Ocata Therapeutics Receives Two New Patents For Immune-Modulatory Cell Technology

Potential Treatment of Ophthalmic, Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases using Ocata’s Proprietary HMC™ Technology

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ocata Therapeutics, Inc. (“Ocata” or “the Company”; OTCBB: OCAT), a leader in the field of Regenerative Ophthalmology^TM, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued two U.S. Patents, Nos. 8,962,321 and 8,961,956, directed to the Company’s Hemangio-derived Mesenchymal Cells (“HMCs”). Ocata’s HMC technology introduces a new era of cell therapy for ophthalmic, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. This development enables the generation of a potentially unlimited supply of potent HMCs from renewable pluripotent stem cell sources. In addition to HMC formulations, the issued patents also broadly protect the manufacture of HMCs as well as the therapeutic use of these cells in the treatment of ophthalmic, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

“HMCs have the potential to deliver greater therapeutic results than traditional mesenchymal stem cell therapies that have been the focus of clinical development for the past decade. Importantly, this technology could enable scalable manufacturing for global distribution of potent HMCs for off-the-shelf therapeutic use.”

“These immune-modulatory cells are uniquely dynamic with a high degree of anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory activity,” said Dr. Robert Lanza, MD, Chief Scientific Officer at Ocata, and a co-inventor on the patents. “HMCs have the potential to deliver greater therapeutic results than traditional mesenchymal stem cell therapies that have been the focus of clinical development for the past decade. Importantly, this technology could enable scalable manufacturing for global distribution of potent HMCs for off-the-shelf therapeutic use.”

“The unique and differentiating characteristics of our proprietary HMCs gives Ocata a distinct new platform to develop ophthalmic products, such as for treatment of non-infectious uveitis and inflammatory diseases of the retina,” added Dr. Paul Wotton PhD, President and CEO of Ocata. “These patents firmly anchor our leading position in the development of this novel bio-therapeutic therapy. In addition to our ophthalmic uses, this platform now gives Ocata the ability to carve out the non-ophthalmic uses and to potentially partner this Restorative Immunology^TM platform for the treatment of devastating autoimmune diseases, such as Lupus and Crohn’s Disease.”

About Ocata Therapeutics, Inc.

Ocata Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of Regenerative Ophthalmology therapeutics. Ocata’s most advanced products are in clinical trials for the treatment of Stargardt’s macular degeneration, dry age-related macular degeneration, and myopic macular degeneration. Ocata’s intellectual property portfolio includes pluripotent stem cell platforms – hESC and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) – and other cell therapy research programs. For more information, visit www.ocata.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements, other than historical facts, contained in this news release, including statements regarding the potential scope of Ocata’s intellectual property perfection, expectations regarding possible therapeutic results, scalability of manufacturing and potential off-the-shelf therapeutic use, potential partnering opportunities of Ocata’s autoimmune diseases platform, and any other statements about Ocata’s future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, results or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “will,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including: the fact that Ocata has no product revenue and no products approved for marketing; Ocata’s limited operating history; the need for and limited sources of future capital; the unknown nature of the regulatory approval process for the Company’s novel therapeutics such as those being developed by Ocata; potential failures or delays in obtaining regulatory approval of products; risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products; reliance on new and unproven technology in the development of products; the need to protect Ocata’s intellectual property; the challenges associated with conducting and enrolling clinical trials; the risk that the results of clinical trials may not support the Company’s product candidate claims; even if approved, the risk that physicians and patients may not accept or use Ocata’s products; Ocata’s reliance on third parties to conduct its clinical trials and to formulate and manufacture its product candidates; and economic conditions generally. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Ocata’s periodic reports, including the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of Ocata’s management at the time they are made, and Ocata does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of Ocata’s management at the time they are made, and Ocata does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. There can be no assurance that Ocata’s future clinical trials will be successful or that the results of previous clinical studies will lead to commercialization or products or therapies.