VistaGen signs licensing deal for stem cell culture technology

VistaGen Therapeutics has signed a licensing agreement with the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine located at the University Health Network in Toronto, Canada, for stem cell culture technology.

VistaGen will utilize the licensed technology to develop hematopoietic precursor stem cells from human pluripotent stem cells, to develop drug screening and cell therapy applications for human blood system disorders.

Hematopoietic precursor stem cells give rise to all red and white blood cells and platelets in the body. VistaGen will use the technology to improve the cell culture methods used to produce hematopoietic stem cell populations.

VistaGen president and chief scientific officer Ralph Snodgrass said: “This technology dramatically advances our ability to produce and purify this important blood stem cell precursor for both in vitro drug screening and in vivo cell therapy applications.”