International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB: ISCO), www.internationalstemcell.com,
announced today its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lifeline Cell Technology
(Lifeline), www.lifelinecelltech.com,
has signed a distribution agreement with Tokyo-based Veritas Corporation
to distribute its human cell culture products throughout Japan.
Lifeline, located in Maryland and California, specializes in the
development, manufacture, and distribution of products to culture human
cells for the study of human disease, including products to culture
primary human cells and human stem cells. These products are being
requested by customers overseas, including customers in Japan, Korea and
India and this agreement is the first step in Lifeline's plan to meet
these requests.
According to Lifeline's CEO, Jeffrey Janus, "Veritas Corporation is a
highly respected name in the Japanese life science community, providing
Lifeline with a long standing and well established distribution channel
to Japanese researchers." He continued, "We are pleased to have such an
experienced and capable partner in Japan who should help continue the
rapid expansion of our Lifeline brand of human cells and cell culture
tools."
Lifeline's scientists have over 20 years of experience developing
products for the culture of human cells, and have made significant
contributions to the creation and standardization of human cell systems
used today for clinical applications and in academic, government and
pharmaceutical research laboratories. Lifeline scientists recently
discovered methods to create human corneal tissues from ISCO's
proprietary human "parthenogenetic" stem cells, and are actively working
to create products that may have significant use as research tools for
drug testing or for treating corneal injury and disease.
"This agreement is important in advancing ISCO's goal of becoming the
primary provider of high quality human stem cell culture tools to the
research and therapeutic markets," said Dr. Andrey Semechkin, ISCO's CEO.
International Stem Cell Corporation has developed, for the first time
under controlled conditions, human "parthenogenetic" stem cell lines
(hpSC) that promise to minimize the rejection of transplanted cells by a
patient's immune system. ISCO's technology, called "parthenogenesis,"
results in the creation of pluripotent hpSC from unfertilized human
eggs. This new methodology offers the potential to create the first true
"Stem Cell Bank" and also addresses critical ethical issues by
eliminating the need to use fertilized embryos. Lifeline Cell Technology
not only provides ISCO with revenue, but also with the manufacturing
experience and infrastructure needed to move ISCO's hpSC products into
"cGMP" manufacturing conditions that are required by Federal regulators
for manufacturing cells for future therapeutic use.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STEM CELL CORPORATION (ISCO.OB):
International Stem Cell Corporation is a California-based biotechnology
company focused on therapeutic and research products. ISCO's core
technology, parthenogenesis, results in creation of pluripotent
human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs). hpSCs avoid ethical
issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos.
ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenic, homozygous stem
cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells with minimal
immune rejection after transplantation into hundreds of millions of
individuals of differing sexes, ages and racial groups. This offers the
potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell™, while
avoiding the ethical issue of using fertilized eggs. ISCO also produces
and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research
worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology. More
information is available at ISCO's website, www.internationalstemcell.com.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements pertaining to anticipated technological developments and
therapeutic applications, and other opportunities for the company and
its subsidiary, along with other statements about the future
expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by
management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that
are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that
contain words such as "will," "should," "believes," "plans,"
"anticipates," "expects," "estimates") should also be considered to be
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, application of capital resources among
competing uses, 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
International Stem Cell Corporation
Kenneth C. Aldrich, Chairman
760-940-6383
kaldrich@intlstemcell.com
or
Brian
Lundstrom, President
760-640-6383
bl@intlstemcell.com |
