International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB: ISCO), www.internationalstemcell.com,
announced today that the recent presentation entitled "Hepatocyte-like
cells derived from patient-specific human parthenogenetic stem cells
possess functions of mature human hepatocytes including P450 activity"
has been identified as an "AASLD Presidential Poster of Distinction" in
the Stem Cells session of The Liver Meeting, the 61st Annual
Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
(AASLD), in Boston, MA, one of the most prestigious annual medical and
scientific conferences. The abstract of the presentation is published in
the peer-reviewed supplement to Hepatology, volume 52, number 4 (SUPPL),
Oct. 2010, pg 965A, the official journal of the AASLD.
ISCO's CEO Andrey Semechkin, Ph.D., said, "For our cell biologists to
have received this award from the leading society in the U.S. focused on
treating liver diseases, demonstrates the high caliber of research being
carried out at ISCO, and that human parthenogenetic stem cells and their
differentiated derivatives are becoming of greater interest to the
medical research community as a potential source of therapeutically
valuable cells."
ISCO also announced today the initiation of the first in a series of
animal studies designed to demonstrate whether hepatocytes and their
progenitors derived from the human parthenogenetic stem cells show any
disease modifying activity in vivo.
Dr. Nikolay Turovets, ISCO's Director of Research and Therapeutic
Development said, "ISCO's continued focus on therapeutic development is
critical to show that hepatocytes derived from stem cells can reproduce
missing liver function in a diseased organism. Our first series of
experiments are designed to test the ability of our cells to engraft and
survive in vivo. A second set of experiments will investigate the
functional activity of successfully engrafted cells. Data from these
studies will also be used to guide the development of future IND
submissions."
In other research news, ISCO announced that a grant in which ISCO is a
partner, was recently funded by the Qualified Therapeutic Discovery
Project Grants Program created under the healthcare reform legislation
enacted last March. The study is led by Paul H. Chen, M.D. to
investigate healing after corneal surgery using ISCO's corneal
epithelial cells developed by ISCO's wholly-owned subsidiary Lifeline
Cell Technology. ISCO's cells, combined with a proprietary surgical
device developed by Dr. Chen, may provide safer and better long term
results than LASIK. By utilizing ISCO's human corneal cells, ISCO and
Dr. Chen believe that cellular enhanced PRK could eventually replace
LASIK for many of the hundreds of thousands of patients who require
corrective eye surgery.
According to Dr. Chen, "This collaborative work with ISCO could lead to
a safer and more effective treatment that hopefully will provide quicker
visual recovery, less pain, and an improved refractive correction
outcome."
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). These proprietary cells
avoid ethical issues associated with use or destruction of viable human
embryos and, unlike most other major stem cell types, can be immune
matched and be a source of therapeutic cells with minimal rejection
after transplantation into hundreds of millions of individuals of
differing racial groups. ISCO also produces and markets specialized
cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its
subsidiary, Lifeline Cell Technology, and is developing a line of
cosmeceutical products via its subsidiary, Lifeline Skin Care. ISCO is
advancing novel human stem cell-based therapies where cells have been
proven to be efficacious but traditional small molecule and protein
therapeutics have not. More information is available on ISCO's website, www.internationalstemcell.com.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements pertaining to anticipated developments and therapeutic
applications, the potential benefits of collaborations, affiliations,
and other opportunities for the company and its subsidiaries, 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" could", "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 and the management of collaborations, 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 forward-looking statements.
Key Words: Stem cells, parthenogenesis, biotechnology, hepatocytes,
liver disease
International Stem Cell Corporation Jeffrey D. Janus Sr. Vice
President, Operations 1-760-940-6383 jjanus@intlstemcell.com or Nikolay
Turovets, Ph.D. Director of Research and Therapeutic Development nturovets@intlstemcell.com |