AgeX Therapeutics Acquires Technology to Regulate Immune Tolerance

AgeX Therapeutics, Inc., a subsidiary of BioTime, Inc. announced that it has acquired certain patents and patent applications from Escape Therapeutics relating primarily to the use of the HLA-G gene to suppress rejection of transplanted cells and tissues. The Company plans to utilize the technology in conjunction with its pluripotent stem cell platform for applications in regenerative medicine.

“We believe that the implementation of a low immune observable profile in human pluripotent stem cells may facilitate an off-the-shelf product strategy by reducing the risk of transplant rejection of allogeneic cells,” said Michael West, Ph.D., CEO of AgeX. “We plan to use this patented technology, which we call ‘UniverCyteTM ’, together with our proprietary PureStem manufacturing method to develop cost-effective young living cell regenerative therapies primarily for indications related to aging. Our initial priority will be to utilize the technology in advancing our two lead programs AGEX-BAT1 and AGEX-VASC1 for age-related metabolic and vascular disease respectively.”

“The principals in the BioTime group of companies have a legacy of leading in what is a path to potential products,” said Basil M. Hantash, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, CEO of Escape Therapeutics. “We are confident that the technology developed at Escape together with that developed at BioTime and AgeX will facilitate the development of a potential portfolio of assets in the upcoming years.”