland and a Phase I/II clinical trial in dry age-related macular degeneration in the United States.