International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO),
www.intlstemcell.com,
announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) has granted ISCO patent number 7,732,202, the first of several
pending patents relating to its development of human parthenogenetic
Stem Cells (hpSC). Human parthenogenetic stem cells are a new type of
pluripotent stem cell that allows immune matching to potentially solve
critical immune rejection problems, and does not involve the ethical
issues that surround the use of fertilized human embryos.
Although ISCO's creation of human parthenogenetic stem cells was first
announced in a peer review publication in 2007, the formal allowance of
claims by the USPTO will greatly advance the field of regenerative
medicine by allowing ISCO to share its knowledge of these hpSC lines
more freely with researchers in the US and around the world through
partnerships, joint ventures, funded research and licensing arrangements.
The patent protects ISCO's technology platform, allowing the creation of
hpSC from unfertilized eggs, exhibiting similar qualities and
pluripotency as embryonic stem cells, with the added ability to be
immune-matched to the donor, as illustrated in published peer-reviewed
articles. Additional discoveries, also previously published in a peer
reviewed journal and the subject of pending ISCO patents, illustrate the
creation of 'homozygous' hpSC that can be immune matched to millions of
persons of differing sexes and racial backgrounds, rather than only to
the donor or her family, raising the potential of eventually creating a
universal source of stem cells that could benefit most the of the
world's population.
Researchers across the world work with ISCO to study different
therapeutic applications of hpSC. Through previously announced
collaborative arrangements, ISCO's scientists are working with major
universities and private research organizations to study hpSC to treat
liver disease, diabetes, Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), corneal
blindness and various neural degenerative diseases. In one such research
collaboration, internationally-recognized stem cell researcher Hans
Keirstead, PhD, at the Reeve-Irvine Research Center (University of
California, Irvine), recently published a paper, referring to his use of
embryonic stem cells and ISCO's hpSC in work focused on the derivation
of early retinal progenitor tissue.
Andrey Semechkin, PhD, CEO of ISCO said, 'Other than parthenogenetic
stem cells, the three most commonly used and described types of stem
cells are human embryonic stem cells (hESC), induced pluripotent stem
cells (iPS), and adult stem cells, such as those derived from cord
blood, adipose tissue or bone marrow. Parthenogenetic stem cells have
unique advantages over each of these other cell types, and we anticipate
that since our core patent has been issued, we can now accelerate the
adoption of our hpSC lines by researchers in the US and throughout the
world.'
'International Stem Cell Corporation is particularly proud of these
accomplishments because we have been funded thus far entirely by
investors, without NIH or other governmental aid,' said Jeffrey Janus,
Senior Vice President of ISCO. 'However, once it is generally recognized
that parthenogenetic cells have similar characteristics of embryonic
stem cells and offer the potential to solve critical immune rejection
issues - while not requiring the destruction of viable human embryos -
we expect these cells to be increasingly used in government funded
research to study ways of reducing human suffering and treating
intractable human diseases.'
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(TM), 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," "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 |