SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - November 19, 2012) - Medistem (PINKSHEETS: MEDS) announced today appointment of Alexander Gershman, MD, Ph.D to the company’s Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Gershman is an internationally-renowned opinion leader in urological surgery having pioneered numerous minimally invasive procedures using laparoscopic techniques.
“The future of regenerative medicine lies not only in having the best stem cell product, but also being able to practically deliver it in a manner that can be integrated into existing medical practice,” said Dr. Alan Lewis, CEO of Medistem. “Through working with respected physicians such as Dr. Gershman, our aim is to develop novel delivery methods so that our cellular product can be utilized in numerous disciplines.”
Medistem is currently running a Phase II clinical trial in heart failure patients using its Endometrial Regenerative Cell (ERC) product delivered through a 30-minute minimally invasive patent pending procedure. The company seeks to develop similar minimally invasive procedures for the field of urology in collaboration with Dr. Gershman.
“It is obvious that stem cell medicine is the future of medicine. Although great strides have occurred in clinical entry of stem cells, a major hurdle to commercialization is practical implementation,” said Dr. Gershman. “I commend Medistem for having discovered what appears to be the most potent blood vessel generating stem cell, the ERC, as well as having the foresight to think practically about optimum methods of delivery.”
Dr. Gershman is one of the first surgeons in the world to apply the method of laparoscopic surgery and robotic-assisted surgery to urology. He currently holds numerous hospital appointments, including the following: Director of Institute of Advanced Urology at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; Director of Urologic Laparoscopy in the Division of Urology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center; Head of Endourology Division, Department of Surgery, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System; Attending Surgeon, Laparoscopic Renal Transplant Surgery, St. Mary Medical Center; Attending Surgeon at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; and Attending Surgeon at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
About Medistem
Medistem Inc. is focused on the development of the Endometrial Regenerative Cell (ERC), a universal donor adult stem cell product. ERCs possess specialized abilities to stimulate new blood vessel growth and can differentiate into lung, liver, heart, brain, bone, cartilage, fat and pancreatic tissue. These unique properties have applications for treatment of critical limb ischemia (CLI), congestive heart failure (CHF), neurodegenerative diseases, liver failure, kidney failure, and diabetes. ERCs have been cleared by the FDA to begin studies in the United States.
ERCs have several distinguishing advantages to other stem cell therapies: a) Non-invasive method of collection; b) Unlimited supply of cells; isolated from menstrual blood of young healthy donors; c) Economical and scalable to manufacture; d) Exert higher therapeutic activity compared to other stem cells; and e) demonstrated safe in animal and pilot human studies.
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.
Contact:
Thomas Ichim, Ph.D
President and Chief Scientific Officer
Medistem Inc.
9255 Towne Centre Drive
Suite 450
San Diego, CA 92122
858 349 3617
www.medisteminc.com
twitter: @thomasichim