NEWARK, Calif., Oct. 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StemCells, Inc. (STEM) announced today the launch of four new SC Proven human neural stem cell (NSC) kits for use in neuroscience research. Each kit will contain high purity, multipotent NSCs derived from a different area of the human central nervous system (CNS), and will provide researchers with a reproducible and scalable serum-free platform with which to perform a broad range of assays. With these kits, researchers will now have the ability to compare and contrast the biological, functional and neural differentiation properties of human NSCs isolated from specific CNS regions, as well as to screen for the effects of different compounds on such cells.1,2

"These kits represent the first in a new family of human cell-centric products we are adding to the SC Proven portfolio to provide researchers with a unique set of tools to realize the promise of regenerative medicine," said Stewart Craig, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Development and Operations at StemCells, Inc. "Stem cell research is flourishing and these kits will enable investigators to derive and characterize human neural lineage cells using published methods, or the ability to customize their own assay formats up to and including scale-up for non-commercial screening applications."

Kits containing multipotent human NSCs derived from Hindbrain (HNS-HIN-001), Cortex (HNS-COR-001), Spinal Cord (HNS-SPI-001), and Mid-forebrain (HNS-MIF-001), and RHB-A(R), StemCells Inc.'s proprietary serum-free cell culture medium, are now available. For a limited time a special discount of 20% can be obtained when placing an online order with the Discount Code JAV66.

References

1 Hook L, et al., Non-immortalized human neural stem cells as a scalable platform for cellular assays. Neurochem Int. 2011 59(3): 432-44.

2 McLaren D, et al., Automated large-scale culture and medium-throughput chemical screen for modulators of proliferation and viability of human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Neuroepithelial-like Stem Cells. J Biomol Screen. Oct 4: 2012 doi:10.1177/1087057112461446.

About SC Proven Products

The SC Proven product portfolio comprises a range of products for the detection, isolation, expansion, differentiation, and characterization of a variety of different human and animal cell types. The entire SC Proven product catalog and online ordering can be found at http://www.scproven.com.

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, including Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), a fatal myelination disorder, chronic spinal cord injury, and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). StemCells also markets a range of stem cell research products under the SC Proven(R) brand (www.scproven.com), and offers contract cell process development and production services (cellservices@stemcellsinc.com). Further information is available at http://www.stemcellsinc.com.

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StemCells, Inc. Launches Four New Human Neural Stem Cell Kits Under SC Proven(R) Brand