MediStem, Inc. (Formerly known as Medistem Laboratories, Inc.) Launches Critical Limb Ischemia Clinical Trial

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - July 13, 2012) - Medistem Inc. (PINKSHEETS: MEDS) and the Chinese Conglomerate, Shanghai Jia Fu Medical Apparatus Inc, announced today successful administration of Medistem’s Endometrial Regenerative Cell (ERC) universal donor stem cell product in 2 patients with critical limb ischemia as part of a 15 patient study. The ERC dosing procedure, which involves a series of intramuscular injections in the ischemic limb, was successfully performed, without any treatment-associated adverse effects observed in either patient.

“The ERC is unique amongst clinical grade stem cells in that the cell is derived from the endometrium (lining of the uterus). Every month new blood vessels are formed in the endometrium, which subsequently are sloughed off during menstruation. We believe the ERC plays a critical role in forming new blood vessels, which is supported by numerous experiments we have conducted,” said Thomas Ichim, CEO of Medistem. “Since the biological role of the ERC is to produce new blood vessels, it is our desire to use these cells to produce new blood vessels in the legs of patients with critical limb ischemia.”

Critical limb ischemia is an advanced form of peripheral artery disease that causes approximately 150-200,000 amputations per year in the USA. Dr. Michael Murphy of Indiana University, Principle Investigator for Medistem’s FDA cleared clinical study on critical limb ischemia has previously published with Medistem data and rationale supporting the use of ERC for treatment of this condition. The publication may be found on this link:
http://www.translational-medicine.com/content/pdf/1479-5876-6-45.pdf

“Due to the high incidence of diabetes in the Chinese population, critical limb ischemia is a significant cause of suffering in our country,” said Mr. Wei Zhang, CEO of Shanghai Jia Fu Medical Apparatus Inc. “We are optimistic that the lessons we have learned from successfully commercializing DC-CIK can be applied to the first universal donor stem cell that is extracted from the endometrium.”

The current work in China is based on the interests of Shanghai Jia Fu Medical Apparatus Inc to expand their clinical cellular therapy portfolio, which is currently based on DC-CIK, an autologous immunotherapy for cancer patients. Medistem and Shanghai Jia Fu intend to develop the ERC product in China by performing a series of clinical trials with the goal of obtaining marketing approval.

“We are extremely optimistic about our collaboration, given that the clinical trial is well underway,” said Feng Lin, Medistem’s Director of Chinese Operations. “Under the current arrangement, Medistem has access to all data generated as part of this clinical trial, as well as to numerous medical and business relations, which are the key to successful expansion into China.”

Cautionary Statement
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of our securities. This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking information. Factors which may cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements are discussed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Technorati: critical limb ischemia peripheral artery disease adult stem cells menstrual blood endometrial