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Reliance Takes Stem Cell R&D To Next Level TIMES NEWS NETWORK WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 08, 2003 02:37:33 PM BANGALORE: While factories mass-producing human cells and tissues to replace damaged ones are still in the realm of science fiction, an Indian research unit, Reliance Life Sciences, is among the few that has produced human tissue and cells in the laboratory. Using cells derived from embryonic stem cells, which have the potential to become any human organ or tissue, Reliance Life Sciences has created nerve tissue that could reverse brain damage due to Parkinson's disease, as well as beta islet cells that can regulate diabetes, heart tissue to repair weak hearts and also blood cells. The technology is now ready for animal trials, says Dr Satish Totey, research head at the laboratory that was in a list of 11 whose stem cell lines were cleared for federally funded projects by US President George Bush in 2001. At a celebration of 25 years of IVF treatment in India, held in Bangalore last week Dr Totey candidly spoke about the work at his lab. In a possible treatment for Parkinson's disease, which is caused by the lack of the neuro-chemical dopamine, Reliance Life Sciences has produced dopamine-secreting cells in the lab. If inserted in the brain of a Parkinson's affected person, these cells can reverse the debilitating effects of the disease. Similarly, insulin secreting beta islet cells can regulate glucose levels if given to a juvenile diabetic, says Dr Totey. According to him more than serving as therapies, stem cell work, like the creation of heart cells or cardiomycetes in the lab, will help economise and speed up pharmaceutical research. ``Permanent cell lines developed for the pharma industry can cut 15 to 20 years and billions of dollars in the drug development process. Clinical data on the effectiveness of drugs can be obtained quickly by conducting experiments on these cell lines,' says Dr Totey. Reliance already has a tie-up with one pharma major and is talking to a couple of others for using the technology for drug development. While Reliance Life Sciences has kept on par with stem cell technology across the world, US regulations against the use of mouse cells to nourish stem cell lines is blocking the path to animal trials. The US FDA has raised the issue of the possible contamination by animal viruses and bacteria. Though India has no policy on this front, Reliance is preparing to develop new cell lines that have not been fed on mouse embryonic cells, says Dr Totey. The scaling up of production of these human cells and tissues, storage, and the possibility of rejection of tissue grafts by the human body are other challenges that lie ahead of the technology, he says. ``Gene therapy has been talked about for nearly 20 years, when and how stem cell therapy will emerge is hard to say,' he points out. SOURCE: The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=221780 * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn