Press
Release:
Probetex Licenses Kidney Cells from the
University of
Probetex, Inc, a local biotechnology company is proud to
announce its recent acquisition of seven kidney cell lines to add to its
product portfolio. Probetex, a woman-owned business under the leadership of
Veronique Barnes, MD was founded in 1998 as a "Renal Resource Company" to create a repository of
“off-the-shelf” samples and services to help investigators of kidney physiology
and disease perform their research. End stage kidney disease requiring dialysis or transplantation is an
escalating health problem growing approximately 12% per year with an annual expense of over $20 billion. Dr. Barnes
comments that “Probetex’s mission is to facilitate researchers in their quest
to combat kidney disease by providing resources that are not readily available
in their own laboratories, thereby saving time and precious research dollars”. As part of this effort, the company has
recently partnered with the University of Texas Health
Science Center to develop and commercialize mouse, rat, and human cell lines derived
from various parts of the kidney. The cell lines were developed by Hanna E.
Abboud, MD, Chief of Nephrology, Department of Medicine at the University and internationally
recognized clinician and scientist in kidney disease. Dr. Abboud commented that “the cell lines were
isolated from the filtering units of the kidney- structures that are vital to
the organ’s function”. Three of the cell lines, co-developed with Dr. Mazen
Arar, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, are stem cells derived from
embryonic kidney of rats and mice. “We are particularly excited about commercializing
the embryonic stem cells because of the enormous potential they have in terms
of providing valuable tools in developing strategies and obtaining information
about kidney development, augmentation or replacement therapy that may someday
be used in clinical settings” emphasized Dr. Abboud.
Alan H. Dean, M.B.A., Director of the Office of Technology
Ventures at the