International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCQB: ISCO) is a biotechnology company that focuses on developing novel stem cell based therapies. Most recently, they have made significant progress in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) and its derivation with novel protein-based reprogramming method.
The method created by ISCO’s biologists is fundamentally new and successfully enhances the efficiency of the reprogramming process using specific proteins called transducible transcription factors (TTF) while also avoiding the use of viruses.
ISCO has officially shown that the TTF-iPS technology can produce stable stem cells and is ten times more efficient than older methods, all while avoiding any viral related risks. Moreover, the TTFs are naturally eliminated when no longer necessary, further improving safety.
Dr. Ruslan Semechkin, Chief Scientific Officer for ISCO, comments: “This new method offers a much needed safer and more efficient alternative to older techniques and represents a major step forward in being able to use iPS clinically. We are currently working towards shortening the cell reprogramming step from around six weeks to as little as one week.”