Monday, March 23, 2009

International Stem Cell Corporation Receives Third $1M Tranche under a $5 Million Financing

International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO) has received the third $1 million tranche of an anticipated private equity financing of up to $5 million to be funded over the next several months. The total amount of the financing will allow the Company to move forward with the construction of its new cGMP cell culture facility and to continue its therapeutic research, including ongoing pre-clinical trials. The money will also be allocated to fund equipment, product development and marketing requirements to increase revenues in the Company's subsidiary, Lifeline Cell Technology, which makes and sells specialty cells and growth media.

ISCO is the creator and developer of a new class of stem cells that remove two of the greatest barriers to the therapeutic use of stem cells: 1) immune rejection and 2) the ethical issues that surround the use of embryonic stem cells. ISCO's technology, called "parthenogenesis," results in the creation of cell lines that may allow cells from a single donor to be immune-matched to hundreds of millions of people - thus reducing the dangers of immune rejection. ISCO's parthenogenetic stem cells come from unfertilized human eggs, thus avoiding ethical issues associated with embryonic stem cells. To help promote therapeutic research, ISCO makes its stem cells available to qualified researchers worldwide.

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.

For more news and information on International Stem Cell Corporation please visit
www.IRGnews.com/coi/ISCO where you can find the CEO's video, a fact sheet on the company, investor presentations, and more.

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 minimize immune rejection after transplantation into hundreds of 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.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Statements pertaining to anticipated future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development and potential joint venture and other 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, application of capital resources among competing uses, 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

International Stem Cell CorporationKenneth C. Aldrich, Chairman, CEO760-940-6383
kaldrich@intlstemcell.comorWilliam Adams, Chief Financial Officer760-940-6383wadams@intlstemcell.comorThe Investor Relations Group212-825-3210Investor Relations:Adam S. Holdsworthaholdsworth@investorrelationsgroup.comorMedia Relations:Laura Colontrellelcolontrelle@investorrelationsgroup.com

Thursday, March 12, 2009

ISCO Enters into an Agreement with Cytograft Tissue Engineering to Develop a Therapeutic Medium for Cytograft's Living Vascular Grafts

Living Laboratory Grown Blood Vessels from the Patient's Own Cells

International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO) (www.intlstemcell.com), the first company to perfect a method of creating human "parthenogenetic" stem cells, which are derived from unfertilized human eggs, is working with tissue engineers at Cytograft Tissue Engineering, (Novato, CA), to design a custom cell culture medium to cultivate living human vascular grafts; grafts which are expected to be used in future human clinical trials.

Cytograft's living human product, called Lifeline™ (trade-name not associated with Lifeline Cell Technology), is a promising technology that will be used as a coronary graft for coronary bypass procedures, as a peripheral graft to prevent lower limb amputations and as a living tissue shunt for hemodialysis patients.

The new medium will be developed and produced by scientists at ISCO's wholly-owned subsidiary, Lifeline Cell Technology®, a producer of human cells and media products.

"It is an honor that Cytograft chose Lifeline Cell Technology's team to develop their medium. Their process of growing human vascular grafts promises to be a vast improvement over synthetic materials. Since the grafts are grown using the patient's own cells, they will minimize the chance of immune rejection, infection and disease transmission," said Jeffrey Janus, CEO of Lifeline Cell Technology.

According to Todd McAllister PhD, CEO of Cytograft, "The team at Lifeline Cell Technologies is uniquely qualified to develop and design custom media formulations for our application. They clearly have one of the best scientific teams in the field, and, importantly, have a service based business model that has been flexible and responsive to our specific requirements."

International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO.OB) 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. These "parthenogenetic" stem cells can be a source of therapeutic cells that will minimize immune rejection after transplantation into hundreds of millions of individuals of differing sexes, ages and racial groups. Lifeline Cell Technology develops and manufactures human cell culture products for research into human disease and toxicology. These products consist of human cells and low-serum or serum-free media to grow the cells.

