Company Adds New Kits to Differentiate Mesenchymal Stem Cells

CARLSBAD, Calif.–Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN – News), a provider of essential life science technologies for research, production and diagnostics, announced the launch of a serum free media (SFM) designed specifically to culture mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), or stem cells derived from bone marrow. STEMPRO® MSC SFM is a first of its kind product that overcomes many challenges in MSC culture. In concert, Invitrogen also launched two kits designed to allow the differentiation of MSCs to either adipocytes (fat cells) or osteocytes (bone cells).

MSCs are currently in use for therapeutic applications, but until now, their growth in vitro has required the use of media containing animal-derived serum. Serum-based media includes undefined elements that can make performance vary from lot to lot. In addition, the inclusion of undefined animal components can raise questions with respect to regulatory agency approval of therapeutics based on MSCs.

STEMPRO® MSC SFM is completely defined, meaning that each element is present in the media at a known quantity, thereby eliminating significant lot-to-lot variability. The media maintains MSCs in an undifferentiated state for more than nine passages whereas cells in traditional media supplemented with serum start to demonstrate diminished cellular expansion and differentiation after five passages.

“Scientists have been searching for years to develop a reliable serum free media on which to grow mesenchymal stem cells,” said Joydeep Goswami, Ph.D., vice president of stem cells and regenerative medicine for Invitrogen. “STEMPRO® MSC SFM satisfies a keen need for these researchers and will allow therapeutics companies to provide more robust products to patients who need them.”

In addition to launching STEMPRO® MSC SFM, Invitrogen launched two other products: STEMPRO® Adipogenesis and STEMPRO® Osteogenesis differentiation kits. These kits contain media and specific supplements that can induce MSCs to follow the developmental path to either bone cells or fat cells, allowing researchers to study how MSCs differentiate into multiple tissue types.

For more information, please visit www.invitrogen.com/stempro/msc, or www.invitrogen.com/stempro/mscdiff.

Invitrogen is the premier supplier of tools and reagents for stem cell research. This month, the company announced the launch of CELLstart™, the first fully defined, completely animal origin free substrate for stem cells. The company also recently launched the STEMPRO® EZChek™ Multiplex PCR Kit which allows scientists to monitor human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) with one reaction, as well as STEMPRO® hESC SFM, a fully-defined, serum-and feeder-free media for the growth and expansion of hESCs. Invitrogen offers researchers more than 1,200 products tailored to various parts of the stem cell research workflow for embryonic and adult stem cell populations.

About Invitrogen

Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN – News) provides products and services that support academic and government research institutions and pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide in their efforts to improve the human condition. The company provides essential life science technologies for disease research, drug discovery, and commercial bioproduction. Invitrogen’s own research and development efforts are focused on breakthrough innovation in all major areas of biological discovery including functional genomics, proteomics, stem cells, cell therapy and cell biology — placing Invitrogen’s products in nearly every major laboratory in the world. Founded in 1987, Invitrogen is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and conducts business in more than 70 countries around the world. The company employs approximately 4,700 scientists and other professionals and had revenues of approximately $1.3 billion in 2007. For more information, visit www.invitrogen.com.