International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO)
(www.intlstemcell.com),
the first company to perfect a method of creating human stem cells from
unfertilized eggs, applauds President Obama's signing of an executive
order to allow funding of stem cell research. ISCO's unique human stem
cells, called "parthenogenetic" stem cells, have ethical advantages
since they do not harm a viable human embryo and have medical advantages
since they can be immune matched to hundreds of millions of people
across the world.
Monday, in an East Room ceremony at the White House, President Obama
signed an executive order to lift the Bush administration's restrictions
on federally financed human embryonic stem cell research. This decision
provides Congress with an opportunity to overturn a thirteen-year-old
law, called the Dickey-Wicker amendment, which specifically bans the use
of tax dollars for research in which human embryos are destroyed,
discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury.
"Tissue-specific differentiated cells from human stem cells open up the
possibility of cell-based therapy for untreatable degenerative and
heredity diseases. The greatest risk posed with these cells for
transplantation is that of immune rejection. Matching donor and
recipient for HLA antigens is necessary for transplant survival. ISCO
already has a human parthenogenetic 'HLA homozygous' stem cell line that
carries the HLA type found most commonly within the US population.
Tissue-specific differentiated cells from this line can be used for
cell-based therapies of hundreds of millions of patients of different
ages, races and sexes," says Elena Revazova, M.D., Ph.D., Chief
Scientific Officer of ISCO.
"While President Obama's decision - and the opening it provides Congress
regarding a reconsideration of the Dickey-Wicker amendment - is cause
for celebration among medical researchers, scientists, and patients'
groups alike; however the controversy surrounding stem cell use will not
disappear overnight," says Kenneth C. Aldrich, Chairman, CEO, and
Co-Founder of International
Stem Cell Corporation, a California-based biotechnology company
focused on developing therapeutic and research products. "Fortunately,
our stem cell lines do not require the use of fertilized embryos, and
can thus avoid these ethical difficulties."
International Stem Cell Corporation is the only company to generate
functional pluripotent stem cells—that is, stem cells that have the
potential to turn into any type of cell or tissue—through
parthenogenesis. Recently, the company reported that by using its
proprietary technique, cells from a single donor could be immune matched
to hundreds of millions of patients.
Since a single line of these cells may reduce immune rejection issues in
large segments of the population, parthenogenetic stem cells could be
enormously valuable as a treatment of choice for diseases including
liver disease, heart disease, and macular degeneration, and of
particular value in treating diseases with hereditary links such as
diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, hemophilia, retinitis
pigmentosa and many others in which cells from the patient's own body
cannot be used for therapy because the patient's cells carry a
corresponding genetic defect. For these patients it will likely be
necessary to use HLA matched human parthenogenetic stem cell lines
derived from healthy donors. "In these situations, we believe that the
Parthenogenetic cells of International Stem Cell may ultimately prove to
be the only viable solution," said Dr. Elena Revazova, Chief Scientist
of International Stem Cell.
Based on this technology, the company has initiated an ambitious program
for developing the world's first human parthenogenetic stem cell bank to
serve the need for stem cell-based treatments in the general population.
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.
For more news and information on International Stem Cell Corporation
please visit www.IRGnews.com/coi/ISCO
where you can find the CEO's video, a fact sheet on the company,
investor presentations, and more.
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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 |