CytoTherapeutics: The factors for growth

CytoTherapeutics Inc. solved a longstanding roadblock in its corporate development plans, signing an agreement with Genentech Inc. that gives CTII access to several growth factors for use in central nervous system diseases.

A key problem for CTII (Providence, R.I.) has been the lack of rights to use growth factors in its encapsulated cell-based delivery systems. "We couldn't push our programs hard in Huntington's and ALS in the absence of a clear commercial pathway," said CTII Chairman and CEO Seth Rudnick. ...