ViaCyte uses directed differentiation to engineer human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and generate therapeutic cell types. ViaCyte is a world leader and the first company to engineer hESCs into definitive endoderm, the gatekeeper cells that differentiate into the pancreas, liver and other cells, tissues and organs.

The company is currently developing insulin-producing cells from hESCs and expects to be able to produce large quantities of safe and functional islet cells to treat patients with insulin-dependent type 1 and type 2 diabetes.