Stem Cell Clinic

Nobel Prize Nominee Plastic Surgeon Joins Patients Medical’s Stem Cell Research Team

Dr. Paul A. Dreschnack Offers New Options for Those With Hair Loss.

New York City, NY (PRWEB) November 29, 2012

Baldness can cause social anxiety, depression and many other emotional and psychological conditions. The solutions currently being offered such as transplants and pharmaceuticals can be uncomfortable or may compromise other aspects of the patients health, explains Dr. Dreschnack. In my work around the world, I strive to find ways for people to look good and feel well so that they are able to enjoy their lives fully. Stem Cell Therapy seems to be a new frontier that may be a way for patients to improve their quality of life.

Dr. Dreschnack is a four-time Nobel Prize Nominee for his work with The India Project. He has traveled internationally, helping patients who need plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He is now working with Dr. Kamau Kokayi, Medical Director of the New York Stem Cell Treatment Center (NYSCTC) at Patients Medical.

We are excited that Dr. Dreschnack is joining our Stem Cell Research Team, says Dr. Kokayi.

Dr. Dreschnack has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Distinguished Surgeon Award from the Association of Operating Room Nurses, a 2002 Rose Model Award from the Young Leadership Council. He has been nominated for the The Raoul Wallenberg Medal, celebrating people who embody humanitarian ideals. He has also established himself as an academician, reviewing articles for the American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, serving as Clinical Instructor at LSU School of Medicine/Department of Surgery and SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn. Dr. Dreschnack has also given presentations for the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and has been published in Medforum.com, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Proceedings of the American Association for Hand Surgery.

People interested in receiving plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery at Patients Medical with Dr. Paul A. Dreschnack can inquire directly with Patients Medical for rates, a complete list of services and fees. Those interested in participating in the Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Trial may apply online at http://www.patientsmedical.com/stem-cell-therapy/registration-form.aspx

About Patients Medical

Patients Medical (http://www.patientsmedical.com) is a unique integrative medicine center in Manhattan that combines the best of traditional and holistic medicine with modern technology to provide comprehensive care. Established in 1974, the center employs a multi-specialty staff using leading-edge treatment protocols such as Stem Cell Therapy, Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation, Nutrient IV Therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and more. The practice specializes in diagnosing the root cause of an ailment, then healing the whole person with personalized protocols that draw upon both Eastern and Western medicine.

Megan Franzen Patients Medical 212-679-9667 111 Email Information

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Nobel Prize Nominee Plastic Surgeon Joins Patients Medical’s Stem Cell Research Team

BioTime CEO Dr. Michael West to Present at World Stem Cell Summit 2012

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

BioTime, Inc. (NYSE MKT: BTX), a biotechnology company that develops and markets products in the field of regenerative medicine, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Michael D. West, Ph.D. will present at the World Stem Cell Summit 2012 in West Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. Dr. West will be presenting in the session on Developing Combination Products: Cells, Genes, and Devices at 1:30 pm EST which will include an update on product development, including Renevia, PanC-Dx, and OpRegen. The presentation will be made available on BioTime's website at http://www.biotimeinc.com.

World Stem Cell Summit 2012 will be the 8th annual event produced by the Genetics Policy Institute (GPI), a non-profit organization. Planned by and for the stem cell and regenerative medicine community, the goal of the Summit is to accelerate the discovery and development of lifesaving cures and therapies. This year, panels will address advancing treatments for specific diseases and conditions including: cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, spinal cord injury, paralysis, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson's, eye diseases and others.

About BioTime, Inc.

