License to Neural Stem Cells Acquired - Layton BioScience Inc. and Children's Medical Center in Boston - Brief Article

Applied Genetics News, Dec 19, 1999

Layton BioScience (105 Reservoir Rd, Atherton, CA 94027-6421; Tel: 650/854-6614) has entered into an exclusive, worldwide agreement with Children's Medical Center in Boston to research and develop applications for neural stem cell technology discovered by Evan Y. Snyder, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. His work is expected to spur advances in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, brain tumors, genetic diseases, and other global neural disorders. These studies have also advanced research in the treatment of more focal disorders, such as stroke and spinal cord injury.

Snyder has isolated, propagated, and established a number of human neural stem cell lines. He has also demonstrated their ability to migrate and differentiate in vivo into all three neural cell types: neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. His research with laboratory mice shows that when neural stem cells are injected into an injured brain, they survive and migrate to the wounded region. When he added human neural stem cells to mouse brain cells carrying the mutant gene responsible for Tay-Sachs disease, the new cells took over and corrected the problem.

"In the actual brains of a number of animal models of neurological diseases, it's as if the cells know the injured area is there and how they are needed," says Snyder.

"We are pleased to join with Children's Medical Center and Dr. Snyder in developing medical technology that may one day offer new life to patients and families afflicted with a wide range of disorders governed by the human brain and spinal cord," said Layton CEO Gary L. Snable.