News & Events > Press Releases > August 23, 2004

StemCells, Inc. Granted U.S. Patent for Human Neural Stem Cell Compositions

PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- StemCells, Inc. (Nasdaq: STEM) today announced that the Company has been issued U.S. patent 6,777,233 for work done at the Company covering composition of matter claims for the human neural stem cell.

"This patent further strengthens StemCells' leading position in the human neural stem cell field," said Martin McGlynn, President & CEO of StemCells Inc. "The patent covers human neural stem cell cultures derived from any source, including embryonic as well as fetal, neonatal and adult tissue. Next year, we intend to begin the process of testing the potential of our neural stem cells in the clinic to treat a wide range of diseases of, or injuries to, the central nervous system. As we have previously announced, we intend to file our first IND by the first quarter of 2005 for a clinical trial in Batten Disease, a rare, fatal neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder affecting the central nervous system," McGlynn added.

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About StemCells Inc.
StemCells, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of stem cell-based therapies to treat diseases of the nervous system, liver, and pancreas. The Company's stem cell programs seek to repair or repopulate neural or other tissue that has been damaged or lost as a result of disease or injury. Further information about the Company is available on its Web site at www.stemcellsinc.com.

Apart from statements of historical facts, the text of this press release constitutes forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, the future business operations of StemCells, Inc. ("the Company"). The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. StemCells does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. Such statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain assumptions that may or may not ultimately prove valid. The Company's actual results may vary materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties to which the Company is subject, including uncertainties regarding the Company's ability to obtain the capital resources needed to continue its current research and development operations and to conduct the research, preclinical development and clinical trials necessary for regulatory approvals; the fact that the Company's stem cell technology is at the pre-clinical stage and has not yet led to the development of any proposed product; the uncertainty whether the Company will be able to file an IND in the time it projects and whether the FDA will permit it to proceed to clinical testing; the uncertainty regarding the validity and enforceability of issued patents; the uncertainty whether any products that may be generated in the future in the Company's stem cell programs will prove clinically effective and not cause tumors or other side effects; the uncertainty whether the Company will achieve revenues from product sales or become profitable; uncertainties regarding the Company's obligations in regard to its former encapsulated cell therapy facilities in Rhode Island; and other factors that are described in Exhibit 99 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K entitled "Cautionary Factors Relevant to Forward-Looking Statements."

Corporate Contact:                Media / Investor Relations Contact:
StemCells, Inc.                   Lippert/Heilshorn
Martin McGlynn, President & CEO   Ina McGuinness (ina@lhai.com)
650-475-3100, ext 105             Bruce Voss (bvoss@lhai.com)
                                       310-691-7100

SOURCE  StemCells, Inc.
    -0-                             08/23/2004
    /CONTACT:  Martin McGlynn, President & CEO of StemCells, Inc.,
+1-650-475-3100, ext. 105; or Ina McGuinness, +1-310-691-7100, or
ina@lhai.com, or Bruce Voss, +1-310-691-7100, or bvoss@lhai.com, both of
Lippert/Heilshorn, for StemCells, Inc./
    /Web site:  http://www.stemcellsinc.com /
    (STEM)

CO:  StemCells, Inc.
ST:  California
IN:  BIO MTC HEA
SU:  SVY

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