Cellular Dynamics Announces Launch of iCell® Hepatoblasts to Enable Research into Therapies That Stimulate Liver Regeneration

MADISON, Wis., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (CDI), a FUJIFILM company, today announced the launch of iCell^® Hepatoblasts, liver progenitor cells generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These cells show promise for liver regeneration therapy research by enabling researchers to identify molecules capable of stimulating liver progenitor cell proliferation and growth.  They also provide an in vitro cellular system for studying hepatic development and regeneration and they can be engineered to develop complex liver models for use in in vitro and in vivo applications.

Key Points

• Hepatoblasts are bipotential liver progenitor cells that can differentiate into either hepatocytes, cells that comprises the majority of liver tissue, or cholangiocytes, epithelial cells of the bile duct.
• CDI has cryopreserved iCell Hepatoblasts at the time point in differentiation between definitive endoderm and hepatocyte specification.
• iCell Hepatoblasts can be induced to differentiate into either hepatocytes or cholangiocytes, as dictated by the media conditions in which the cells are cultured.
• iCell Hepatoblasts retain proliferative capacity upon thaw.
• iCell Hepatoblasts can be co-cultured with other CDI cell types (such as iCell^® Endothelial Cells, iCell^® Hepatocytes and iCell^® Macrophages) to enable complex liver tissue regeneration and disease modeling.

Quote

Kaz Hirao, CDI Chairman and CEO, said, "The availability of iCell Hepatoblasts has improved researchers' ability to study human liver cell regeneration, and as a result these cells show significant potential for accelerating the development of therapies for liver disease. The versatility of iCell Hepatoblasts in research, preclinical drug discovery and complex liver modeling applications opens new doors for understanding liver function and addressing human disease."

About Cellular Dynamics International (CDI), a FUJIFILM company

Cellular Dynamics International (CDI), a FUJIFILM company, is a leading developer and supplier of human cells used in drug discovery, toxicity testing, and regenerative medicine applications. Leveraging technology that can be used to create induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and differentiated tissue-specific cells from any individual, CDI is committed to advancing life science research and transforming the therapeutic development process in order to fundamentally improve human health. The company's inventoried iCell® products and donor-specific MyCell® Products are available in the quantity, quality, purity, and reproducibility required for drug and cell therapy development. For more information please visit www.cellulardynamics.com.

About FUJIFILM

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Tokyo, Japan brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including: healthcare, with medical systems, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; graphic systems; highly functional materials, such as flat panel display materials; optical devices, such as broadcast and cinema lenses; digital imaging; and document products. These are based on a vast portfolio of chemical, mechanical, optical, electronic, software and production technologies.  In the year ended March 31, 2016, the company had global revenues of $22.1 billion, at an exchange rate of 112.54 yen to the dollar. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit: www.fujifilmholdings.com.

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Tony Russo, Ph.D., or Rich Allan
Russo Partners, LLC
(212) 845-4251
(646) 942-5588
[email protected]
[email protected]  

Lauren Geloso
Fujifilm
(914) 789-8303
[email protected]  

SOURCE Cellular Dynamics International, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cellulardynamics.com