International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO) announced today that
its human parthenogenetic stem cell lines will be used in Germany in
studies aimed at creating specific cell types to treat human neural
diseases such as Parkinson's disease.
The work will be headed by Dr. Albrecht Mueller of the University of
Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany under a Material Transfer Agreement
between International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO) and the University of
Wuerzburg.
"The fact that Dr. Mueller and the University
of Wuerzburg have approved ISCO's human
parthenogenetic stem cells for research is a strong validation of their
value in creating therapeutic cells that have significant immune
rejection advantages and significant ethical advantages,"
said Kenneth Aldrich, ISCO's Chairman and CEO.
ISCO's human parthenogenetic stem cells are
created from unfertilized human eggs, yet share with conventional human
embryonic stem cells the ability to differentiate into all tissue types.
They also are the first step in solving one of the major obstacles to
stem cell therapy, the rejection of implanted cells by the patient's
own immune system.
A description of ISCO's human parthenogenetic
stem cells and their potential ability to solve critical immune
rejection problems was reported in ISCO's
peer review paper published December 19, 2007 in the online edition of Cloning
and Stem Cells Journal: http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/clo.2007.0063
Elena Revazova, M.D., Ph.D., ISCO's Chief
Scientific Officer, stated, "ISCO has created
a human parthenogenetic stem cell line called phSC-Hhom-4. Cells derived
from this line will not be immune rejected after transplantation into
millions of individuals of differing sexes, ages and racial groups."
"Our business model,"
added Mr. Aldrich, "is to make our cell lines
and intellectual property easily available, and thereby become a
supplier of therapeutic cells for use by patients across the world. To
reach that goal, our intent is to distribute our human parthenogenetic
stem cell lines to as many qualified researchers as possible so they may
develop cures to as many human diseases as rapidly as possible."
The use of ISCO's cells by the University of
Wuerzburg is one of several such collaborations already in place
involving ISCO's proprietary cells, but it is
the first to be conducted outside the United States.
"As stem cell therapies using ISCO's
human parthenogenetic stem cell lines are advanced and approved by
regulatory authorities, they will become an integral and recurring part
of future stem cell therapies that are brought to market,"
concluded President Jeffrey Janus.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STEM CELL CORPORATION:
International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO) is a California biotechnology
company focused on developing therapeutic and research products. ISCO's
technology, Parthenogenesis, results in the creation of
pluripotent human stem cell lines from unfertilized human eggs. ISCO
scientists also have created the first Parthenogenetic homozygous
stem cell line (phSC-Hhom-4) that can be a source of therapeutic
cells that will not be immune rejected after transplantation into
millions of individuals of differing sexes, ages and racial groups.
These advancements offer the potential to create the first true "Stem
Cell Bank" and address ethical issues by
eliminating the need to use or destroy fertilized embryos. ISCO also
produces and markets specialized cells and growth media worldwide for
therapeutic research through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology.
For more information, visit the ISCO website at: www.internationalstemcell.com
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intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. KEY WORDS: Stem Cells, Biotechnology, Parthenogenesis, Eye, Diabetes,
Liver disease, Parkinson's Disease,
Immunology, Neurology |