Cellular Dynamics International is a Madison, Wisconsin–based industrial manufacturer of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and tissue cells used in biomedical and pharmaceutical drug development and safety research. The company develops and markets iCell® products, including iCell Cardiomyocytes. It plans to launch new iCell iPSC lines as well as iCell Endothelial Cells, iCell Neurons, and iCell Hepatocytes. CDI intends to increase production capacity for its iCell Cardiomyocytes and to expand its commercial organization. The company was founded by CSO James A. Thomson and is led by Chairman and CEO Robert Palay. CDI has raised a total of $100m since 2004. Cellular Dynamics produces induced pluripotent stem cell–derived human cells, launching beating heart cells as its first commercial product in December. The company converts adult tissue and blood samples into iPS cells that can be differentiated into more than 200 cell types for drug researchers. It will use the $40.6 million infusion to scale production of its heart cells and expand manufacturing capacity. Management plans to develop liver, nerve and blood vessel cell products and expects to launch all three in 2011, though sequencing has not been decided. Last year the company’s sales were described as being in the multimillions; it has 80 employees and currently conducts manufacturing in Madison. Longer term, Cellular Dynamics aims to produce personalized stem cell lines based on an individual’s blood and tissue for individualized drug testing.

Total raised

$71M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Apr 2011