For more news and information on International Stem Cell Corporation please visit
www.IRGnews.com/coi/ISCO where you can find the CEO's video, a fact sheet on the company, investor presentations, and more.

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 minimize immune rejection after transplantation into hundreds of 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 anticipated future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development and potential joint venture and other 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, application of capital resources among competing uses, 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
International Stem Cell Corporation
Kenneth C. Aldrich, Chairman, CEO760-940-6383
kaldrich@intlstemcell.com
or
Jeffrey Janus, President760-940-6383jjanus@intlstemcell.com
or
The Investor Relations Group212-825-3210Investor Relations:Adam S. Holdsworthaholdsworth@investorrelationsgroup.com
or
Media Relations:Laura Colontrellelcolontrelle@investorrelationsgroup.com


Tuesday, March 10, 2009

International Stem Cell Corporation Applauds President Obama's Decision to Allow Funding of Parthenogenetic Stem Cell Research

International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO) (www.intlstemcell.com), the first company to perfect a method of creating human stem cells from unfertilized eggs, applauds President Obama's signing of an executive order to allow funding of stem cell research. ISCO's unique human stem cells, called "parthenogenetic" stem cells, have ethical advantages since they do not harm a viable human embryo and have medical advantages since they can be immune matched to hundreds of millions of people across the world.

Monday, in an East Room ceremony at the White House, President Obama signed an executive order to lift the Bush administration's restrictions on federally financed human embryonic stem cell research. This decision provides Congress with an opportunity to overturn a thirteen-year-old law, called the Dickey-Wicker amendment, which specifically bans the use of tax dollars for research in which human embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury.

"Tissue-specific differentiated cells from human stem cells open up the possibility of cell-based therapy for untreatable degenerative and heredity diseases. The greatest risk posed with these cells for transplantation is that of immune rejection. Matching donor and recipient for HLA antigens is necessary for transplant survival. ISCO already has a human parthenogenetic 'HLA homozygous' stem cell line that carries the HLA type found most commonly within the US population. Tissue-specific differentiated cells from this line can be used for cell-based therapies of hundreds of millions of patients of different ages, races and sexes," says Elena Revazova, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of ISCO.

"While President Obama's decision - and the opening it provides Congress regarding a reconsideration of the Dickey-Wicker amendment - is cause for celebration among medical researchers, scientists, and patients' groups alike; however the controversy surrounding stem cell use will not disappear overnight," says Kenneth C. Aldrich, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of International Stem Cell Corporation, a California-based biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutic and research products. "Fortunately, our stem cell lines do not require the use of fertilized embryos, and can thus avoid these ethical difficulties."

International Stem Cell Corporation is the only company to generate functional pluripotent stem cells—that is, stem cells that have the potential to turn into any type of cell or tissue—through parthenogenesis. Recently, the company reported that by using its proprietary technique, cells from a single donor could be immune matched to hundreds of millions of patients.

Since a single line of these cells may reduce immune rejection issues in large segments of the population, parthenogenetic stem cells could be enormously valuable as a treatment of choice for diseases including liver disease, heart disease, and macular degeneration, and of particular value in treating diseases with hereditary links such as diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, hemophilia, retinitis pigmentosa and many others in which cells from the patient's own body cannot be used for therapy because the patient's cells carry a corresponding genetic defect. For these patients it will likely be necessary to use HLA matched human parthenogenetic stem cell lines derived from healthy donors. "In these situations, we believe that the Parthenogenetic cells of International Stem Cell may ultimately prove to be the only viable solution," said Dr. Elena Revazova, Chief Scientist of International Stem Cell.


Based on this technology, the company has initiated an ambitious program for developing the world's first human parthenogenetic stem cell bank to serve the need for stem cell-based treatments in the general population.

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 minimize immune rejection after transplantation into hundreds of 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.
For more news and information on International Stem Cell Corporation please visit
www.IRGnews.com/coi/ISCO where you can find the CEO's video, a fact sheet on the company, investor presentations, and more.
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 anticipated future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development and potential joint venture and other 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, application of capital resources among competing uses, 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
International Stem Cell CorporationKenneth C. Aldrich, Chairman, CEO
kaldrich@intlstemcell.com760-940-6383orJeffrey Janus, Presidentjjanus@intlstemcell.com760-940-6383orThe Investor Relations Group212-825-3210Investor Relations:Adam S. Holdsworthaholdsworth@investorrelationsgroup.comorMedia Relations:Laura Colontrellelcolontrelle@investorrelationsgroup.com
#yiv1579411933 .bwtextaligncenter {text-align:center;}

Friday, March 6, 2009

International Stem Cell Corporation Hosts Webinar, "Stem Cells 102: Beyond Embryonic Stem Cell Research," Thursday, March 12, 2009, From 1:00pm-2:00pm

Free Educational Webinar for Journalists, Shareholders, and Investment Professionals

International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO) (www.intlstemcell.com), the first company to perfect a method of creating human "parthenogenetic" stem cells from unfertilized eggs, will host a webinar titled "Stem Cells 102: Beyond Embryonic Stem Cell Research," Thursday, March 12, 2009, from 1:00pm-2:00pm EDT. This free educational webinar is for journalists, shareholders, and investment professionals interested in learning about new emerging technology in the stem cell research arena.
Please note that space is limited. Interested parties are invited to make a reservation to participate in the webinar by using the following link:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/560601521

Covered in the webinar:
What is a pluripotent stem cell?
What are the implications of the FDA's recent approval of Geron clinical trials?
What is parthenogenesis and how does this process solve certain ethical and immune rejection issues that have long shadowed stem cell research?
How close are we to treating diseases with stem cells?

The company is hosting this event due to renewed interest in the sector given the FDA's recent approval of human trials of embryonic stem cells and President Obama's commitment to lifting federal research bans.

For more news and information on International Stem Cell Corporation please visit www.IRGnews.com/coi/ISCO where you can find the CEO's video, a fact sheet on the company, investor presentations, and more.

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 minimize immune rejection after transplantation into hundreds of 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 anticipated future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development and potential joint venture and other 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, application of capital resources among competing uses, 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

International Stem Cell Corporation

Kenneth C. Aldrich, Chairman, CEO 760-940-6383 kaldrich@intlstemcell.com

Jeffrey Janus, President 760-940-6383 jjanus@intlstemcell.com or

The Investor Relations Group 212-825-3210

Investor Relations:Adam S. Holdsworthaholdsworth@investorrelationsgroup.com or Media Relations:Laura Colontrellelcolontrelle@investorrelationsgroup.com

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Parthenogenetic Stem Cells Poised by Dan Cox

As promised, I’m adding to our stem cell holdings this month. As you know, SC stock prices have gone up even in this period of deep market pessimism. Weekly, new and seemingly miraculous stem cell-related cures are coming to light. The message is getting across even in important nonscientific publications like The Economist.

A recent article was subtitled, “American attitudes to stem-cell therapies are changing fast.” Inside the article is this critical paragraph:

“Barack Obama has promised to reverse the ban. When that happens,
American academics will no longer have to watch enviously from the sidelines as their colleagues in Australia, Britain, China, the Czech Republic, Israel, Singapore and South Korea push ahead. But though the legislative wheels have yet to start turning, the mood has already shifted.”

This article is particularly applicable, as it cites two important SC players. One is Michael West, CEO of BioTime Inc. (BTIM: OTCBB). The other is Kenneth Aldrich, the CEO of this month’s pick.

To read the complete article please visit
http://www.internationalstemcell.com/industry.htm#

To read more articles by Dan Cox, please visit
http://www.agorafinancialpublications.com/THE_PUBS/ECR/index.html.