Opexa creates insulin-producing islet clusters from stem cells

New York, June 26 - Opexa Therapeutics said its researchers have been able to generate pancreatic islet-like cell clusters that produce human insulin from monocyte-derived stem cells.

The company added that it has applied for patent protection for the process, which uses stem cells from human peripheral blood.

"We have developed a novel process in which we are able to generate pancreatic islet-like clusters that are glucose responsive and have the capacity to maintain glucose homeostasis in vitro for extended periods of time," said Glenn Winner, director of molecular biology at Opexa, in a news release. "The ability of these pancreatic islet-like cell clusters to synthesize insulin in vitro may lead to an autologous islet cell transplantation therapy for the treatment of diabetes."

Opexa, a Woodlands, Texas, company developing cell therapies, will make two presentations on its research at the International Society for Stem Cell Research annual meeting in Toronto on Thursday.

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