International Stem Cell Corporation Announces New Data From Parkinson's Disease Program

CARLSBAD, CA--(Marketwired - Oct 16, 2013) - International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCQB: ISCO) (www.internationalstemcell.com) a California-based biotechnology company developing novel stem cell based therapies announced the latest results from its Parkinson's disease program at the American Neurological Association's 2013 Annual Meeting.

Neural stem cell (NSC) potentially provide therapeutic benefit through multiple mechanisms of action including migration to the site of injury, secretion of neurotrophic factors, immunomodulation, cell replacement, and finally recovery of the endogenous neurons. The new data obtained as part of ISCO's collaboration with the Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute, includes:

According to ISCO's, Chief Scientific Officer Dr. R. Semechkin, "These results are important because they establish a solid foundation for the clinical use of neural stem cells for the treatment of Parkinson's diseases. This also potentially opens up a number of other neurological indications, for example Alzheimer's disease, with this cellular product."

About ISCO's Parkinson's disease program

ISCO's program uses human parthenogenetic neural stem cells (hPNSC), a novel therapeutic cellular product derived from the company's proprietary histocompatible human pluripotent stem cells. The hPNSC are self-renewing multipotent cells that are precursors for the major cells of the central nervous system. The ability of hPNSC to (1) differentiate into dopaminergic neurons and (2) express neurotrophic factors such as glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to protect the nigrostriatal system, offers a new and revolutionary opportunity for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, especially in cases where current dopamine-replacement approaches fail to adequately control the symptoms.

About International Stem Cell Corporation

International Stem Cell Corporation is focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) and the development and commercialization of cell-based research and cosmetic products. ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs) hence avoiding ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenetic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells for hundreds of millions of individuals of differing genders, ages and racial background with minimal immune rejection after transplantation. hpSCs offer the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology (www.lifelinecelltech.com), and stem cell-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (www.lifelineskincare.com). More information is available at http://www.internationalstemcell.com.

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International Stem Cell Corporation Announces New Data From Parkinson's Disease Program

Pogo’s Final Stages of Stem Cell Treatment – Video

Pogo #39;s Final Stages of Stem Cell Treatment
MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) A dog we first told you about last month is in his final stages of stem cell treatment.Pogo went under the knife Friday. After 12 years o...

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Pogo's Final Stages of Stem Cell Treatment - Video

Beverly Hills Stem Cell Clinic Now Offering the Option of Avoiding Surgery with Outpatient Stem Cell Injections

Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) October 15, 2013

The leading stem cell clinic in the greater Los Angeles area, Beverly Hills Orthopedic Institute of Cellular Therapy, is now offering patients the opportunity to avoid surgery with outpatient stem cell therapy. The stem cell treatments are offered by a Double Board certified orthopedic doctor and maintain minimal risk when compared with that of surgical procedures. For more information and scheduling, call the stem cell clinic today at (424) 253-5577.

Numerous small research studies such as the one last year at Hospital for Special Surgery have showed the benefits of stem cell treatments and platelet rich plasma therapy for arthritis of the spine and extremity joints such as the shoulder, hip or need. In addition, stem cell injections are also showing excellent results for soft tissue injury such as tendinitis in the elbow, shoulder and Achilles. For example, when the patient has tendinitis or a tear of the Achilles or rotator cuff, stem cell treatments may be able to help prepare and regenerate the areas to avoid the need for surgery.

There are several stem cell therapy options available at the clinic which include bone marrow derived or amniotic derived stem cell injections, along with platelet rich plasma therapy. In certain instances, the Board Certified doctor may find it beneficial to combine the treatment options as well.

The Medical Director at Beverly Hills Orthopedic Institute for Cellular Therapy is Dr. Raj, who for years has been one of America's Top Orthopedists along with an ABC News medical correspondent and an expert consultant on WebMD. He practices in both Beverly Hills and Dubai, offering expert regenerative medicine treatments with years of experience in the field.

Conditions that are seeing excellent results from the stem cell treatments include degenerative and rheumatoid arthritis of the extremities and spine, tendinitis, bursitis, ligament injuries, fractures, and degenerative disc disease.

For those suffering with any of these conditions who would like to avoid surgery with a low risk, outpatient treatment call (424) 253-5577.

