GOLDEN, Colo., July 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. (VODG), dba Vitro Biopharma, announced an expanded relationship with a key distributor of its stem cell-based products, privately-held Neuromics, Inc (www.neuromics.com). Vitro Biopharma officials recently met Neuromics principals at their corporate headquarters in Minneapolis, MN. Neuromics was formed in 2005 by Pete Shuster, a marketing and sales professional with extensive experience in the computer industry who is now focused on providing integral products to the life science industry. Neuromics competitive advantage is based on providing products that lower costs and raise the probability of successful outcomes and include bio-markers, growth factors, transfection reagents, apoptosis detection kits, primary cells and related media. They are designed to serve basic and drug discovery researchers focusing on finding root causes and therapies for neuro-degenerative, autoimmune, inflammatory response diseases and certain forms of cancer.
Vitro Biopharma and Neuromics recently entered a distribution agreement whereby Vitro provides its stem cell-based products to Neuromics' customers. Stem cell research continues to grow, based on positive results from several studies showing potential clinical benefit of stem cell-based cellular therapy. There is a growing demand for adult stem cells known as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Vitro Biopharma manufactures and sells several fundamental tools needed to advance adult stem cell research and clinical studies, including human MSCs and derivatives, the MSC-Gro(TM) Brand of media optimized for growth and differentiation of MSCs as well as assay kits for determination of MSC quality, potency and response to toxic agents.
Based on the growing demand for MSC products provided by Vitro Biopharma for both research and clinical studies, Neuromics officials have committed increased resources to promote these products. Furthermore, both Vitro Biopharma and Neuromics are evaluating additional products that are perceived to enhance the competitive advantage of Vitro Biopharma's existing MSC product line through strategic combination. A strategic goal moving forward, is an additional partner to supply devices needed for FDA-compliant manufacture of clinical materials for use in pre-clinical and clinical studies. These devices are known as bio-reactors that allow for highly controlled and reproducible production of large numbers of stem cells needed to provide therapeutic benefit. Several characteristics of these bioreactors are essential in reaching the demanding goals needed to achieve regulatory compliant manufacturing to support stem cell therapy that maintains rigorous standards of safety and efficacy. We are presently evaluating suitable devices for this application that appear to be well-suited to the required needs, specifications and characteristics.
Dr. Jim Musick, Vitro's President & CEO, said, "We are very pleased to expand our relationship with Neuromics, Inc and look forward to a long-term mutually beneficial business relationship. While we focus on product development, manufacturing and advancement of our product pipeline, our sales partnerships are important alliances in the expansion of revenue generation. Neuromics is an ideally suited sales partner due to their broad experience and success in distribution of critical life science products. We also see the importance of a complete manufacturing system to support stem cell-based cellular therapy. It is through the highly complex interactions of cells, cell culture media, extracellular matrices and other environmental conditions that together determine the characteristics of the stem cells intended for clinical use. We also anticipate additional expansion of our relationship with Neuromics as Vitro Biopharma's product pipeline advances through the commercialization process."
"Neuromics' strategic direction aligns tightly with Vitro's goal of 'Harnessing the Power of Cells(TM)'", said Shuster, "expanding capabilities enable us to serve an increasing segment of the Biotech and Pharma research community. This is especially true of the stem cell and regenerative medicine research community. Our relationship with Vitro Biopharma adds horsepower to these capabilities. Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Media are raw materials for high throughput and high content cell-based assays. Better materials help insure only the best targets, biologicals and compounds are passed on to downstream processes."
About Vitro Diagnostics, Inc.
Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. dba Vitro Biopharma (VODG);(http://www.vitrobiopharma.com), owns U.S. patents for production of FSH, immortalization of pituitary cells, and a cell line that produces beta islets for use in treatment of diabetes. Vitro also owns a pending international patent for generation of pluripotent stem cells. Vitro's mission is "Harnessing the Power of Cells(TM)" for the advancement of regenerative medicine to its full potential. Vitro operates within a modern biotechnology manufacturing, R&D and corporate facility in Golden, Colorado. Vitro manufactures and sells "Tools for Stem Cell and Drug Development(TM)", including human mesenchymal stem cells and derivatives, MSC-Gro(TM) optimized media for stem cell self-renewal and lineage-specific differentiation. Vitro recently formed a strategic alliance with HemoGenix(R), Inc. (http://www.hemogenix.com/) to jointly manufacture and distribute LUMENESC(TM) and LumiSTEM(TM) quantitative assays for determination of stem cell quality, potency and response to toxic agents.
About Neuromics, Inc.
Neuromics (http://www.neuromics.com), located in Minneapolis, MN, is a profitable and growing bio-regents company. The company was initially built by supplying bio-markers to Neuroscience Researchers. Today, Neuromics provides a range of solutions that include markers, growth factors, gene expression analysis tools, apoptosis detection kits, primary cells and related media. These solutions are increasingly being used in combinations by customers to help accelerate or improve the process of drug discovery.
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Vitro Biopharma Strengthens and Expands Its Distribution Agreement With Neuromics