StemCells, Inc. Collaborator To Present At Association For Research In Vision And Opthamology Annual Meeting
PALO ALTO, Calif., April 29, 2009 – StemCells, Inc. (NASDAQ: STEM) announced today that a paper regarding the efficacy of transplanting human neural stem cells in an animal model of retinal degeneration will be presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Opthalmology (ARVO) 2009 Annual Meeting scheduled for May 3-7, 2009 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This study was conducted by Drs. Raymond Lund and Peter Francis, both researchers and professors at the Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health & Science University, in collaboration with StemCells.
The paper, Long-term Efficacy of Human Central Nervous System Stem Cells Transplanted into the Subretinal Space of RCS Rats, shows that transplanted human central nervous system stem cells (hCNS-SCns) engraft long-term and can protect the retina from progressive degeneration. Retinal degeneration leads to loss of vision in diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. The cells were transplanted into the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat, a well established animal model of retinal degeneration. The hCNS-SCns used in the study were supplied by the Company and were selected, purified and grown as neurospheres using the Company’s proprietary methods. StemCells is developing hCNS-SCns as a potential therapeutic product, HuCNS-SC ® cells.
“This study is particularly encouraging because of the demonstration of a long-term functional effect of transplanting our neural stem cells,” said Stephen Huhn, MD, FACS, FAAP, Vice President and Head of the CNS Program at StemCells, Inc. “This data is reflective of the therapeutic potential of our cells. We have already discussed with the FDA a pathway to clinical testing of our HuCNS-SC cells for retinal indications and additional preclinical studies are underway in pursuit of that goal.”
About StemCells, Inc.
StemCells, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the research, development and commercialization of products derived from stem and progenitor cell technologies. In its therapeutic product development programs, StemCells is focused on developing cell-based therapeutics to treat diseases of the central nervous system and liver. StemCells has pioneered the discovery and development of HuCNS‑SC ® cells, its highly purified, expandable population of human neural stem cells. StemCells has completed a six patient Phase I clinical trial of its proprietary HuCNS-SC product candidate as a treatment for neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects infants and young children. StemCells has also received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a Phase I clinical trial of the HuCNS-SC cells to treat Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease (PMD), a rare and fatal brain disorder that mainly affects young children. StemCells is also pursuing applications of its cell technologies to develop research tools, such as cell-based assays, media and reagent tools, which the Company believes represent nearer-term commercial opportunities. StemCells has exclusive rights to approximately 55 issued or allowed U.S. patents and approximately 200 granted or allowed non-U.S. patents. Further information about StemCells is available on its web site at: www.stemcellsinc.com.
Apart from statements of historical fact, the text of this press release constitutes forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, the future business operations of StemCells, Inc. (the “Company”). These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company 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 such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties to which the Company is subject, including risks whether the FDA or other applicable regulatory agencies will permit the Company to continue clinical testing in NCL, PMD or in future clinical trials of proposed therapies for other diseases or conditions despite the novel and unproven nature of the Company’s technologies; uncertainties about whether the Company will receive the necessary support of a clinical trial site and its institutional review board to initiate a clinical trial in PMD; uncertainties regarding the Company’s ability to obtain the increased capital resources needed to continue its current and planned research and development operations, including such operations of the company for non-therapeutic applications, and to conduct the research, preclinical development and clinical trials necessary for regulatory approvals; uncertainty as to whether HuCNS-SC and any products that may be generated in the future in the Company’s cell-based programs will prove safe and clinically effective and not cause tumors or other adverse side effects; uncertainties regarding the Company’s manufacturing capabilities given its increasing preclinical and clinical commitments; and other factors that are described under the heading “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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CONTACT: StemCells, Inc.
Rodney Young
Chief Financial Officer
650-475-3100, Ext. 105
irpr@stemcellsinc.com
SOURCE: StemCells, Inc.
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