Two independent labs have demonstrated germline transmission from embryonic stem cells in rats, biotech company Stem Cell Sciences has reported.

The unpublished research, thought to be a world first, used technologies licensed to STC from Edinburgh University.

SCS has global exclusive rights to commercialise the rat ES cells, the specific culture medium used to generate and grow the cells, and rats derived therefrom.

Rats are seen to serve as more predictable human models than mice for several categories of psychiatric, neurological and cardiovascular drug discovery programs.

STC says it will soon begin negotiations with a number of parties seeking a sublicense to use the cells in drug discovery programs.