International Stem Cell Corporation begins pre-clinical trials on
human corneal epithelial cells
11 February 2009
International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO), the first company
to perfect a method of creating human 'parthenogenetic' stem cells from
unfertilized eggs, is planning pre-clinical trials aimed at applying its
laboratory-grown human corneal epithelial cells to improve
photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), a form of corrective laser eye
surgery.
These trials are the first step toward Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) clinical trials to test the efficacy of using ISCO cells to
improve healing after corneal surgery, and are part of the company’s
efforts to increase the clinical utility of its discoveries in culturing
corneal cells and tissues.
This work is being done in collaboration with Dr. Paul H. Chen, M.D.,
who has developed the cell transfer technology. Dr. Chen is an eye
surgeon at North County Laser Eye Associates, and he is on staff at
Scripps Memorial La Jolla and Scripps Encinitas Hospitals.
“This collaboration is an excellent opportunity for ISCO to use its
cell culture and manufacturing expertise to create therapeutic human
cells that can enter the market relatively quickly and improve patient’s
quality of life,” said Jeffrey Janus, ISCO’s president. “We are
fortunate to be working with Dr. Chen on this exciting project.”
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