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news.US-based biotechnology firm International Stem Cell (ISCO) has entered into a research agreement with Rohto Pharmaceutical (Rohto), a Japanese pharmaceutical firm, which develops new technology for the medical and cosmetics markets.
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As part of the deal, Rohto will assess stem cell-derived human cells owned and provided by ISCO in a number of pre-clinical animal models.
The company said that if the research is successful and the parties agree on remaining terms, it is expected that a definitive license agreement will be signed at the end of the twelve-month period of this research agreement.
ISCO EVP of Business Development Simon Craw said under the terms of the agreement Rohto will begin working with ISCO provided cells immediately and if the program is successful the company may move to the next stage, signing a definitive license agreement.
"Such an agreement would significantly enhance our standing in a number of ways. Firstly, having diligently built up our scientific strength and patent portfolio over the last few years, it would both validate our research as well as our ability to generate licensing revenue from our proprietary platform," Craw said.
"Secondly, by expanding the use of our technology into new areas beyond that which we can address alone, it would add value to the Company."
The deal will see ISCO offer a number of differentiated human cells derived from the company’s collection of pluripotent human stem cells known as UniStemCell.