Sigma-Aldrich to collaborate with D-Finitive Cell Technologies, Inc. to develop research tools for regenerative medicine

Sigma-Aldrich announced today it has entered into a research collaboration program with D-Finitive Cell Technologies, Inc. This collaboration is expected to support the development and commercial offering of 14 products over a two-year span, with a planned launch of many of these products in 2009. These additions to Sigma-Aldrich’s growing portfolio of research tools for regenerative medicine are expected to consist of serum-free media for bone marrow and umbilical cord stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells and neural stem cells; cytokine cocktails for stem cell expansion and differentiation; novel formulations for cyropreservation of stem cells; and specialized products to conduct clonogenic assays of the various stem cells (http://www.sigma-aldrich.com/stemcell).

D-Finitive Cell Technologies specializes in providing hematopoietic and neural stem cell products, cell culture media, and innovative growth factors for cells. D-Finitive provides its services to industry and research institutions for the development of specific products and custom applications. Their expert staff is headed by Paul Price, Ph.D., who is the Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Price is internationally recognized as the leader in serum-free cell culture media development. He is the creator of many products currently used in the field of cellular research, including both stem and differentiated cells, and has played a key role in the development of formulations for the growth of cells used in the vaccine and bio-production industries.

Sigma-Aldrich views funding of external research collaborations as a strategically important approach to developing cutting-edge research tools, and to augment its internal development efforts. “We are excited about this collaboration. Working with biotech companies such as D-Finitive enables us to commercialize more products as a complement to our in-house product development,” said Carl Schrott, Marketing Director for Regenerative Medicine at Sigma-Aldrich. “Our relationship with Dr. Price is expected to help ensure the development of high-quality products.”

Donald P. DeLuca, Jr., President of D-Finitive Cell Technologies, said, “We are delighted to be working with Sigma-Aldrich. For us, this relationship represents a major opportunity to marry our expertise in media design to their expertise in high quality manufacturing and their worldwide distribution network.”

About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. Sigma-Aldrich has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 36 countries and has 8,000 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award-winning website at sigma-aldrich.com .

About D-Finitive Cell Technologies, Inc.: D-Finitive Cell Technologies is engaged in the production and distribution of biomedical research products to researchers worldwide. It specializes in providing stem cell products, cell culture media, and innovative growth factor cocktails for cells as well as expertise in providing customized, contract based research services. Its team holds international acclaim in the cellular research arena with extensive competencies in growth formulations, bio-production, stem cell research, differentiated cell technologies, and laboratory quality control. For more information about D-Finitive Cell Technologies please visit its website at dcelltech.com .