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Beverly Hills Stem Cell Clinic Now Offering the Option of Avoiding Surgery with Outpatient Stem Cell Injections

ADVOCACY MindaNOW: Villa Medica Revisited: I saw stem cell ‘harvest’

GERMANY (MindaNews/15 October) This is a follow up report on my last published article about our return trip to VILLA MEDICA in Edenkoben, Germany for our familys continuing search for ways to cure my wife Beths ailing kidneys by trying the unorthodox treatment using fresh stem cells. If you recall, we went for the first time last November 2012 resulting to her kidneys recovering a bit but still not within safe levels. Hence this2nd visit buoyed by the modest improvementalmost one year after the first injections.

Day 1, Monday wearrived with some Davao friends on the same flight from Manila on board ETIHAD AIRLINE after a 14-hour flight with a brief stopover at Abu Dhabi. It was cold and chilly but VILLA MEDICAs luxurious Mercedes Benz van (with a built- in wine bar to boot) made the one and a half hour land trip along Germanys famous auto-bahn highway a pleasurable zippassing through verdant green landscapes that were starting to turngoldendue to the onset of autumn.

We arrived at the Regenerative Clinic on time for a mid-morning breakfast andmet upwith the rest of the group mostly from Davao arriving from other airlines. They were there trying for the first time Fresh Stem Cell Therapy FCT except for Beth and another friend from Davao who were on their 2nd visit after an encouraging first round of treatment about a year earlier. Well, for those who have no serious health conditions but arehere for rejuvenation, anti-ageing or just plain well-being, a single FCT treatment will suffice. Unless of course one wants to get the optimum experience for good health in which case Villa Medica is the modern day Mecca of sorts, authorized and licensedby the German health authorities as a holistic, regenerative cellular therapy clinic nestled in ahideaway amidst vineyards andforests. Edenkoben is a quaint old pre-warGerman town with narrow streets and brick houses with a high-walled religious nunnery converted into a winery today.

After breakfast, all of us were immediately directed to proceed to the common Infusion room where a cocktail of Vitamin B12, glutathione, Vitamin C was introduced intravenous, to open up and prepare the body for the following days stem cell injections.

Day 2, Tuesday. It was about 10 oclock In the morning while waiting in our room for the doctors to come for the injections when my daughter KRISTEL suddenly called me to say that I was being invited by BOBBY CHIA, the Thai owner of VILLA MEDICA to come down at the laboratory area in the basement. It was at that timewhen the mother pregnant sheep was to be slaughtered and the stem cells extracted from the young unborn fetus and immediately injected to guests. Yes, I was waiting for this moment. I purposely requested Bobby earlier to allow meto see for myself how the stem cells were harvested. Within 2 hours from harvesting, the stem cells must be injected on the receiver for maximum effect. In that condition, the young fresh cells are potent and not prone to cause adverse effects or rejection by humans.

Iwas told that the basic underlying principle in the Villa Medica procedure isthe centuries old health maxim same heals same. Meaning kidneys of the donor heal kidneys (for renal problems); heart heals heart (for heart ailments); pancreas for diabetics ; brain for autism, Parkinsons; testicles for sex potency and so on and so forth. In simple laymans words, the donor cells are said to function as catalysts that when injected in the buttocks of a person,trigger the receivers own aging or sick cells to start reacting by producing young cells which set in motion the process of cell repair and rejuvenation.

Moreover, young unborn sheep fetus was used successfully over the years, since 1913, and Villa Medica had been pioneering this regenerative process some 50 years with about 100,000 clients so far. And still counting.

So when I got word that I would be welcome to see the harvesting, I rushed down with Kristel and met up with two Singaporeans. Bobbywas there waiting and gave us lab gowns, masks, caps and fitted our shoes with sterilized plastic covers. Bobby merely said, Jess, you said you wanted to see this. So go aheadsee for yourself.

I could only reply, Wow! I quickly donned the standard sterile garbs and prepositioned myself at the glass windows. In the next room from my observation post were eight masked technicians also garbed in blue-colored lab gowns. They were busy methodically slicing from a slaughtered baby sheep on the operating table I saw them gingerly slicing into thin and small pieces the different organs and flesh of the donor and classifying them into small glass containers. Bobby earlier warned me not to accidentally touch a button at the connecting door because the required conditions were such that a mere whiffof air from the outer chamber could mean infecting and aborting the on-going procedure. It was that stringent and extremely sterile as required by German health authorities. Even the breeding and raising of the donor herd that Villa Medica maintained had to comply with strict government regulations.

