
TAMPA, FL--(Marketwire - February 22, 2010) - AmStem Corporation (OTCBB: SCII) announced that Histostem Ltd. of South Korea ("Histostem"), has participated in a successful preclinical study of the use of its proprietary Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (HMSCs) in the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver. The study was a joint effort between a research team comprised of doctors from major academic centers in Korea: Kyung Hee University and Hanyang University in Seoul and Dongguk University in Goyang, in collaboration with Dr. Hoon Han, President and Founder of Histostem. The clinical trial results demonstrated that an infusion of HMSCs could inhibit the fibrosis formation and progression of cirrhosis in rats.
Cirrhosis, which is typically a long-term consequence of chronic liver injury caused by alcohol abuse or hepatitis virus infection, is characterized by extensive fibrous scarring of the liver. In this study, rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCI4)-induced cirrhosis were treated with infusions of transplanted HMSCs. Within the test group, transplanted HMSCs were found to improve cirrhosis and recovery of the liver beginning approximately four weeks after the infusion.
To date, the most common source of HMSCs has been bone marrow, which has also been shown to improve liver fibrosis in animal models. This study demonstrates that umbilical cord blood-derived HMSCs can show a functional and morphological improvement in CCI4-induced cirrhotic rats, providing an alternative and more easily accessible cell source for therapeutic treatment. Since 2004, Histostem has used this treatment, on an emergency basis, with more than 30 human patients with cirrhosis of the liver in Korea using the HMSCs from the human umbilical cord blood in its own repository.
Dr. Han commented, "Our research demonstrated that HMSC infusions can improve liver fibrosis in rats. We expect these findings to be the basis for Histostem to begin a Phase 2, Institutional Review Board approved clinical trial for the use of HMSCs in the treatment of cirrhosis in humans in the near future. Stem cells from human umbilical cord blood may be preferable to either bone marrow or neural stem cells as a source of transplantation because they are easier to obtain and remain viable after long-term cryopreservation. Our success with this study opens new avenues in the potential use of stem cells derived from human umbilical cord blood in the treatment of cirrhosis."
David Stark, President of AmStem, commented, "We are excited about these results and the future research and clinical trials that will be based on this study's outcome. Histostem has recently been granted two US Patents for its proprietary method of deriving HSMCs from umbilical cord blood. By combining these patented methods with data from Histostem's preclinical and early phase human studies on the therapeutic use of HSMCs, we anticipate developing proprietary stem cell therapeutics much sooner."
More details on the research process and results are available in the recent issue of Liver International, ISSN 1478-3223 in the article titled: "Effect of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesechymal stem cells in a cirrhotic rat model."
About AmStem Corporation
AmStem Corporation (OTCBB: SCII) is in the field of regenerative medicine. The Company is devoted to the treatment of patients with stem cell transplantation therapy as well as providing the supplies of biological solutions containing new lines of stem cell products.
About AmStem International Inc.
Amstem International Inc. ("AmStem") is a new biotechnology company based in Northern California, in the watershed of stem cell innovation fueled by President Obama's recent announcement to lift Federal funding limitations for stem cell research. AmStem provides biotherapeutic and cosmetic stem cell products, stem cell collection and storage know-how, and access to nanotechnology vital to cutting edge stem cell research. Its web site is under construction at www.amsteminc.com.
About Histostem Co. Ltd.
Histostem was founded in Seoul, Korea in 2000. To date it has treated more than 500 patients with stem cells and currently has approximately 50 full-time employees and several part-time employees. Histostem's intellectual property portfolio consists of 6 patents that have been granted and 5 patents pending. To its knowledge, Histostem is one of the very few stem cell companies in the world currently earning several million dollars in income from its products and technology. A comprehensive list of Histostem's achievements can be found at the company's website http://www.histostem.co.kr (click on English version when entering the site).
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements included in this press release, particularly those anticipating future clinical and business prospects for AmStem Corporation may be forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Among the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially are the following: our ability to obtain necessary capital, successfully complete clinical trials, our ability to meet anticipated development timelines, our ability to establish global market for the cord blood cells, clinical trial results, successfully consummate future acquisitions, manufacturing capabilities or other factors; and other risk factors identified from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements set forth in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof.
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David Stark
CEO
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CFO
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