Jeff Krstich, Chief Executive Officer of International Stem Cell
Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO), today issued a statement on the recent
announcement that two groups of scientists have succeeded in turning
human skin cells into cells that are very similar, though not identical,
to embryonic stem cells.
In his full statement, "A Message from the CEO",
which appears on the company's website, www.internationalstemcell.com,
Mr. Krstich applauds this latest advancement, called de-differentiation,
and provides explanation of the differences in methodologies between
de-differentiation and ISCO's Parthenogenetic
Stem Cell Lines (phESC), which were announced in a peer review paper
published in Cloning & Stem Cells Journal on June 26, 2007. http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/clo.2007.0033
The explanation affirms that ISCO's
Parthenotes are pluripotent and have thus far shown the same
differentiation capability as stem cells derived from human embryos—except
that they were created without using fertilized eggs and no fertilized
human embryos were destroyed. ISCO Parthenotes have already been
differentiated into several specific cell types, including two types of
nerve cells scheduled for human trials shortly.
Mr Krstich's message further noted that unlike
the de-differentiation process, the stem cell lines produced by ISCO's
Parthenogenesis process do not employ the use of any cancer causing
genes or the use of viruses that may cause disease in humans. In
addition, ISCO Parthenotes are developed with either no use or minimal
use of animal serums or animal by-product. Further, ISCO's
Parthenotes hold the promise for human therapeutic use with the distinct
advantage of requiring little or no immunosuppressant drugs.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STEM CELL CORPORATION:
International Stem Cell is a biotechnology company currently focused on
developing therapeutic and research products. In the area of therapeutic
product development, ISCO's objective is to create an unlimited source
of human cells for use in the treatment of several diseases, including
diabetes, liver disease and retinal disease through cell transplant
therapy. In furtherance of this objective, ISCO has developed
pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized human eggs, and
techniques to cause those stem cells to be "differentiated" into the
specific cell types required for transplant. It has developed
manufacturing protocols to produce the cells minimizing contamination
with animal by-products, a characteristic likely to be important in
meeting U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements. ISCO also
provides the specialized cells and growth media needed for therapeutic
cell transplantation research to academic and commercial researchers in
related fields. For more information, visit the ISCO website at: www.internationalstemcell.com.
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This news release and the "Message from the CEO" on the company's
website to which it refers, may contain statements pertaining to future
financial and/or operating results, future growth in research,
technology, clinical development and potential opportunities for the
company and its subsidiary, along with other statements about the future
expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, or prospects expressed by
management. Those and any statements that are not historical fact
(including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will,""believes,""plans,""anticipates,""expects,""estimates,")
should be considered forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without
limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization
of potential products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or
regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, and
maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ
materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking
statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many
uncertainties that affect the company's business, particularly those
mentioned in the cautionary statements found in the company's Securities
and Exchange Commission filings. The company disclaims any intent or
obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Key Words:
Stem Cells
Biotechnology
Parthenogenesis
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