Life Technologies Convenes Leadership Summit to Highlight Commercial ...

Life Technologies Convenes Leadership Summit to Highlight Commercial Achievements in Cell Therapy

CARLSBAD, Calif., (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE), a provider of innovative life science solutions, is hosting the 2 nd Annual Cell Therapy Industry Summit November 3-5 at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, CA. Senior executives will discuss achievements made in cell therapy and regenerative medicine in addressing economic, political and regulatory challenges, including the role of partnerships in building regenerative medicine enterprises.

The summit will foster dialogue on the special needs of this nascent area of therapeutic development, including panels that highlight the importance of alliance building, how to leverage the latest technologies to improve manufacturing, addressing regulatory hurdles, and a consideration of the commercialization of cell therapies. In one such alliance, Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN) and Life Technologies are working together to co-develop elements of Geron’s next generation human embryonic stem cell (hESCs) manufacturing technologies.

Other notable achievements include:

• Cellerant Therapeutics securing a $153 million contract by Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to develop treatment for Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS).
• Organovo, Inc.’s advancements with technology that can "print" new arteries and nerve tissue by assembling living cells, an approach that may one day allow doctors to print new organs for patients in need of a transplant.
• University of California, San Diego securing $11.5 million from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to develop a cell transplant therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

"The development and manufacture of new cell therapies for patients with degenerative diseases depends on the development of novel manufacturing technologies," said David J. Earp, PhD, JD, Chief Patent Counsel and Senior Vice President, Business Development for Geron. "Collaborative partnerships such as between Geron and Life Technologies can deliver important breakthroughs in development of enabling platform technologies."

"The cell therapy industry is resilient as it pushes ever further towards the clinic. Companies are finding ways to meet regulatory demands and fund their operations - ranging from implementing new business models, engaging in strategic partnerships and seeking alternate funding mechanisms to advance the industry," said Paul Pickering, PhD, General Manager, Cell Therapy Systems of Life Technologies. "Events such as our Cell Therapy Industry Summit allow industry leaders to share their successes and help each other accomplish business and science objectives."

About Life Technologies ( www.lifetechnologies.com )

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of $3.3 billion in 2009, employs approximately 9,000 people, has a presence in approximately 160 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,900 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc., and manufactures both in-vitro diagnostic products and research use only-labeled products. For more information on how we are making a difference, please visit our website: http://www.lifetechnologies.com .

SOURCE: Life Technologies Corporation