If you’re an investor considering an opportunity within the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) market, the technical aspects may initially appear to be confusing. However, if you focus on a few key points of understanding, you’ll be able to understand key attributes that define the cell type, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. [Read more…]
Can New Manufacturing Platform Reduce “Sky High” Costs of Stem Cell Therapies?
The LA Times released a compelling article highlighting the mounting evidence that stem cell treatments will be some of the highest priced treatments within the medical marketplace. Titled “Sky-high price of new stem cell therapies is a growing concern,” the author Michael Hiltzik explores the often exorbitant costs associated with stem cell procedures.
In a powerful statement that summarizes the author’s position, he writes, “The evidence is already mounting that stem cell and other advanced biologic treatments will be among the most expensive therapies in the medical arsenal.” As examples of expensive cell therapy procedures, Hiltzik cites that Prochymal, a mesenchymal stem cell treatment approved in Canada, can costs as much as $200K, while Provenge, a cell-based vaccine for prostate cancer, can cost nearly $100K to extend a patient’s life by a few months. [Read more…]
A Complete Guide to Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Core Facilities
What Are Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Core Facilities?
Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) core facilities are facilities created to facilitate the derivation and distribution of induced pluripotent stem cell lines. These facilities promote iPSC research advances by providing disease-specific iPSC lines to researchers, thereby allowing more researchers to study mechanisms of disease and new therapeutic applications.
Induced pluripotent stem cell core facilities can also provide services related to iPSCs, including consultation and technical services, as well as training in iPSC technology. Common services that the core facilities provide are derivation, maintenance, and characterization of iPSCs. They may also provide control iPSC lines, validated iPSC culture reagents, and more.
iPSC Research Expands – 40+ Companies Offer Research Tools to Scientists
iPSC research is on the rise with more than 14,701 publications released about the cell type on PubMed.gov, the world’s leading database of scientific publications. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are differentiated cells that are reprogrammed back into an embryonic-like state. To understand the competitive nature of the iPSC research products market, it is important to consider the degree of competition that has entered the market since the discovery of the cell type in 2006.
Leading iPSC Research Companies
There are now more than 40 companies offering iPSC research products. The change in the number of companies offering iPSC research products increased substantially from 2013 to 2014, because there were 31 companies offering iPSC research products in 2013, and that number increased to 40 by 2014. In 2015, Pluriomics was a notable newcomer to the iPSC products scene. By 2017, Pluriomics and Axiogenesis merged to become Ncardia.
Other industry acquisitions that merged providers of iPSC research products include Thermo Fisher Scientific’s acquisition of Life Technologies Corporation on February 3, 2014, and ReproCELL’s acquisition of Stemgent, Inc., on September 9, 2014.
Leading companies specializing in iPSC research products include:
- Ncardia
- ReproCELL
- Axol Bioscience
- Cellular Dynamics International (CDI), which was acquired by FUJIFILM Holdings for $307 million in March 2015
In September 2017, Axiogenesis AG and Pluriomics B.V. combined forces to create Ncardia, a global authority in cardiac and neural applications of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
ReproCELL was established in 2009 as a venture company originating from the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University and was the first company to launch a commercial iPSC product. It released a human iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte product, called “ReproCario.” [Read more…]
Dominance of Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) within iPSC Marketplace
Cellular Dynamics International (CDI), a FUJIFILM company, is the largest provider of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) products worldwide. iPSCs are a type of laboratory made stem cell that has significant potential for use within regenerative medicine.
Theoretically, iPSCs have the potential to treat a wide range of diseases, including diabetes, heart diseases, autoimmune diseases, neural decline and more. iPSCs are also being widely implemented for use in drug development and discovery, as well as toxicology screening and personalized medicine.
In this article:
- Life Science Business Unit
- iPSC Market Competitors
- Cellular Dynamics International, Owned by Fujifilm Holdings
- Cellular Dynamics and Shinya Yamanaka
- Cellular Dynamics International Product Licenses
- An Important Player in Stem Cell Research and Therapy
- Use of iPSCs in Drug Development and Discovery
- CDI’s Acquisition by FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation
- The Advantage of Cellular Dynamics’ Fujifilm Acquisition
- Where Will CDI Focus iPSC Cell Production Technology?
Cellular Dynamics International and iPSC Therapy
Since September 2016, Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) has been divided into two business units, a Therapeutics Business Unit and a Life Science business unit. CDI’s Therapeutics business unit is focused on developing induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) based therapies for ocular, cardiac, neural and oncology applications. In contrast, CDI’s Life Science business unit is focused on developing the research products side of the business.
iPSC Market Competitors
In addition to CDI, there are many other companies and organizations that are involved with the development of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) therapies, including but not limited to:
- Ocata Therapeutics
- RIKEN
- Kyoto University and CiRA
- Fate Therapeutics
- Megakaryon Corporation
- Cynata Therapeutics
There are also a number of companies specializing in iPSC product development, including:
- Allele Biotechnology
- ALSTEM Bio
- Applied Biological Materials (ABM)
- Applied StemCell
- Axol Bioscience
- BrainXell
- Cell Applications
- Cellular Dynamics International (a Fujifilm Company)
- EMD Millipore
- Minerva Biotechnologies
- Ncardia (formed through merger of Axiogenesis and Pluriomics)
- Neucyte
- Pluricell Biotech
- REPROCELL
- Sigma Aldrich (provides 350 iPSC lines through partnership with EBiSC)
- STEMCELL Technologies
- Stemgent (iPS Cell Business Unit owned by ReproCELL)
- Takara Bio
- Tempo Bioscience
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- xCell Sciences
- And others
Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics Inc
Cellular Dynamics International is one of the most important market participants in the iPSC sector, because of its dominance in both iPSC therapies and life science tools.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 5
- Next Page »