MADISON, Wis., July 9, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (CDI) (Nasdaq:ICEL), today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) awarded the company three patents on the reprogramming of human cells into pluripotent stem cells from human blood. Joining an IP portfolio of over 800 patents awarded to or in-licensed by CDI, these patents position the company as the leading supplier of choice for a reliable, high quality supply of human cells for research, stem cell banking, and cellular therapy development.
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Bob Palay, chief executive officer of CDI, said, "These patents are further evidence of CDI's continued leadership in the pluripotent stem cell field. Derivation of iPSCs from blood has several advantages over other tissues: donors are already familiar with a standard doctor's office blood draw, where only a small amount of blood is required; blood is easily accessible and not exposed to environmental influences, as skin is; and the hundreds of thousands of previously banked blood samples enable researchers to create human disease models from donors with known genotypic and phenotypic backgrounds. These patents cover the reprogramming of both fresh and banked blood, enabling our customers to access any samples in their research quest to improve healthcare."
About Cellular Dynamics International, Inc.
Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (CDI) is a leading developer and manufacturer of fully functioning human cells in industrial quantities to precise specifications. CDI's proprietary iCell Operating System (iCell O/S) includes true human cells in multiple cell types (iCell products), human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and custom iPSCs and iCell products (MyCell Products). CDI's iCell O/S products provide standardized, easy-to-use, cost-effective access to the human cell, the smallest fully functioning operating unit of human biology. Customers use our iCell O/S products, among other purposes, for drug discovery and screening; to test the safety and efficacy of their small molecule and biologic drug candidates; for stem cell banking; and in the research and development of cellular therapeutics. CDI was founded in 2004 by Dr. James Thomson, a pioneer in human pluripotent stem cell research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. CDI's facilities are located in Madison, Wisconsin, with a second facility in Novato, California. See www.cellulardynamics.com.
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Forward-looking Statements
To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Cellular Dynamics International, Inc., including the impact of the issuance of U.S. Patent Nos. 8,691,574, 8,741,648, and 8,765,470 on the reprogramming of blood cells into iPSCs, they are forward‑looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our product development efforts, actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Cellular Dynamics undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the Company in general, see Cellular Dynamic's quarterly report on Form 10‑Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 2014, and as may be described from time to time in Cellular Dynamics' subsequent SEC filings.