Thursday, July 31, 2008

San Diego Business Journal - "Collaborations: Academia, For-Profits Team Up to Advance Stem Cell Research"

Jeffrey Janus, president of International Stem Cell Corp., and Nikolay Turovets, director of research and therapeutic development, are pursuing new approaches to stem cell research.

Collaborations in the field of stem cell research are evolving alongside the research itself, producing the kind of progress scientists say is necessary for moving potential cures into the clinic and eventually onto the market.

Click here to read the full article by Heather Chambers

Thursday, July 17, 2008

International Stem Cell Corporation and Novocell, Inc. Collaborate to Test Human Parthenogenetic Stem Cells for Production of Pancreatic Islet Cells

Oceanside, Calif. [July 17, 2008]— International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB: ISCO) announced today a collaboration with Novocell Inc. (La Jolla, CA) to use ISCO’s human parthenogenetic stem cell lines for differentiation to Human pancreatic islet cells. The studies will be directed by Nikolay Turovets, PhD, Director, Research and Therapeutic Development at ISCO in collaboration with Novocell scientists.

ISCO’s unique stem cells offer a solution for two of the most difficult problems facing stem cell therapy. They are the first step in preventing the rejection of implanted cells by the patient’s own immune system and they provide an alternative to embryonic stem cells that does not involve destroying human embryos.

Jeffrey Janus, ISCO’s President, said, “Studies show that ISCO’s cells (called human parthenogenetic stem cells) share with conventional human embryonic stem cells the ability to differentiate into all tissue types, however they have the singular significant advantage of being immune matched at the MHC locus to hundreds of millions of people. As with immune-matched whole organs, differentiated cells obtained using these lines may provide improved transplant acceptance to large segments of the population as opposed to a few individuals. In addition, ISCO’s stem cells are created from unfertilized human eggs and do not involve the destruction of fertilized embryos.”

Novocell has developed technology to direct embryonic stem cells to become pancreatic islet cells that have been shown to be effective in treating diabetes in animals. The combined technologies of the two companies may therefore result in therapeutic cells with improved immune properties for eventual treatment of larger segments of the diabetic population.

A description of ISCO’s human parthenogenetic stem cells and their potential to improve transplantation was reported in ISCO’s peer review paper published December 19, 2007 in the online edition of Cloning and Stem Cells Journal: http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/clo.2007.0063.

Elena Revazova, M.D., Ph.D., ISCO’s Chief Scientific Officer, stated, “ISCO has created a human parthenogenetic stem cell line called phSC-Hhom-4. Cells derived from this line have the potential to provide improved graft acceptance. We intend to develop additional homozygous lines that cover other major MHC types so that differentiated cell products will be better matched for transplantation into millions of individuals of differing sexes, ages and racial groups."

“Our business model,” added Mr. Kenneth Aldrich, ISCO’s Chairman and CEO, “is to make our cell lines and intellectual property easily available, and thereby become a supplier of therapeutic cells for use by patients around the world. To reach that goal, our intent is to distribute our human parthenogenetic stem cell lines to as many qualified researchers as possible so they may develop cures to as many human diseases as rapidly as possible.”

About Novocell:
Novocell, Inc. is a stem cell engineering company, with research operations in San Diego, California and Athens, Georgia, dedicated to creating, delivering and commercializing cell and drug therapies for diabetes and other chronic diseases. Novocell has three primary technologies: stem cell engineering, cell encapsulation and drug discovery. The Company was founded in 1999 and merged with CyThera, Inc. and BresaGen, Inc. in 2004. For more information, please visit www.novocell.com.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STEM CELL CORPORATION (ISCO.OB):

International Stem Cell Corporation is a California biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutic and research products. ISCO’s technology, Parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cell lines from unfertilized human eggs. ISCO scientists have created the first Parthenogenetic homozygous stem cell line (phSC-Hhom-4) that can be a source of therapeutic cells that will not be immune rejected after transplantation into millions of individuals of differing sexes, ages and racial groups. These advancements offer the potential to create the first true “Stem Cell Bank” and address ethical issues by eliminating the need to use or destroy fertilized embryos. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media worldwide for therapeutic research through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology. For more information, visit the ISCO website at: www.internationalstemcell.com.

