A Medical Device Daily
International Stem Cell (ISC; Oceanside, California) a stem cell therapeutics company, reported that its wholly-owned subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology (Walkersville, Maryland) has entered into an agreement to manufacture adipose (fat)-derived stem cell research products for Cytori Therapeutics ( San Diego).
Lifeline will process and derive stem cells from adipose tissue provided by Cytori. The manufacturing process will yield batches of frozen vials of stem cells that have been isolated, purified and expanded from the adipose tissue. These packaged stem cells will then move into an international supply chain.
The cells will initially be used for research purposes for studies into regenerative medicine and basic cell biology. Providing access and availability of these standardized human stem cells to scientific researchers holds the promise to accelerate discoveries and foster advancements into new therapeutic applications.
“It is a good fit for both companies,” said Jeff Krstich, CEO of ISC, “but, it is an especially important step for ISC. Beyond our own discoveries in stem cell research, it is our goal to be the source of an unlimited supply of human cells for the greater research community; thus contributing to the advance in regenerative medicine in general, as well as participating in the growing numbers of effective cellular therapies to treat specific diseases.”
Cytori said it’s a global leader in the development and commercialization of regenerative medicine products. The company is developing therapeutic applications for its Celution system to enable real-time regenerative cell therapy in conjunction with breast reconstruction surgery, cardiovascular disease, and other unmet medical needs.
In other contract offerings: The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (Oakland, California) reported it has achieved a sweeping new collective bargaining agreement for 3,500 registered nurses at nine Tenet Healthcare hospitals in California — including Tenet’s two largest California facilities, Doctor’s Medical Center (Modesto) and USC University Hospital (Los Angeles).
RNs will vote on the new four-year pact in meetings at the nine hospitals that start today and run through Sunday.
Details of the agreement will be announced following the membership votes. According to CNA/NNOC they include substantial gains in compensation, significant patient care enhancements, and improved union rights for RNs.
In a separate agreement, CNA/NNOC and Tenet Healthcare also reached a national organizing pact governing fair representation election procedures for Tenet RNs.