More comprehensive and scalable culture solution made available to Corning’s global customer base

Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) today announced it has entered into an agreement with BioLamina to manufacture and package the Recombinant Laminin-521 (rLaminin-521) pluripotent stem-cell and neural stem-cell growth matrix.

The collaboration will augment Corning Life Sciences’ industry-leading portfolio of defined coating substrates and extend the availability of this product to research labs worldwide.

Corning and BioLamina recognize a strong demand in the stem-cell research market for chemically defined, xeno-free systems. rLaminin-521 provides a defined, animal-free substrate that allows robust and scalable cell culture of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) and neural stem-cells (NSCs) with greater cell purity – critical attributes for the emerging stem-cell processing market and a vital enabling component for future cell therapies using these types of cells.

“As cell-culture and cell-therapy technologies progress, it is increasingly important to offer today’s researchers more powerful and reliable culture systems,” said Kristian Tryggvason, Ph.D., CEO, BioLamina. “Through this agreement with Corning, and the resulting global availability of rLaminin-521, we enable more scientists to have access to this tool for aiding their stem-cell cultivation.” 

“Scalable animal-free cell culture surfaces are becoming essential for the translation from  basic to applied research, along with consistent and dependable culture vessels and media. rLaminin-521 is an important addition to Corning’s full solution approach and to our expanding cell-culture portfolio of advanced surfaces,” said Lynsey Willetts, Ph.D., director of Advanced Cell Culture, Corning Life Sciences.  “By working with BioLamina, Corning now offers researchers who work with pluripotent and neural stem cells a more comprehensive and scalable cell culture solution - from research to production.”

Corning Life Sciences brings new and innovative laboratory technologies to researchers worldwide and helps customers succeed by providing innovative, high-quality products and services in the areas of polymer science, biochemistry and molecular biology, glass melting and forming, surface modification, and characterization science.

To learn more about rLaminin-521 or any Corning Life Sciences products, please contact a customer service representative at 1-800-492-1110, toll free in the United States; (+1) 1-978-442-2200 internationally; or visit www.corning.com/lifesciences.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions about Corning’s financial results and business operations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: the effect of global political, economic and business conditions; conditions in the financial and credit markets; currency fluctuations; tax rates; product demand and industry capacity; competition; reliance on a concentrated customer base; manufacturing efficiencies; cost reductions; availability of critical components and materials; new product commercialization; pricing fluctuations and changes in the mix of sales between premium and non-premium products; new plant start-up or restructuring costs; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, or major health concerns; adequacy of insurance; equity company activities; acquisition and divestiture activities; the level of excess or obsolete inventory; the rate of technology change; the ability to enforce patents; product and components performance issues; retention of key personnel; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation or regulatory developments. These and other risk factors are detailed in Corning’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

About Corning Incorporated
Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science. For more than 160 years, Corning has applied its unparalleled expertise in specialty glass, ceramics, and optical physics to develop products that have created new industries and transformed people’s lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in R&D, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and close collaboration with customers to solve tough technology challenges. Corning’s businesses and markets are constantly evolving. Today, Corning’s products enable diverse industries such as consumer electronics, telecommunications, transportation, and life sciences. They include damage-resistant cover glass for smartphones and tablets; precision glass for advanced displays; optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions for high-speed communications networks; trusted products that accelerate drug discovery and manufacturing; and emissions-control products for cars, trucks, and off-road vehicles.

About BioLamina
BioLamina commercializes innovations that solve technical problems within the culturing of embryonic stem cells and other types of primary cells. Many of the products are based on human recombinant proteins called laminins. These laminins provide these cells a natural environment when they are first used to coat the plastic cell culture dishes. Many different types of cells thrive on these laminins because these same proteins surround different types of cells also in the human body. These and other innovations together solve many of the technical problems like reproducibility and low cell quality and therefore help development of new cell therapies. BioLamina was founded 2009.
For more information: www.biolamina.com