Tuesday, December 15, 2009

INTERNATIONAL STEM CELL CORPORATION’S CHAIRMAN DISCUSSES CREATION OF CORNEA IN A PETRI DISH IN DECEMBER 11, 2009 EDITION OF DISCOVERY NEWS

OCEANSIDE, CA – December 15, 2009 –International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO), www.intlstemcell.com, a company creating human stem cell lines from unfertilized eggs, disclosed today that its previously announced creation of human, cornea-like tissue in a petri dish had become the subject of an article titled “Biotech Could Take Rabbits Off Lab Duty” in the December 11, 2009 edition of Discovery News.

In the article, reporter Alyssa Danigelis writes about how, while growing stem cells in the lab using blastocysts, researchers at International Stem Cell spotted something in the waste products usually discarded from the petri dish that turned out to be a tiny translucent structure of cells that resembled a human cornea.

This little ball of cells, the article explained, might actually spare animals from lab testing and be used for transplants in humans. Many cosmetics, drug, and chemical companies still put their products in live rabbits' eyes for safety testing, a process that is not only awful for the animals, but time-consuming and expensive.

Mr. Kenneth Aldrich, ISCO’s Chairman, was reported as saying that an initial round of testing with the ISCO corneas demonstrated that they have the same permeability as the rabbit eyes. The lab-grown corneas may also have the potential to be transplanted into humans one day. He went on to mention that this could make a big difference in countries where it's difficult to get refrigerated donor corneas to patients in time. Currently the company is repeating a round of validation testing to confirm the permeability results.

The Discovery News article is available at:
http://news.discovery.com/tech/biotech-could-take-rabbits-off-lab-duty.html

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

CONTACTS:

International Stem Cell Corporation
Kenneth C. Aldrich, Chairman
760-940-6383
kaldrich@intlstemcell.com

or
Brian Lundstrom, President
760-640-6383
bl@intlstemcell.com

The Investor Relations Group
Investor Relations:
James Carbonara
212-825-3210
jcarbonara@investorrelationsgroup.com

or
Media Relations:
Laura Colontrelle
212-825-3210
lcolontrelle@investorrelationsgroup.com

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Launch Strategy for Skin Care Product Line

Lifeline Skin Care, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO), www.internationalstemcell.com, announced today that it has retained the services of a highly experienced expert in the skin care industry, Raulee Marcus, to help design a marketing program for its newly created line of skin care products based on ISCO's proprietary Parthenogenic Stem Cells.

Ms. Marcus has an extensive background in skin care products, having been a key corporate executive with responsibilities for marketing, R&D and sales at companies such as Neutrogena, Colgate-Palmolive and Gillette, increasing sales at those companies by many millions of dollars. She has also had a highly successful career in building revenues and profits for smaller companies such as Obagi Medical Products, a physician-mediated company, and has extensive experience in launching new brands and products through many different channels.

"Ms. Marcus is uniquely qualified to help us develop a product strategy that will have maximum market impact for what is truly a unique technology," said Dr. Ruslan Semechkine, President of Lifeline Skin Care.

"Ms. Marcus' experience in the skin care industry and as a consultant to companies in that industry will greatly enhance our ability to develop a successful marketing and business strategy without distracting from our core focus on developing therapeutic products from Parthenogenic Stem Cells," said Kenneth Aldrich, Chairman of ISCO.

"Early indications are that the skin care product, developed through the efforts of the ISCO scientists who created Parthenogenic Stem Cells, has unique characteristics for skin rejuvenation. Our next step is to validate these findings through independent testing and execute our product launch," said Dr. Semechkine.

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
760-940-6383
kaldrich@intlstemcell.com
or
Brian Lundstrom, President
760-640-6383
bl@intlstemcell.com
or
The Investor Relations Group
212-825-3210
Media Relations:
Laura Colontrelle
lcolontrelle@investorrelationsgroup.com
or
Investor Relations:
James Carbonara
jcarbonara@investorrelationsgroup.com