Rapid growth continues for Sistemic

"ON TOP OF THE WORLD"

12 January 2012: Sistemic, UK:  Sistemic, the stem cell and drug development technology company, has won a substantial Scottish Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant from Scottish Enterprise. The grant forms part of a £1M planned investment programme which, on the back of a very successful year for the company, will see Sistemic more than double the size of its operation. To accommodate the expanded  research team, the company is relocating to customised laboratories during the first half of 2012.

Jim Reid, Sistemic ‘s Chairman and CEO said, “Securing this support from Scottish Enterprise is a major achievement and shows great support by the Scottish Government for what we are doing. It adds to an already successful year for Sistemic, a year which has seen us grow sales dramatically and develop our customer base in Europe, USA, Japan and Australia. We truly have become a global company during 2011 and we look forward to relocating in the first half of 2012 to allow this success and growth to continue. It is always an exciting opportunity to be on the lookout for new employees and we are ideally placed to recruit top talent. This type of grant support is crucial to help grow successful research focused biotech companies such as ours and we will ensure we make the most of it!”

“We work very closely with some of the world’s leading stem cell and pharmaceutical companies and we need to continually review our operations to make sure that we have the best technology and services and we need a facility which suits our needs,” explains Reid. “The world is waking-up to the incredible opportunities offered by stem cell technology. Opportunities which show great promise to prolong healthy life and Sistemic is already a key part of this burgeoning worldwide industry.”

Sistemic‘s SistemRNA™, SistemQC™, SistemKB™  and SistemTOX™ products have brought new depth to miRNA analysis, which has been shown to add value to drug discovery, cell therapeutics and diagnostics.  For 2012 the company looks forward to increased business and growing their client network around the world.

For further information on Sistemic and Sistemic miRNA analysis products, please visit: www.sistemic.co.uk

Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) is the main investment grant scheme in areas of Scotland designated for regional aid under European Community law. RSA funding is available to create or safeguard jobs for both Scottish owned businesses and inward investors. For further information visit the Scottish Development International website: http://www.sdi.co.uk/

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Maximise the potential of your stem cell applications

Meet Sistemic experts at Stem Cell Meeting on the MESA

29 November: Sistemic, UK: Dr Verna McErlane, Director of Commercial Operations, International at Sistemic, is scheduled to give her own special insight into advanced analytical models to support the stem cell therapy industry at this year’s Stem Cell Meeting on the MESA conference. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss miRNA profiling and learn how to maximise the potential of stem cell applications. The 2011 conference will be held in the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California on November 30 and December 1. 

Acknowledged experts in cell characterization, Sistemic has recognized a need in the stem cell industry for improved miRNA profiling methodology. The company’s unique approach to miRNA analysis presents significant benefits to stem cell research by providing the tools needed for accurate and rapid cell characterization and an excellent platform for validation prior to commercialization.

Dr Verna McErlane said: “As members of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, who are co-organisers of this event, we are particularly delighted to be attending this meeting, which we believe is the premier event for those involved in the stem cell industry.”

 Stem Cell Meeting on the MESA is a two-day conference, which is aimed at bringing together the scientific research and business communities. Dr McErlane will be available throughout the two days to discuss your stem cell analysis objectives and how Sistemic can help you meet those objectives more easily. Sistemic looks forward to meeting you there and supporting the event organizers in their goal to facilitate a bridge between academia and industry and further the translation of clinical research.

For further information come along to the meeting or contact Sistemic directly www.sistemic.co.uk

Sistemic presents the solution for broader stem cell therapy at AUSBiotech 2011

18 October : Sistemic, UK:  Verna McErlane, Director of Commercial Operations for miRNA specialist Sistemic, is attending AUSBiotech 2011 in Adelaide, South Australia, 16-19 October. At this event she presented a talk entitled ‘The Challenges of Advancing Stem Cell Therapies into the clinic; a Characterisation Perspective’. The presentation formed part of the ‘Human Health – Clever cell culture for the innovation of biologics’ session on 18 October.

Dr McErlane’s talk provided an intuitive overview of the cell therapy market including future promise, what has been achieved to date, followed by a review of some of the challenges in bringing a cell therapy to the clinic. She then focused on cell characterisation and the utility of using miRNA fingerprinting by showcasing recent case studies where Sistemic SistemQC technology has provided unique insight to assist stem cell developers produce better and more standardised cells.

“The stem cell sector has already shown its promise in producing effective treatments but these are just the tip of the iceberg and there is the potential for so much more,” said Dr McErlane. “The cell therapy industry is at a critical cross-roads during its evolution into the clinical environment and there are some real challenges ahead including a definite need for reliable standardisation and characterisation methodology.”

Jim Reid, CEO of Sistemic commented, “At Sistemic we are addressing key challenges and, in conjunction with our stem cell clients, coming up with practical solutions which will enhance the potential of these developments in safe and effective patient treatment.”

The translation of stem cell technology from the lab into the clinic requires reliable monitoring and characterisation methodology. Sistemics’ SistemRNA and SistemQC use a stem cell focused, miRNA-based approach which molecularly characterises cells and monitors their quality. Not only does it give a succinct read out on the status of the cells, but also provides an insight into the underlying biological effects associated with any change observed. This is being used by the stem cell community to optimise and guide the differentiation process, benchmark differentiated cells and, from a manufacturing perspective, provide identity markers, purity and potency control. Such innovative developments, together with other new tools and a consensus on the stardardisation process, are what will really drive this industry forward to reach its full potential.

 Sistemic looks forward to meeting old colleagues, new faces and learning about the most recent developments in the field at AUSBiotech 2011 . Visitors can meet the team at the Scottish Development International booth in the exhibition hall. In the meantime, anyone interested in Sistemic and its products should visit: www.sistemic.co.uk

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