Geron Demonstrates Differentiation of Cardiomyocytes From Human Embryonic Stem
Cells
Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 3, 2002--Geron
Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) announced today the publication of research
results that describe the differentiation of cardiomyocytes from human
embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The studies demonstrate that functional,
contractile cardiomyocytes can be efficiently differentiated from
hESCs, and have potential for clinical use in treating diseases such
as acute myocardial infarction and heart failure.
As published in the September issue of Circulation Research, Geron
scientists developed unique methods capable of generating
cardiomyocytes from three different hESC lines that were maintained in
culture for one year. The differentiated cardiomyocytes contracted for
over 70 days in vitro and expressed molecular markers characteristic
of human cardiomyocytes as well as proteins such as cardiac troponin I
and N-cadherin. Further, pharmacological agents modulated the
contractile rate of the hESC-derived cardiomyocytes in the same manner
as observed with cardiomyocytes isolated from primary heart tissue.
The publication is available online, at
circres.ahajournals.org.
"The hESC culture and differentiation methods produced enriched
cardiomyocyte populations of 70% purity," stated Jane S. Lebkowski,
Ph.D., Geron's vice president of research and development,
regenerative medicine. "The presence of characteristic proteins
critical for cardiomyocyte function and metabolic activity in these
hESC-derived populations will be important for their integration and
coordination with adjacent host cardiomyocytes after transplantation."
Previous animal studies by other investigators have shown that
isolated fetal cardiomyocytes can improve cardiac function upon
transplantation into the myocardium of infarcted animals. In addition,
derivatives of mouse embryonic stem cells have been found to engraft
the rodent myocardium, integrating with the host cardiomyocytes.
Human embryonic stem cells are unique stem cells because they are
pluripotent. They can develop into all cells and tissues in the body.
Also, because they express telomerase, they continuously self-renew in
the undifferentiated state without losing pluripotency. The extended
replicative capacity of hESC lines will facilitate the scalable and
reproducible production of multi-dose lots of cardiomyocytes, allowing
rigorous efficacy and safety testing and, ultimately, widespread
availability for therapy.
"The purities, yields, and functionality of the hESC-derived
cardiomyocyte populations allow us to advance this program to animal
testing," remarked Thomas B. Okarma, Ph.D., M.D., Geron's president
and chief executive officer. "The next milestone for this program is
to demonstrate safety and efficacy of these cells in animal models of
human myocardial disease."
Geron holds licenses under U.S. Patent Nos. 5,843,780 and
6,200,806, including exclusive rights to develop and commercialize
neural, cardiomyocyte and islet cells derived from hESCs for
therapeutic applications. Further, Geron has built its own
international portfolio of patent applications covering technologies
it has developed to enable the scalable growth and differentiation of
hESCs, as well as various differentiated cell types that can be
produced from hESCs.
Geron is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and
commercializing therapeutic and diagnostic products for applications
in oncology and regenerative medicine, and research tools for drug
discovery. Geron's product development programs are based upon three
patented core technologies: telomerase, human embryonic stem cells and
nuclear transfer. |
