More than 100 clinical trials using products derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) have been started around the world, and the number of potential hPSC-derived clinical products in early development is increasing. Selecting the appropriate hPSC line at an early stage is critical for developers of off-the-shelf, or allogeneic, therapies. If the right cell line is not chosen, it can delay or halt product development.
Despite recognition of this issue by researchers and industry, a comprehensive and accessible global listing of available hPSC lines suitable for clinical use has not existed until now.
Tenneille Ludwig from WiCell Research Institute and Melissa Carpenter from Carpenter Consulting Corporation addressed this gap by screening scientific literature, websites, and collecting information from manufacturers. They identified 166 hPSC lines currently available for clinical applications through 18 distributors worldwide. Details about these cell lines—including informed consent procedures, donor sex, blood type, HLA type, quality standards applied, and licensing and distribution modalities—were compiled into a paper published in Stem Cell Reports.
"This unique resource will guide researchers and developers in selecting the optimal cell line for their specific needs with the goal to drive hPSC-derived products towards the clinic," according to the authors.
