CARLSBAD, CA - (Marketwired, August
5, 2014) - International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCQB:
ISCO) (www.internationalstemcell.com) (“ISCO” or “the Company”), a California-based
biotechnology company developing novel stem cell based therapies, announced
today that it has launched a new Stroke Program. Together with Tulane University, ISCO will
study the impact of human parthenogenetic neural stem cells (hpNSC)
transplantation in a pre-clinical rodent model of ischemic stroke as a first
step toward the clinical development of a potential stroke treatment. The proof-of-concept
study will be done in the laboratory of Dr. Jean-Pyo Lee, a well-known expert
in the field of regenerative medicine.
“Evaluating our human neural stem cells for
treatment of stroke is a logical next step,” said Dr. Andrey Semechkin, ISCO’s Co-Chairman
and CEO, “as it should allow us to get a lot of additional value from the
safety studies performed for the Parkinson’s disease program and advance the
possibility of treating another largely unmet medical need. We expect to
provide an update on the stroke study in Q4 2014. At the same time, our Parkinson’s
disease program of course remains our top priority.”
Although stroke is known to cause long-term
neurological disability, there is evidence that transplantation of NSC may
improve patient outcomes as an adjunctive therapeutic strategy. ISCO’s new stroke program will use the same
cellular product as the Parkinson’s disease program. There is significant overlap in the safety
datasets and manufacturing methods that would be required to file an IND for stroke,
making it a logical follow-on indication. hpNSC generated from ISCO’s propriety
human parthenogenetic stem cells using a cGMP method based on the published
protocol are already under development for the treatment of Parkinson’s
disease. The Company has a considerable
amount of safety data on hpNSC from the previously discussed studies in the
Parkinson’s program that are designed to support the planned IND filing,
including evidence from the primate studies that these cells can reduce brain
inflammation.
According to the National Stroke
Association stroke is a leading cause of death In the United States, killing
nearly 130,000 people each year, and a leading cause of serious, long-term
adult disability. Approximately 795,000
strokes will occur each year, one occurring every 40 seconds, and taking a life
approximately every four minutes. About
87% of strokes are ischemic.
Approximately two million brain cells die every minute during stroke,
increasing the risk of permanent brain damage, disability or death. The estimated direct and indirect cost of
stroke in the United States in 2010 is $73.7 billion.
About International Stem Cell
Corporation
International Stem Cell
Corporation is focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic
stem cells (hpSCs) and the development and commercialization of cell-based
research and cosmetic products. ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis,
results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized
oocytes (eggs) hence avoiding ethical issues associated with the use or
destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first
parthenogenetic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic
cells for hundreds of millions of individuals of differing genders, ages and
racial background with minimal immune rejection after transplantation. hpSCs
offer the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCellTM.
ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for
therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology
(www.lifelinecelltech.com), and stem cell-based skin care
products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (www.lifelineskincare.com). More information is available
at www.internationalstemcell.com.
To receive ongoing
corporate communications via email, visit: http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1468&to=ea&s=0
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Contacts:
International
Stem Cell Corporation
Dr.
Simon Craw
Executive
Vice President
Phone:
760-940-6383
Dr.
Ruslan Semechkin
Chief
Scientific Officer
Phone:
760-940-6383
Email:
ras@intlstemcell.com
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