CDI forms two business units in Madison

CDI forms two business units in Madison

By Judy Newman, Madison.com

CDICellular Dynamics International (CDI) has changed its structure, dividing into two separate business units: Therapeutics, to develop stem cell-based drugs, and Life Science, focusing on research products.

“By creating a market-oriented organization, operations in Madison can grow much more rapidly,” Kazuyoshi Hirao, chairman and CEO, said in an email exchange.

Founded by UW-Madison stem cell pioneer James Thomson in 2004, CDI was acquired by Japanese conglomerate Fujifilm Holdings Corp. for $307 million in April 2015.

The company will stay at its current location, 525 Science Drive, and will add to its staff of 165 employees “according to our growth,” Hirao said.

About two dozen of CDI’s employees work at the company’s Novato, California, stem cell bank. Read more …