SCT - Stem Cell Technologies Ltd. was founded late in 2004 in order to capitalize on the experience and ongoing research from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa in the field of human ES cells. SCT is owned in equal shares by Yissum, the research and development company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and TRDF - the Technion Research and Development Foundation.

The main goal of SCT is to direct human ES cells to differentiate into insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells for transplantation into diabetic patients. type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease caused by destruction and loss of function of beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, insulin is not produced, and blood glucose levels are not regulated. The disease causes a large number of symptoms: blindness, kidney disease and nerve damage, which can lead to amputations and death.

The mainstay treatment for type 1 diabetes is insulin injections. Although the exogenous insulin therapy has dramatically reduced mortality from diabetes, patients often succumb to the long-term complications. Transplantation of functional pancreatic cells represents one of the most promising approaches towards curing diabetes. However, currently this approach is limited by shortage of tissues. Human ES cells may offer an unlimited source of beta cells for transplantation, once an effective differentiation protocol is developed. SCT has the knowledge, expertise, technologies and IP to develop this differentiation protocol.

The potential revenues pertaining to this invention are tremendous. According to the World Health Organization, over 150 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes. About 5%¶% of diabetes cases in North America are type 1, and in the United States alone the treatment of diabetes costs over $130 billion annually.

Source: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem