Sigma-Aldrich, AlphaGenix Enter Distribution Pact

Sigma-Aldrich has entered a distribution agreement with AlphaGenix, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of products for basic and clinical life science research. Sigma-Aldrich will now be the exclusive supplier of AlphaGenix-developed antibodies and research tools for the fields of regenerative medicine and stem cell biology.
   
The new product offerings include antibodies to stem cell markers and the tools for 3-D stem cell culture systems, such as MaxGel, a human derived extracellular Matrix (ECM) and HydroMatrix, a synthetic peptide that offers the precision and control of a synthesized matrix of a highly crosslinked peptide hydrogel. Both MaxGel and HydroMatrix promote cell growth and migration and have been shown to support the proliferation and enhance function of many cell types, including neural stem cells, neurons, glia, astrocytes, fibroblasts, and keratinocytes.
   
“It is increasingly important to design cell culture assays that closely mimic the behavior of cells in living tissues,” said Carl Schrott, director of marketing for regenerative medicine and research cell culture at Sigma-Aldrich. “Through this partnership, we will offer our customers new tools to grow stem cells that resemble their in vivo counterparts, and the high-quality antibodies needed to study them.”