ZenBio, Inc. introduces GroPro™ Cell Culture Growth Supplement formulated 
to replace Bovine serum

ZenBio, Inc. industry leader in robust cell-based solutions, announced today the worldwide release of a new GroPro Cell Culture Growth Supplement.  The GroPro product line allows for culturing of primary cells and cell lines without the concern for transmission of bovine prions and xenogeneic reactions.

The new GroPro line delivers higher standards of purity, more affordable cell culture solutions in biomedical research,” said Dr. John W. Ludlow, Executive Director of Regenerative Medicine at ZenBio “Our goal was to formulate a growth supplement that would address the ongoing requirement to remove animal products by the FDA in specific applications while reducing costs for today’s budget conscience lab

This new GroPro supplement is a convenient, ready-to-use human platelet lysate  (HPL) formulation that can be used at the same supplementation percentages as fetal bovine serum  (FBS) in traditional cultures. HPL has proven to be an excellent cost effective substitute for FBS in cell culture growth medium without the risk of xenogeneic infections or immune reactions.

Currently, the use of HPL in culture medium requires the addition of heparin to prevent alloimmune aggregation which can create visible clots in the medium,“ said Will Plentl, Chief Operating Officer at ZenBio. “The GroPro product line does not require the use of heparin thus reducing deleterious downstream effects, yet formulated to be used at normal FBS concentrations

About ZenBio, Inc.

Founded in 1995, ZenBio, Inc. (ZB) is the industry leader in robust cell-based solutions to accelerate the discovery and development of therapies to better the human condition. The ZB mission is to provide the highest quality cells, reagents and contract services to the global biomedical research, pharmaceutical and biotechnology communities within the study of human metabolic disease.

ZB pioneered tissue engineering with adult adipose-derived stem cells and is currently expanding its product offering to address a variety of developmental and onset metabolic diseases such as obesity.

ZenBio is a privately held biotechnology company, located in Research Triangle Park and has extensive worldwide distribution through a network of technically experienced partners. For more information about ZenBio, Inc., go to www.zen-bio.com