OCT4 and SOX2 with SV40 T antigen produce pluripotent stem cells from primate somatic cells

A method of reprogramming primate somatic cells, the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing into a primate somatic cell at least one non-viral episomal vector that encodes at least one potency-determining factor under conditions sufficient to reprogram the cells, wherein the at least one vector encodes at least potency-determining factors OCT4 and SOX2, wherein the cells express the introduced OCT4 and SOX2 and further comprise SV40 T Antigen;
• and
• culturing the cells obtained from the introducing step in a medium that supports pluripotent cell growth to obtain pluripotent reprogrammed cells substantially free of any vector component associated with introducing the potency-determining factors to the somatic cells.