Trials Designed to Improve Laser Eye Surgery Outcomes
International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO),
the first company to perfect a method of creating human
"parthenogenetic" stem cells from unfertilized eggs, is planning
pre-clinical trials aimed at applying its laboratory-grown human corneal
epithelial cells to improve photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), a form of
corrective laser eye surgery.
These trials are the first step toward Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) clinical trials to test the efficacy of using ISCO cells to
improve healing after corneal surgery, and are part of the company's
efforts to increase the clinical utility of its discoveries in culturing
corneal cells and tissues.
This work is being done in collaboration with Dr. Paul H. Chen, M.D.,
who has developed the cell transfer technology. Dr. Chen is an eye
surgeon at North County Laser Eye Associates, and he is on staff at
Scripps Memorial La Jolla and Scripps Encinitas Hospitals.
"This collaboration is an excellent opportunity for ISCO to use its cell
culture and manufacturing expertise to create therapeutic human cells
that can enter the market relatively quickly and improve patient's
quality of life," said Jeffrey Janus, ISCO's president. "We are
fortunate to be working with Dr. Chen on this exciting project."
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STEM CELL CORPORATION (ISCO.OB):
International Stem Cell Corporation 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 have created the first Parthenogenetic homozygous stem
cell line (phSC-Hhom-4) that can be a source of therapeutic cells
that will minimize immune rejection after transplantation into hundreds
of 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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Key Words: Stem Cells, Biotechnology, Parthenogenesis
International Stem Cell Corporation Kenneth C. Aldrich, Chairman,
CEO kaldrich@intlstemcell.com 760-940-6383 or Jeffrey
Janus, President jjanus@intlstemcell.com 760-940-6383 or The
Investor Relations Group 212-825-3210 Investor Relations: Adam
S. Holdsworth aholdsworth@investorrelationsgroup.com or Media
Relations: Laura Colontrelle lcolontrelle@investorrelationsgroup.com |