To subscribe to receive ongoing corporate communications please click on the following link:

http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1468&to=ea&s=0.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development and potential opportunities for the company and its subsidiary, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as “will,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,”) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the company's business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Key Words: Stem Cells, Biotechnology, Parthenogenesis, Diabetes

Contacts:

International Stem Cell Corporation

Jeffrey Janus, President

janusj@lifelinecelltech.com

760-940-6383

Or

William Adams, Chief Financial Officer

wadams@intlstemcell.com

760-940-6383

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Collaboration with Michigan State University to Study Parthenogenetic Stem Cells

Oceanside, California, July 8, 2008 -- International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB: ISCO), announced today a new collaboration with leading stem cell researcher Jose Cibelli at Michigan State University as part of ISCO’s ongoing strategy to work with scientific leaders across the world to expand the scientific data relating to parthenogenetic stem cells.

Professor Cibelli will study gene expression in several human parthenogenetic stem cell lines and compare the results with fertilized embryonic stem cells. According to Professor Cibelli, “We have observed in mouse and monkey that imprinting in parthenogenetic cells changes as the cells are cultured. This in vitro phenomenon can be advantageous for parthenogenetic cells.”

ISCO is the first company in the world to perfect a process for creating human stem cells from unfertilized eggs. These cells are called “parthenogenetic” stem cells and they alleviate two critical problems inherent to the use of embryonic stem cells for cell transplantation, immune rejection and ethical issues associated with the use of fertilized human embryos. Such cells can be “matched” to the immune systems of millions of persons. ISCO’s goal is to create a “cell bank” of clinical grade parthenogenetic cells available for immediate use without having to isolate cells from the patient’s own body or depend on cells isolated from other living individuals.

“Collaborations with leading researchers such as Dr. Cibelli and Michigan State University generate important knowledge about these unique cells, helping in ISCO’s goal of creating a true stem cell bank that could offer on-demand delivery of clinical grade cells matched to a patient’s own immune system”, said Jeffrey Janus, President of International Stem Cell Corporation.

ISCO’s discovery of a way to make parthenogenetic cells that match the immune system of millions of persons was first announced in December, 2007 in a peer reviewed paper authored by ISCO’s CSO, Dr. Elena Revazova, MD, PhD, entitled “HLA Homozygous Stem Cell Lines Derived from Human Parthenogenetic Blastocysts”, published in the online edition of Cloning and Stem Cells Journal: http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/clo.2007.0063. One such line, identified as hpSC-Hhom-4, was found to match the most common immune types found across the United States, opening the door to potential therapeutic application for tens of millions of people of different races, sexes and ages.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STEM CELL CORPORATION (ISCO.OB):

International Stem Cell Corporation is a California biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutic and research products. ISCO’s technology, Parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cell lines from unfertilized human eggs. ISCO scientists have created the first Parthenogenetic homozygous stem cell line (phSC-Hhom-4) that can be a source of therapeutic cells that will not be immune rejected after transplantation into millions of individuals of differing sexes, ages and racial groups. These advancements offer the potential to create the first true “Stem Cell Bank” and address ethical issues by eliminating the need to use or destroy fertilized embryos. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media worldwide for therapeutic research through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology. For more information, visit the ISCO website at: www.internationalstemcell.com.

To subscribe to receive ongoing corporate communications please click on the following link:

http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1468&to=ea&s=0

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development and potential opportunities for the company and its subsidiary, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as “will,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,”) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the company's business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Contacts:

International Stem Cell Corporation

Jeffrey Janus, President

jjanus@intlstemcell.com

760-940-6383

or

William Adams, Chief Financial Officer

wadams@intlstemcell.com

760-940-6383