Sangamo BioSciences and Sigma-Aldrich Announce Nature Biotechnology Study Demonstrating Zinc Finger Technology for Modification of Human ...( Application of ZFN Technology in St...),Health

Application of ZFN Technology in Stem Cells has Potential to Yield High

Value Research Reagents and Therapeutic Products

ST. LOUIS and RICHMOND, Calif., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (Nasdaq: SIAL) and Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO) announced today the publication of data demonstrating the use of Sangamo's ZFP Nucleases (ZFNs) for "gene-editing" in human stem cells. This work represents a significant advance in the ability to specifically and efficiently modify the human genome in stem cells potentially enabling the efficient generation of stem cell lines for use as models of human disease for medical research and for drug testing. In addition to its use in the generation of valuable research reagents, the technology has potential in the therapeutic application of stem cells.

The work, which was carried out in the laboratory of Luigi Naldini, M.D., Ph.D. at the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Milan, Italy, in collaboration with Sangamo scientists, was published in Nature Biotechnology as an advance online publication (http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nbt1353.html).

"This is a significant advance for both research and the potential therapeutic use of stem cells," stated Dr. Naldini, a senior author of the study. "Stem cells are the body's natural resource for regeneration and re
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