Although masked, I recognized one of them, a Filipino doctor whom I knew since our first visit November last year. Dr Andrew Morato had been with Villa Medica for years. He spoke fluent German. Last time I met him, I thought some full-blooded German was speaking until I caught a glimpse ofhis standard Bicolano features. Dr. Andoy, although now a German citizen, is proud of being Pinoy.

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ADVOCACY MindaNOW: Villa Medica Revisited: I saw stem cell ‘harvest’

Boston-based researchers make new development in stem cell research

Stem cell research is surrounded by loaded controversy over the bioethical issues that itposes.

What many peopledont understand is that there are two different types of stem cells currentlybeing used for research:embryonic and adult.Adult stem cell use isnot the causefordiscussion, allowingresearch to continue with the hopes of changing the treatment of disease.

Researchers worldwide, whohave alreadydeveloped varioustherapies to treat leukemia, alsohope to treat cancer, Parkinsons disease and spinal cord injuriesone day. Now, Boston-based researchers have made the next development in stem cellstudies, whichwill reap exciting benefitsfor a large population ofpatients suffering from inflammatory diseases.

A group of researchers from Brigham and Womens Hospital, theHarvard Stem Cell Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technologyand Massachusetts General Hospital have uncovered a wayforstem cellstoact as a drug factory at thesite of inflammation in the body, according to a study published Oct. 4 on EurekAlert.

Oren Levy,the head researcher, said he isoptimistic about the discoverys potential to treat diseases such as myocardialinfarction, multiple sclerosisand even certain types of cancer.

Its important not to create false hope, but we do see a lot of progress to be made,Levy said.

What did they do? Levy,with the help ofcollaborators Jeffrey Karp,WeianZhao,MehmetFatihYanikand Charles Lin,began the researchas a proof-of-concept studyto determine whether it was even possible for their hypothesis to work in a localized region ofthe body.

Oren Levy said he and Boston researchers discovered a new way for stem cells to act as tiny drug factories at sites of inflammation in the body. This discovery may soon aid in the treatment of various diseases, including myocardial infarction, multiple sclerosis and certain types of cancer. PHOTO COURTESY OF OREN LEVY.

Modified strands of mRNA were inserted into connective tissue stem cells called mesenchymal stem cells(MSC), which are a type of adult stem cells. Upon mRNA insertion, the cells producedan anti-inflammatory moleculeknown as interleukin-10.

These modified human stem cells were then injected into the bloodstream of a mouse that was experiencing inflammation in the ear. The cells targeted the site of inflammation and released theanti-inflammatoryinterleukin-10 molecule, which was ableto reduce the swelling.

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Boston-based researchers make new development in stem cell research

Pluristem to Present Scientific Poster and Corporate Overview at Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa

HAIFA, Israel, Oct. 15, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (PSTI) (TASE:PLTR), a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapies, announced today that the company will be actively participating in the Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa on October 14-16, 2013.

William R. Prather RPh, MD, Pluristem's Senior Vice President of Corporate Development will deliver a corporate presentation on Pluristem on October 14th at 5 pm PT. Additionally, Dr. Prather will be presenting a scientific poster on October 16th titled, "PLacental eXpanded (PLX) Cell Treatment Ameliorates Toll-like Receptor-Mediated Preeclampsia in Mice".

The 2013 Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa is a three-day conference aimed at bringing together senior members of the regenerative medicine industry with the scientific research community to advance stem cell science into cures. The meeting features a nationally recognized Scientific Symposium, attended by leading scientists and researchers, in conjunction with the industry's premier annual Regen Med Partnering Forum. Combined, these meetings attract over 800 attendees from around the globe, fostering key partnerships through one-on-one meetings while also highlighting clinical and commercial progress in the field.

About Pluristem Therapeutics

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapies. The Company's patented PLX (PLacental eXpanded) cells are a drug delivery platform that releases a cocktail of therapeutic proteins in response to a host of local and systemic inflammatory and ischemic diseases. PLX cells are grown using the company's proprietary 3D micro-environmental technology and are an "off-the-shelf" product that requires no tissue matching prior to administration.

Pluristem has a strong intellectual property position, company-owned GMP certified manufacturing and research facilities, strategic relationships with major research institutions and a seasoned management team. For more information visit http://www.pluristem.com, the content of which is not part of this press release.

The Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6882

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements and their implications are based on the current expectations of the management of Pluristem only, and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; we may encounter delays or obstacles in launching and/or successfully completing our clinical trials; our products may not be approved by regulatory agencies, our technology may not be validated as we progress further and our methods may not be accepted by the scientific community; we may be unable to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of our products; unforeseen scientific difficulties may develop with our process; our products may wind up being more expensive than we anticipate; results in the laboratory may not translate to equally good results in real surgical settings; results of preclinical studies may not correlate with the results of human clinical trials; our patents may not be sufficient; our products may harm recipients; changes in legislation; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition, which could cause the actual results or performance of Pluristem to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, Pluristem undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Pluristem, reference is made to Pluristem's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Pluristem to Present Scientific Poster and Corporate Overview at Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa

West Coast Stem Cell Clinic, TeleHealth, Now Offering Stem Cell Injections for Back Pain and Degenerative Disc Disease

Orange, CA (PRWEB) October 15, 2013

The leading West Coast stem cell clinic, TeleHealth, is now offering stem cell injections and regenerative medicine treatments for back pain and degenerative disc disease. Treatments involve adult stem cells, platelet rich plasma therapy and prolotherapy to help regenerate arthritis damage and degenerative discs. For more information and scheduling call (888) 828-4575.

Back pain due to spinal arthritis and degenerative disc disease affects tens of millions of Americans. Typical treatments are often effective but do not actually repair the damage present. Regenerative medicine treatments on the other hand, have the potential to repair the damage from degenerative disc disease and spinal arthritis.

The Board Certified US doctors at TeleHealth have decades of experience in regenerative medicine treatments. With more published studies showing effectiveness of stem cell therapy for arthritis, receiving treatment for one's back condition may not only relieve pain but help eliminate the need for surgery and get patients back to work and playing with one's kids.

Along with offering stem cell injections for back pain, TeleHealth also offers stem cell therapy for knee, shoulder, hip, ankle, and wrist arthritis along with rotator cuff and achilles tendonitis. Essentially any extremity arthritis along with tendon or ligament injury can benefit tremendously from stem cell treatments.

A significant amount of the treatments at TeleHealth are covered by insurance, although the spinal therapies tend to be fee for service. For more information and to schedule appointments, call (888) 828-4575.

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West Coast Stem Cell Clinic, TeleHealth, Now Offering Stem Cell Injections for Back Pain and Degenerative Disc Disease

BrainStorm to Initiate Study for Multiple Sclerosis at Hadassah Medical Center

NEW YORK & PETACH TIKVAH, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell technologies for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that it will initiate a pre-clinical study for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at the Hebrew University Hadassah Medical Centers SPF-grade animal laboratory in Jerusalem. The study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of the Hebrew University.

Based on promising pre-clinical data published by the Company's Chief Scientist, Prof. Daniel Offen of Tel Aviv University, BrainStorm will conduct further studies using the Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal model to evaluate MS as an additional indication for its NurOwn technology. Professor Dimitrios Karussis and Dr. Ibrahim Kassis, who have published extensively on pre-clinical research using the EAE model, will be the Principal Investigators of the study.

Prof. Karussis, a Key Opinion Leader in the field of MS, is Head of the multi-disciplinary MS Clinic and Center at Hadassah, member of the European Steering Committee for Bone Marrow Transplantation in MS, member of the Executive Board and Scientific Committee of the European School of Neuroimmunology (ESNI), and former board member of the European Council and Committee for Treatment and Research in MS. He has been the Principal Investigator of several multi-national clinical trials in MS conducted by global pharmaceutical companies.

About NurOwn

NurOwn is an autologous, adult stem cell therapy technology that induces bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to secrete high levels of neurotrophic factors for protection of existing motor neurons, promotion of motor neuron growth, and re-establishment of nerve-muscle interaction. More information about NurOwn can be found at http://brainstorm-cell.com/index.php/science-a-technology/-nurown.

About Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is believed to be an autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS). Autoimmune means that the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissue, in this case, the tissues of the CNS. With MS, autoimmune damage to neurons disrupts the bodys ability to send and receive signals, thus causing MS-related symptoms.Symptoms may vary due to the location and extent of the damage. Worldwide, MS may affect more than 2 million individuals, including approximately 400,000 people in the United States.

About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Inc.

