Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA; TASE: TEVA) and the
Technion Israel Institute of Technology are negotiating to set up a joint
stem cell venture at an investment of several million dollars. The venture
will create a number of stem cell lines using know-how developed by Prof.
Jacob Itskovitz-Eldor (IHTIR-Jan 2004) of the Technion, who runs one of the
few laboratories in the world that researches the culture of embryonic stem
cell lines.
Embryonic stem cells can replicate rapidly over an extended period in
laboratory conditions. Current stem cell lines are mainly used for research
purposes. They can be used to create various tissues and monitor body
development and the effects of pharmaceuticals. They can also serve as a
treatment in their own right. Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Ltd. (Bulletin
Board:BCLI), Pluristem Life Systems Ltd. (Bulletin Board:PLRS), and
Gamida-Cell Ltd. are working in this direction.
Teva is presumably interested in both uses for stem cells as well as the
possibility of commercializing licensing stem cell lines to third parties.