NEW YORK, Dec. 11-Athersys has obtained exclusive rights to University of Minnesota stem cell technology in order to study stem cell differentiation and develop new therapeutics, the company said this morning.
The company acquired rights to research done with Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cells, a type of stem cell isolated from adult bone marrow. Stem cell researchers hope these may be developed as a treatment for conditions like muscular dystrophy or Parkinson's disease.
In this agreement, researchers from Athersys and from the University of Minnesota hope to jointly identify the proteins that direct cell differentiation using the company's gene expression technology. These proteins may also suggest new leads for drug development.
The partners are making the cells available to academic researchers through material transfer agreements.
Financial specifics of the license and partnership were not revealed.
Athersys is based in Cleveland, Ohio.
For further information, see the statement.