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company engaged in the development of first-of-its-kind adult stem cell therapies derived from autologous bone marrow cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The Company holds the rights to develop and commercialize its NurOwn technology through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with Ramot, the technology transfer company of Tel Aviv University. For more information, visit the companys website at http://www.brainstorm-cell.com.

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BrainStorm to Initiate Study for Multiple Sclerosis at Hadassah Medical Center

OncoMed Pharmaceuticals to Present Data From Clinical Trials of Four Novel Anti-Cancer Stem Cell (anti-CSC …

Updated Phase 1b Data for Demcizumab in Non-Small Cell Lung and Pancreatic Cancers

First Public Presentation of Clinical Data From Ongoing Phase 1 Trials for Anti-Notch1 and Fzd8-Fc Programs

Updated Pharmacodynamic Data for the Vantictumab Program

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 14, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OMED), a clinical-stage company developing novel therapeutics that target cancer stem cells (CSCs), or tumor-initiating cells, today reported five abstracts had been accepted as poster presentations at the upcoming AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, October 19-23, 2013 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA.

These five posters contain results from four of OncoMed's five clinical stage product development candidates. Two of the five posters represent the first public presentations of clinical data from two novel anti-CSC agents: anti-Notch1 (OMP-52M51), an antibody targeting the Notch1 receptor and inhibiting signaling through this important target in the Notch CSC pathway, and Fzd8-Fc (OMP-54F28), a fusion protein binding Wnt ligands and inhibiting the key Wnt CSC pathway. The titles and timing of the five poster presentations are:

About Cancer Stem Cells

Cancer stem cells, or CSCs, are the subpopulation of cells in a tumor responsible for driving growth and metastasis of the tumor. CSCs, also known as tumor-initiating cells, exhibit certain properties which include the capacity to divide and give rise to new CSCs via a process called self-renewal and the capacity to differentiate or change into the other cells that form the bulk of the tumor. Common cancer drugs target bulk tumor cells but have limited impact on CSCs, thereby providing a path for recurrence of the tumor. OncoMed's product candidates target CSCs by blocking self-renewal and driving differentiation of CSCs toward a non-tumorigenic state, and also impact bulk tumor cells. OncoMed believes its product candidates are distinct from the current generations of chemotherapies and targeted therapies, and have the potential to significantly impact cancer treatment and the clinical outcome of patients with cancer.

About Demcizumab (OMP-21M18)

Demcizumab (OMP-21M18) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits Delta-Like Ligand 4 (DLL4) in the Notch signaling pathway. Two Phase 1b combination trials of demcizumab are ongoing. The first trial is in combination with standard-of-care gemcitabine and Abraxane(TM) in first-line advanced pancreatic cancer patients, and the second trial is in combination with standard-of-care carboplatin and pemetrexed (Alimta(TM)) in first-line advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Data from the demcizumab NSCLC and pancreatic cancer Phase 1b trials will be presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Boston, MA, in October 2013. In addition, a Phase 1b/2 trial of demcizumab and paclitaxel in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer is ongoing at MD Anderson Cancer Center. OncoMed has worldwide rights to this program.

About Vantictumab (OMP-18R5)

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OncoMed Pharmaceuticals to Present Data From Clinical Trials of Four Novel Anti-Cancer Stem Cell (anti-CSC ...

Stem cell rules clear, adequate, says FDA

Manila, Philippines The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on October 14, its guidelines governing stem cell therapy in the country are adequate and clear, including the registration of products, health facilities and ethics review.

The FDA said 51 health facilities have submitted applications for stem cell therapy treatment, while 14 stem cell product applications have been received as of last month.

The results of the review of these applications are not yet released and the FDA said the exact timetable is still not decided.

The FDA said regulations on stem cell therapy are handled by different agencies for check and balance.

It said health facilities that handle human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps) will be accredited by the Bureau of Health Facilities and Services under the Department of Health (DOH).

Stand-alone clinics should be affiliated with a research medical center that is accredited by the DOH.

Stem cell products should be registered with the FDA to ensure that these products meet safety, efficacy, and quality standard based the product claims.

Ethics review of health research involving human participants is handled by hospital ethics review boards that are registered, accredited and audited by the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB).

The FDA added that there is a feedback mechanism and safety monitoring for patients. Patients can report to the FDA any adverse reaction from stem cell products.

Critics said patients should not pay for the cost of clinical trials of drugs since their efficacy and safety are still not proven.

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Stem cell rules clear, adequate, says FDA