Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008

International Stem Cell Corporation's Human Parthenogenetic Stem Cells to be used in Germany in the Development of Treatments for Neural Disease

http://www.centredaily.com/business/...ry/433976.html

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO) announced today that its human parthenogenetic stem cell lines will be used in Germany in studies aimed at creating specific cell types to treat human neural diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

The work will be headed by Dr. Albrecht Mueller of the University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany under a Material Transfer Agreement between International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO) and the University of Wuerzburg.

"The fact that Dr. Mueller and the University of Wuerzburg have approved ISCO's human parthenogenetic stem cells for research is a strong validation of their value in creating therapeutic cells that have significant immune rejection advantages and significant ethical advantages," said Kenneth Aldrich, ISCO's Chairman and CEO.

ISCO's human parthenogenetic stem cells are created from unfertilized human eggs, yet share with conventional human embryonic stem cells the ability to differentiate into all tissue types. They also are the first step in solving one of the major obstacles to stem cell therapy, the rejection of implanted cells by the patient's own immune system.

A description of ISCO's human parthenogenetic stem cells and their potential ability to solve critical immune rejection problems was reported in ISCO's peer review paper published December 19, 2007 in the online edition of Cloning and Stem Cells Journal: http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdf.../clo.2007.0063

Elena Revazova, M.D., Ph.D., ISCO's Chief Scientific Officer, stated, "ISCO has created a human parthenogenetic stem cell line called phSC-Hhom-4. Cells derived from this line will not be immune rejected after transplantation into millions of individuals of differing sexes, ages and racial groups."
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"Our business model," added Mr. Aldrich, "is to make our cell lines and intellectual property easily available, and thereby become a supplier of therapeutic cells for use by patients across the world. To reach that goal, our intent is to distribute our human parthenogenetic stem cell lines to as many qualified researchers as possible so they may develop cures to as many human diseases as rapidly as possible."

The use of ISCO's cells by the University of Wuerzburg is one of several such collaborations already in place involving ISCO's proprietary cells, but it is the first to be conducted outside the United States.

"As stem cell therapies using ISCO's human parthenogenetic stem cell lines are advanced and approved by regulatory authorities, they will become an integral and recurring part of future stem cell therapies that are brought to market," concluded President Jeffrey Janus.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STEM CELL CORPORATION:

International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO) 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 also have created the first Parthenogenetic homozygous stem cell line (phSC-Hhom-4) that can be a source of therapeutic cells that will not be immune rejected after transplantation into 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, Eye, Diabetes, Liver disease, Parkinson's Disease, Immunology, Neurology