NEW YORK, May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NeoStem, Inc. , which is pioneering the pre-disease collection, processing and long-term storage of adult stem cells for future medical need, today announced that it has signed a collection center agreement with the University of Louisville Hospital/ James Graham Brown Cancer Center.
Robin Smith, MD MBA, NeoStem’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented: “This is an extraordinary agreement for NeoStem and University of Louisville that will allow us to move adult stem cell therapies forward, both at the basic science and translational level.”
NeoStem acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to Very Small Embryonic-Like (VSEL) Stem Cell technology developed by researchers at the University of Louisville in November 2007. VSELs have been identified in adult bone marrow and resemble embryonic stem cells both morphologically and transcriptionally. Although early stage technology, the Company expects VSELS to serve as the basis for its entry into the therapeutic market place. VSELs have the ability to grow in the laboratory and multiply into clusters of cells that then can differentiate into specialized cells found in different types of tissue including cardiac, neural, endothelial, muscle, pancreatic and hematopoietic cells. However, unlike controversial embryonic stem cells, VSELs can be harvested from adult peripheral blood. These naturally occurring regenerative cells may have the potential to be used for future therapeutic repair of degenerative, diseased or damaged tissue.
“The Louisville collection center represents a unique opportunity for University of Louisville,” added Manuel Martinez, M.D., Executive Vice President for Research, University of Louisville. “There are a number of adult stem cell translational scientists and clinicians at the University that are interested in exploring the therapeutic potential of VSELs and other adult stem cells of the body. The collection center will allow harvesting large numbers of these cells from adults donating them for basic research as well as clients paying to have their cells stored for their own future medical need.”
“By enabling investigators to have access to large numbers of adult stem cells from interested and informed study subjects, we believe that translational adult stem cell research will move forward at an accelerated pace and that clinical trial designs will be more rapidly implemented to investigate new research findings. Overall, we anticipate that this corporate and academic relationship will assist in propelling the adult stem cell field forward. This will allow NeoStem to take the lead in harnessing and translating this revolutionary and promising new approach to treat human disease.”
About NeoStem, Inc.
NeoStem has a growing nationwide network of adult stem cell collection centers, enabling people to donate and store their own (autologous) stem cells when they are young and healthy for their personal use in times of future medical need. The Company has also recently entered into research and development through the acquisition of a worldwide exclusive license to technology to identify and isolate VSELs (very small embryonic-like stem cells), which have been shown to have several physical characteristics that are generally found in embryonic stem cells.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current expectations, as of the date of this press release, and involve certain risks and uncertainties. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Factors that could cause future results to materially differ from the recent results or those projected in forward-looking statements include the “Risk Factors” described in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Robin Smith, Chief Executive Officer of NeoStem, Inc.,
+1-212-584-4180, rsmith@neostem.com
Web site: http://www.neostem.com/
