Stem Cell Clinic

International Stem Cell Corporation Technology for Deriving Neuronal Cell Published by Nature Publishing Group

CARLSBAD, CA--(Marketwire - Mar 15, 2013) - International Stem Cell Corporation ( OTCQB : ISCO ) (www.internationalstemcell.com), a California-based biotechnology company focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells, announced today the publication of its breakthrough method of deriving neuronal cells for the treatment of Parkinson's disease in Scientific Reports, a primary research publication from the publishers of Nature.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder caused by a progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons resulting in gradual dysfunction of the motor system. Pharmacological treatments are useful in the relatively early stage of the disease, but the continuous use of pro-dopaminergic medication eventually becomes ineffective and can worsen some of the motor symptoms. ISCO is developing a treatment for PD based on replacing the lost neurons with new neuronal cells derived from human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSC). To this end ISCO has developed a sophisticated and efficient manufacturing process for neuronal cells which has now been published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports.

The paper describes the technology, developed by ISCO's R&D team, for producing highly pure populations of GMP-grade neuronal cells suitable for pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. The neuronal cells created using this approach are further characterized using a number of analytical methods and shown to function in a similar manner to adult cells. Moreover, neuronal cells produced using this new method, express greater levels of dopamine, the neurotransmitter central to PD, than previously reported approaches. Furthermore, these hpSC-derived neuronal cells are cryopreservable and can be stored frozen, and provides a practical route to creating neurons of sufficient quality to be used to treat Parkinson's disease patients.

"It is important that our research is reviewed and validated by the scientific community and being able to publish in a Nature-branded, journal provides confirmation of the quality of ISCO's scientific research," commented Dr. Andrey Semechkin, CEO and Co-Chairman.

The full-text of the publication can be found at http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/130315/srep01463/full/srep01463.html

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 Technology for Deriving Neuronal Cell Published by Nature Publishing Group

Six months after stem cell treatment for lax shoulder/chronic sprained ankle from Dr Harry Adelson – Video

Six months after stem cell treatment for lax shoulder/chronic sprained ankle from Dr Harry Adelson
Nick discusses the outcome from his stem cell treatment for a lax shoulder joint and ankle pain from multiple sprains

By: Harry Adelson

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Six months after stem cell treatment for lax shoulder/chronic sprained ankle from Dr Harry Adelson - Video

March 2013 Walking update ~ Stem Cell Treatment – Video

March 2013 Walking update ~ Stem Cell Treatment
msrelief.com I am feeling very strong after the Stem cell treatment about three weeks ago. I am able to do exercises that I haven #39;t been able to do for months. I will continue to exercise, eat, sleep, pray and we #39;ll see what the future has in store!

By: findjoymsrelief

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March 2013 Walking update ~ Stem Cell Treatment - Video

Neuralstem CEO, Richard Garr, Named To "Top 50 Global Stem Cell Influencers"

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Neuralstem, Inc. (NYSE MKT: CUR) announced that CEO and President, Richard Garr, was listed as the 15th most influential person in the stem field in the "Top 50 Global Stem Cell Influencers," published by Total BioPharma, a division of Terrapinn, in advance of the World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2013, in May.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20061221/DCTH007LOGO)

The list is the result of a global stem cell community survey to determine the most influential individuals in the field, including researchers, and business and government leaders.

About Neuralstem

Neuralstem's patented technology enables the ability to produce neural stem cells of the human brain and spinal cord in commercial quantities, and the ability to control the differentiation of these cells constitutively into mature, physiologically relevant human neurons and glia. Neuralstem completed an FDA-approved Phase I safety clinical trial for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, in February 2013, and has submitted recommended Phase II trial protocol to the FDA. Neuralstem has been awarded orphan status designation by the FDA for its ALS cell therapy.

In addition to ALS, the company is also targeting major central nervous system conditions with its NSI-566 cell therapy platform, including spinal cord injury, ischemic stroke and glioblastoma (brain cancer). The company received approval to commence a Phase I safety trial in chronic spinal cord injury in January 2013.

Neuralstem also has the ability to generate stable human neural stem cell lines suitable for the systematic screening of large chemical libraries. Through this proprietary screening technology, Neuralstem has discovered and patented compounds that may stimulate the brain's capacity to generate new neurons, possibly reversing the pathologies of some central nervous system conditions. The company is in a Phase Ib safety trial evaluating NSI-189, its first neurogenic small molecule compound, for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).Additional indications could include chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), Alzheimer's disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

For more information, please visit http://www.neuralstem.com or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements in this press release regarding potential applications of Neuralstem's technologies constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, uncertainty of clinical trial results or regulatory approvals or clearances, need for future capital, dependence upon collaborators and maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Neuralstem's periodic reports, including the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

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Neuralstem CEO, Richard Garr, Named To "Top 50 Global Stem Cell Influencers"

Painkillers Could Prove Helpful in Stem – Cell Transplants

Inhibition of a prostaglandin with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen and naproxen) has been found to cause stem cells to leave marrow, where they could be harvested for patients with blood disorders

By Thea Cunningham and Nature magazine

Bone marrow such as this being prepared for a transplant might be easier to extract with the help of aspirin-like drugs. Image: Tino Soriano/National Geographic Society/Corbis

Aspirin-like drugs could improve the success of stem-cell transplants for patients with blood or bone-marrow disorders, a study suggests. The compounds coax stem cells from bone marrow into the bloodstream where they can be harvested for use in transplantation and they do so with fewer side effects than drugs now in use.