BioTime, headquartered in Alameda, California, is a biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine and blood plasma volume expanders. Its broad platform of stem cell technologies is enhanced through subsidiaries focused on specific fields of application. BioTime develops and markets research products in the fields of stem cells and regenerative medicine, including a wide array of proprietary PureStem cell lines, HyStem hydrogels, culture media, and differentiation kits. BioTime is developing Renevia (formerly known as HyStem-Rx), a biocompatible, implantable hyaluronan and collagen-based matrix for cell delivery in human clinical applications. BioTime's therapeutic product development strategy is pursued through subsidiaries that focus on specific organ systems and related diseases for which there is a high unmet medical need. BioTime's majority owned subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences Ltd. is developing therapeutic products derived from stem cells for the treatment of retinal and neural degenerative diseases. BioTime's subsidiary OrthoCyte Corporation is developing therapeutic applications of stem cells to treat orthopedic diseases and injuries. Another subsidiary, OncoCyte Corporation, focuses on the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of stem cell technology in cancer, including the diagnostic product PanC-Dx currently being developed for the detection of cancer in blood samples. ReCyte Therapeutics, Inc. is developing applications of BioTime's proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell technology to reverse the developmental aging of human cells to treat cardiovascular and blood cell diseases. BioTime's subsidiary LifeMap Sciences, Inc. markets GeneCards, the leading human gene database, and is developing an integrated database suite to complement GeneCards that will also include the LifeMap database of embryonic development, stem cell research and regenerative medicine, and MalaCards, the human disease database. LifeMap will also market BioTime research products. BioTime's lead product, Hextend, is a blood plasma volume expander manufactured and distributed in the U.S. by Hospira, Inc. and in South Korea by CJ CheilJedang Corporation under exclusive licensing agreements. Additional information about BioTime can be found on the web at http://www.biotimeinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development, and potential opportunities for BioTime 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 "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, 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 business of BioTime and its subsidiaries, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in BioTime's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. BioTime disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

To receive ongoing BioTime corporate communications, please click on the following link to join our email alert list: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=83805&p=irol-alerts

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BioTime CEO Dr. Michael West to Present at World Stem Cell Summit 2012

StemCells, Inc. to Present at 2012 World Stem Cell Summit

NEWARK, Calif., Nov. 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StemCells, Inc. (STEM) announced today that Ann Tsukamoto, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Research and Development, will make a presentation on the Company's clinical development programs at the 2012 World Stem Cell Summit to be held December 3-5 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, West Palm Beach, Florida. Dr. Tsukamoto is scheduled to speak during the Clinical Trial Update session to be held 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, December 4. Dr. Tsukamoto also will be moderating a discussion on the topic "Unproven Stem Cell Therapies and Deceptive Claims: Hidden Dangers to Patients." This plenary discussion is scheduled to be held 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, December 4.

StemCells, Inc. is a Silver Sponsor of the 2012 World Stem Cell Summit, which is planned by and for the global stem cell and regenerative medicine community and is the largest interdisciplinary stem cell conference. The goal of the 2012 World Stem Cell Summit is to accelerate the discovery and development of lifesaving cures and therapies by bringing together a range of stakeholders to establish a supportive environment of regulation, legislation, financing, reimbursement and patient advocacy.

StemCells, Inc. will be co-hosting a reception on December 4, prior to the Summit's Stem Cell Action Awards Dinner. The Stem Cell Action Awards recognize dedicated individuals and organizations that have made distinguished contributions to the cause of stem cell research.

About StemCells, Inc.

StemCells, Inc. is engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of cell-based therapeutics and tools for use in stem cell-based research and drug discovery. The Company's lead therapeutic product candidate, HuCNS-SC(R) cells (purified human neural stem cells), is currently in development as a potential treatment for a broad range of central nervous system disorders. In a Phase I clinical trial in Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), a fatal myelination disorder in children, the Company has shown preliminary evidence of progressive and durable donor-derived myelination in all four patients transplanted with HuCNS-SC cells. The Company is also conducting a Phase I/II clinical trial in chronic spinal cord injury in Switzerland and recently reported positive interim data for the first patient cohort. The Company has also initiated a Phase I/II clinical trial in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and is pursuing preclinical studies in Alzheimer's disease. StemCells also markets stem cell research products, including media and reagents, under the SC Proven(R) brand. Further information about StemCells is available at http://www.stemcellsinc.com.

The StemCells, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7014

Apart from statements of historical fact, the text of this press release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. securities laws, and is subject to the safe harbors created therein. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the clinical development of its HuCNS-SC cells; the Company's ability to commercialize drug discovery and drug development tools; and the future business operations of the Company. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. Such statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain assumptions that may or may not ultimately prove valid. The Company's actual results may vary materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties to which the Company is subject, including those described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and in its subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K.

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StemCells, Inc. to Present at 2012 World Stem Cell Summit

Professors Critique Stem Cell Medical Tourism

A panel at the Harvard Law School Wednesday discussed the ethical debate over the use of embryonic stem cells in the United States, focusing on the burgeoning controversy surrounding the role of stem cell therapy in medical tourism.

