Islet Sciences, Inc. (OTCBB: ISLT) is a development-stage biotechnology company with patented technologies focused on transplantation therapy for people with insulin-dependent diabetes. The Company's transplantation technology includes methods for the culturing, isolation, maturation, and immuno-protection (microencapsulation) of islet cells. Islet Sciences’ mission includes the introduction of commercial products with applications to cell-based replacement therapy in the healthcare marketplace.
The Company announced that it has exclusively licensed technology from Yale University.
Chairman and CEO of Islet Sciences John Steel stated,
"In the course of research conducted under Yale auspices, Dr. Kevan Herold and his colleagues at Yale University School of Medicine have developed a technology entitled 'Circulating hypomethylated B cell-derived DNA' as a biomarker of B cell destruction. We are excited to utilize this groundbreaking invention as we look to commercialize it to benefit the growing worldwide diabetic community. This test has the potential to identify beta cell death and emerging diabetes far earlier than clinical presentation."
Dr. Kevan Herold added,
"The opportunity to identify diabetes and islet dysfunction prior to clinical presentation could be beneficial therapeutically. I am looking forward to working with Islet Sciences to commercialize this technology that clearly holds so much potential."
Clusters of beta cells form islets within the pancreas. Diminished beta/islet cell function is one of the primary causes of insulin dependent diabetes and can be caused by numerous factors. Insulin dependent diabetes is the more difficult aspect of the disease.
Jonathan Soderstrom, director of the Office of Cooperative Research at Yale commented,
"We are pleased that Islet Sciences has made the decision to invest in this discovery and look forward to developing it into a valuable new tool for treating this debilitating disease."