For patients with blood disorders such as leukemia, multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkins lymphoma, transplantation of haematopoietic stem cells precursor cells that reside in the bone marrow and give rise to all types of blood cell can be an effective treatment.

Previous work has shown that prostaglandin E2, or PGE2, a lipid known to regulate multiple bodily reactions including pain, fever and inflammation, also has a role in keeping stem cells in the bone marrow. In the latest study, researchers show that in mice, humans and baboons, inhibition of PGE2 with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) causes stem cells to leave the bone marrow.

Releasing the stem cells The team gave baboons and humans an NSAID called meloxicam. They saw a subsequent increase in the numbers of haematopoietic stem cells in the bloodstream.

The researchers think that the departure of stem cells is caused by the disturbance of a group of bone-forming cells called osteoblasts. These cells secrete a protein called osteopontin that hooks the stem cells to the bone marrow. Inhibiting PGE2 would disrupt the production of osteopontin.

At present, doctors use a drug called filgrastim to mobilize haematopoietic stem cells in donors or in patients undergoing autotransplantation (in which they receive their own stem cells). In patients with multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkins lymphoma, however, and in some donors, stem cells dont mobilize well with filgrastim and other drugs in its class. Using NSAIDs such as meloxicam could enhance filgrastims efficacy, says lead author Louis Pelus of the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. The study appears in Nature.

Meloxicam also has comparatively few side effects, says Pelus. He and his colleagues found that other NSAIDs, including aspirin and ibuprofen, can also mobilize haematopoietic stem cells, but these drugs can cause gastrointestinal upset in patients. PGE2 controls the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, and when you block that youve reduced your ability to control acid secretion. Meloxicam doesnt do that as badly as many of the other [drugs] do, he says.

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Painkillers Could Prove Helpful in Stem - Cell Transplants

Advanced Cell Technology Receives Approval from Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) to Initiate Treatment of Third …

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. ("ACT"; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) overseeing the Companys three ongoing stem cell clinical trials in the United States and Europe has authorized the Company to move forward with enrolling and treating the patients in the next cohort of each of the trials. Per each trials protocol, the first patient of cohort 3 will be injected with 150,000 human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. This represents a fifty percent increase in the dose of RPE cells as compared to the previously treated cohort of patients. The first patients treated at this escalated dose will be evaluated, with interim DSMB review after six weeks, at which time the determination to continue treating additional patients at this dosage will be made.

Additionally, the DSMB has authorized the Company to proceed with treating patients in the two U.S. trials as part of additional cohorts recently approved by the FDA. In particular, the FDA approved the addition of two new cohorts of four patients each one cohort for each of the Stargardts Macular Dystrophy (SMD) and dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD) trials which can include patients with better vision. The specific protocol for these cohort 2a patients establishes eligibility for enrollment based on visual acuity as good as 20/100. Previous patients enrolled in the trials have visual acuity no better than 20/400 and ranging to patients whose visual acuity had deteriorated to hand-motion only sight. In addition to establishing the safety of the transplanted RPE cells, the opportunity to treat patients earlier in the course of progression of these diseases improves the likelihood of enrolling patients having a greater number of photoreceptors that, while inactive due to loss of the native RPE layer, are dormant but able to be rescued by the reestablishment of a functional RPE layer from the transplanted cells. Enrollment of the additional patients as part of cohort 2a will be simultaneous with enrollment of patients in the 150,000 cell dose cohort 3 patients.

With DSMB approval now secured, we look forward to proceeding with the third, higher-dosage cohort in all three trials in coming weeks, as well as initiating a separate cohort, 2a, of patients who represent earlier stages of these degenerative diseases, commented Gary Rabin, chairman and CEO of ACT. Moreover, we anticipate that the added cohort 2a patients may not only shed additional light on the safety and tolerability of our RPE cells, but offer us the opportunity to gather anatomical and functional data that can be used to help in the design and selection of endpoints for our eventual phase II studies.

The three clinical trials in the U.S. and Europe investigate hESC-derived RPE cells for the treatment of dry AMD and SMD, both forms of macular degeneration. These trials are prospective, open-label studies, designed to determine the safety and tolerability of hESC-derived RPE cells following sub-retinal transplantation into patients with dry AMD or SMD at 12 months, the studys primary endpoint. With the addition of the new cohort 2a patients, each of the U.S. trials will now enroll a total of 16 patients across the ascending dosage format of 50,000 to 200,000 RPE cells.

We are pleased to receive the unanimous recommendation of the DSMB to initiate the third, higher-dosage patient treatments in the US and EU trials for Stargardts disease and dry AMD, said Robert Lanza, M.D., chief scientific officer of ACT. In addition, we are excited by the prospects of being able to work with better vision patients being enrolled in the 2a cohort. We think this provides a unique opportunity to gain preliminary data and insight from the treatment of patients that begin to resemble the early and intermediate stage dry AMD and SMD patients we hope to be able to treat in the next phase of these trials.

Preliminary results from the U.S. Stargardts and dry AMD trials werereportedinThe Lancetlast year.

Further information about patient eligibility for ACTs dry AMD study and the concurrent studies in the U.S. and the E.U. for SMD is available at http://www.clinicaltrials.govwith the following Identifiers: NCT01344993 (dry AMD), NCT01345006 (U.S. SMD) and NCT01469832 (E.U. SMD).

About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit http://www.advancedcell.com.

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Advanced Cell Technology Receives Approval from Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) to Initiate Treatment of Third ...