Jeffrey D. Janus, M.B.A, BSc.

Researchers from Oceanside CA-based International Stem Cell Corporation, a publicly traded stem cell therapy company, (ISCO.OB), have recently published two papers illustrating two different techniques that lead to the creation of human parthenogenetic stem cells by stimulating unfertilized eggs. One technique leads to “patient-matched” parthenogenetic stem cells that are immune matched to the egg donor. The second technique leads to stem cells that can be immune-matched to large segments of the human population (called “HLA-homozygous”). Both research papers are published online in the journal Cloning and Stem Cells. According to Sir Ian Wilmut, the creator of the first cloned animal (Dolly the sheep), “Immune reaction is one of the most serious problems facing the development of stem cell therapy, and cell lines of this type may enable us to treat a large number of patients without immune rejection, offering an enormous practical advantage.”
 
Jeffrey Janus, president of ISCO, working with lead scientist Dr. Elena Revazova and in collaboration with researchers in Russia, Canada and the US, stimulated unfertilized eggs from women to begin embryonic development. The researchers have produced and described ten lines of parthenogenetic stem cells, three which have chromosome abnormalities. One HLA-homozygous line is immune matched to the most common immune type found in the US population, (tens of millions of individuals) including different ages, sexes and racial groups. The eggs were donated by women who were undergoing in vitro fertilization procedures under informed consent. The parthenogenetic stem cells are pluripotent and can become any cell in the human body. According to Janus, parthenogenetic stem cells could produce therapeutic cells that would be banked and ultimately directly useful for large segments of the human population when used in combination with anti-rejection therapy.
 
Jeffrey D. Janus, M.B.A., BSc. (biochemistry) is president of ISCO and CEO of Lifeline Cell Technology® (Lifeline). ISCO is focused on the development of a bank of clinically approved parthenogenetic stem cells that can be immune matched to large segments of the human population for any therapy developed by stem cell scientists. ISCO is specifically focused on curing diabetes, liver disease and retinal disease through stem cell therapy. Lifeline develops, manufactures, and markets the highest quality cells, media, and reagents for the research marketplace. Lifeline is a wholly owned subsidiary of ISCO. From 2002 to 2004, Jeffrey was the Founder and President of Janus Biologics, LLC (Frederick Maryland). From 1998 to 2002, he was Director of Marketing of Human Cell Systems at BioWhittaker Corporation, a Cambrex Company (Walkersville, Maryland) where he expanded the company’s research products portfolio into new fields, including stem cells, and created and implemented the strategy of moving human cell-based research products into the clinical markets.
 
From 1989 through 1998, he played alternate roles as CFO and Director of Marketing in the founding and building of Clonetics Corporation (San Diego, California). Jeffrey led the product development and marketing of the Clonetics brand, consisting of over 200 human cell and reagent products. The Clonetics brand ultimately captured the largest share of the domestic and international market in its field, maintained profitability and an annual growth rate of 20 percent for over ten consecutive years. He ultimately implemented the sale of Clonetics to BioWhittaker.
 
Read his LinkedIn profile.