StemCellPatents.com Applauds International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO) On Recent Developments

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Article Date: 30 Jan 2009 - 7:00 PDT

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StemCellPatents.com, an organization that covers recent news in stem cell therapeutics and has assembled the only comprehensive index of all issued U.S. stem cell patents, congratulates International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO) on its recent developments, including being the first company to grow human corneal tissue from stem cells.

ISCO, the first company to perfect a method of creating human "parthenogenetic" stem cells from unfertilized eggs, recently created layered human tissue from its parthenogenetic stem cells and transplanted this tissue into animals in pre-clinical trials to establish a potential new treatment for human retinal diseases, such as macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa. In related news, ISCO is planning pre-clinical trials aimed at applying corneal epithelial cells grown from human tissue to improve photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), a form of corrective laser eye surgery.

ISCO's human parthenogenetic stem cells have the potential to treat human disease, yet possess key medical and ethical advantages over other kinds of stem cell products. They can be matched to common immune types and thus reduce the chance of transplant rejection among large segments of the population. Because they are created from unfertilized human eggs, they do not require the destruction of human embryos.

"One problem that any stem cell therapy faces is the question of immune rejection. ISCO's proprietary technologies is addressing this by using its parthenogenetic stem cells to begin the creation of a bank of cells that, when completed, will match >90% of the human population. The combination of immunologically acceptable cells together with the recent demonstration of functional differentiation places ISCO in an ideal position," said Dr. Zhaohui Zhong, Chairman of StemCellPatents.com.

A video segment featuring International Stem Cell Corporation Chairman and CEO Kenneth Aldrich that details the company's unique approach to stem cell research is available for viewing at: http://www.stemcellpatents.com/news-show-363.

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: http://www.internationalstemcell.com.

About StemCellPatents.com

StemCellPatents.com is an informal organization of concerned scientists, lawyers, and intellectuals that assembled the only comprehensive index of all issued US stem cell patents: accessible freely as a Beta Version at StemCellPatents.com. StemCellPatents.com is not affiliated in any manner with International Stem Cell Corporation and the views presented herein are only those of StemCellPatents.com.

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