Stemgent, Pfizer announce collaboration and research licensing agreement

Apr 16 2010

Stemgent, Inc. and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced a collaboration and research licensing agreement that will lead to certain research reagents developed or discovered by Pfizer being made available to the global research community through Stemgent. Stemgent provides research tools and services to institutions, companies and universities in advancing in vitro and in vivo non-human stem cell research.

“We are pleased to form this partnership with Stemgent”

According to the agreement, scientists involved in cell-based research will now be able to purchase fully licensed compounds with pharmaceutical modes of action as off-the-shelf products for use in non-clinical experiments. It is hoped that along with other Stemgent offerings, the materials will greatly benefit scientists working in a diverse range of stem cell and cell-based applications, including neuroscience, cancer and metabolic disease.

As part of the agreement, Pfizer and Stemgent will form a joint research committee to review and evaluate the collaboration's progress, coordinate results publication, monitor information and materials exchange between the two parties, nominate compounds and provide guidance relating to research tools for use in stem cell research.

"We are pleased to form this partnership with Stemgent," said Ruth McKernan, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Pfizer Regenerative Medicine. Dr. McKernan will also join Stemgent's scientific advisory board. "We applaud the efforts Stemgent has made in bringing important research tools to the stem cell community. We all need research tools such as the molecules Stemgent can offer to dissect the pathways involved in stem cell biology and to advance our understanding of the science. I am delighted to join other industry and academic leaders on Stemgent's Scientific Advisory Board."

Commenting on the collaboration, Ian Ratcliffe, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stemgent, said, "This is an important step for the scientific community as it increases our potential small molecule product offerings at a time when stem cell research gathers momentum and size around the world. We are especially pleased to have Dr. McKernan on our SAB; her experience and intellect bring tremendous value to our already globally respected group of scientific advisors."