CDI and Japanese firm expand agreement

Cellular Dynamics International has expanded its distribution agreement with iPS Academia Japan.

The Madison stem cell company will begin providing its iCell neurons and endothelial, or blood vessel, cells to the Japanese company in addition to its heart cells, distributed through an agreement reached last June.

"The reliability and consistent quality of CDI's cardiomyocytes have proven to be a valuable product offering to our academic and pharmaceutical customers," said Shosaku Murayama, president and chief executive of iPS Academia Japan.

UW-Madison researcher James Thomson, founder of CDI, and Shinya Yamanaka, a member of the scientific advisory board of iPS, are both considered stem cell pioneers.

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