Medical tourism, in which patients travel internationally to gain access to specific health care services, has become increasingly common, panelists said. They said that reasons for medical tourism range from basic hip replacement surgery to black market organ sales. As most stem cell therapies are not approved in the United States, numerous patients are going abroad to countries like China and Russia where treatment is legal.

Panelist I. Glenn Cohen, an assistant professor at the Law School, said that it was probable that a Chinese stem cell facility performs several hundred thousand of these treatments yearly. He said that numerous celebrities, including football quarterback Peyton Manning, have reportedly traveled abroad to receive stem cell treatment not approved by the FDA.

A number of facilities claim to use stem cells to cure a wide array of diseases. University of Alberta law professor Timothy Caulfield, another panelist, pointed out that a simple Google search leads potential patients to a plethora of websites which claim that diseases such as autism and cancer can be cured through stem cell therapy.

Its being offered as routine, its being offered as safe, its being offered as effective, Caulfield said, citing his own 2008 study on the subject, Of course, none of them being offered matched what the scientific literature said.

According to American history professor Jill Lepore, the hyper-acceleration of enthusiasm for stem cell therapy is reminiscent of a century ago when science journalism and government funding for science research began to blossom. Lepore pointed out how public excitement over scientific procedures has affected society in the past, popularizing cryonics research and the work of Eugene Steinach, who claimed his vasectomy operation reversed the aging process.

Panelists said that one issue with stem cell tourism is the number of health risks associated with such procedures, citing a number of instances where stem cell therapy caused serious harm.

They also noted that public discussion about stem cell therapy has been markedly positive, lending an air of legitimacy to stem cell therapy that hasnt been validated by research.

Articles criticizing stem cell tourism, on the other hand, have generally received a less favorable response. Caulfield told the audience that when he co-wrote an article in The Atlantic criticizing stem cell therapy, he was accused as being a nutball Canadian socialist bioethicist.

The panelists emphasized that more accurate information should be provided to the public regarding stem cell treatments.

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Professors Critique Stem Cell Medical Tourism

Stem Cell Banks Envisioned for Regenerative Medicine

Stem cell banks could serve as a valuable resource for emerging treatments in the field of regenerative medicine, though challenges remain to making them a reality, according to a panel of international experts who gathered at UCSF for a stem cell conference last month.

Funding for the development of stem cell lines for research has long been subject to debate, especially before President Barack Obama lifted a Bush-era ban on federal funding in 2009, but now scientists are discussing how to best meet the anticipated need for stem cells for medicine as well as research.

Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD

Stem cell treatments developed from adult cells rather than from embryonic tissue are expected to enter clinical trials for macular degeneration in Japan next year, and early successes in such trials aimed at replacing damaged tissues would be expected to drive demand for such stem cells upward. Worldwide, stem cell scientists in academia, government and the private sector are gauging strategies for moving forward with stem cell banks to meet expected demand.

So far, countries have been taking different paths toward acquiring these resources, panelists said at an Oct. 25 discussion at the International Society for Stem Cell Research conference held at the UCSF Mission Bay campus.

Panelists for the discussion, titled Challenges and Opportunities in Cellular Reprogramming, included Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, a UCSF professor of anatomy senior investigator with the UCSF-affiliated Gladstone Institutes who won the 2012 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for discoveries that are the groundwork for many of todays regenerative medicine strategies.

Yamanaka, who is also director of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application at Kyoto University, has advocated stem cell banking for medicine in his native Japan, where the government recently made a commitment to begin stem cell banking.

Yamanaka pioneered the use of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which are created when individuals provide skin cells or other easily obtained cells that scientists then reprogram in the lab to become virtually any cell type. One of primary advantages to iPS cells is that their use overcomes ethical objections to the use of embryonic stem cells, which are developed from leftover embryos obtained from in vitro fertilization clinics.

Induced pluripotent stem cellsknown as iPS cells, and which act very much like embryonic stem cellsare here growing into heart cells (blue) and nerve cells (green). Photo by Gladstone Institutes/Chris Goodfellow

Because iPS cells can be created from the cells of individuals afflicted with specific diseases, they can be used to develop new disease models to learn more about how diseases arise and how they might be treated. But in addition, panelists emphasized, iPS cells can be reprogrammed to become long-lived stem cells specialized for particular organs and tissues and play a role in treatments now being developed for regenerative medicine.

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Stem Cell Banks Envisioned for Regenerative Medicine