Thursday, April 1, 2010

International Stem Cell (ISCO) Announces the Signing of a Distribution Agreement with Veritas Corporation, Opening Japanese Markets...

International Stem Cell (ISCO) Announces the Signing of a Distribution Agreement with Veritas Corporation, Opening Japanese Markets for Its Lifeline Cell Technology® Brand of Human Cell Culture Products

International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB: ISCO), www.internationalstemcell.com , announced today its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lifeline Cell Technology (Lifeline), www.lifelinecelltech.com , has signed a distribution agreement with Tokyo-based Veritas Corporation to distribute its human cell culture products throughout Japan.

Lifeline, located in Maryland and California, specializes in the development, manufacture, and distribution of products to culture human cells for the study of human disease, including products to culture primary human cells and human stem cells. These products are being requested by customers overseas, including customers in Japan, Korea and India and this agreement is the first step in Lifeline's plan to meet these requests.

According to Lifeline's CEO, Jeffrey Janus, "Veritas Corporation is a highly respected name in the Japanese life science community, providing Lifeline with a long standing and well established distribution channel to Japanese researchers." He continued, "We are pleased to have such an experienced and capable partner in Japan who should help continue the rapid expansion of our Lifeline brand of human cells and cell culture tools."

Lifeline's scientists have over 20 years of experience developing products for the culture of human cells, and have made significant contributions to the creation and standardization of human cell systems used today for clinical applications and in academic, government and pharmaceutical research laboratories. Lifeline scientists recently discovered methods to create human corneal tissues from ISCO's proprietary human "parthenogenetic" stem cells, and are actively working to create products that may have significant use as research tools for drug testing or for treating corneal injury and disease.

"This agreement is important in advancing ISCO's goal of becoming the primary provider of high quality human stem cell culture tools to the research and therapeutic markets," said Dr. Andrey Semechkin, ISCO's CEO.

International Stem Cell Corporation has developed, for the first time under controlled conditions, human "parthenogenetic" stem cell lines (hpSC) that promise to minimize the rejection of transplanted cells by a patient's immune system. ISCO's technology, called "parthenogenesis," results in the creation of pluripotent hpSC from unfertilized human eggs. This new methodology offers the potential to create the first true "Stem Cell Bank" and also addresses critical ethical issues by eliminating the need to use fertilized embryos. Lifeline Cell Technology not only provides ISCO with revenue, but also with the manufacturing experience and infrastructure needed to move ISCO's hpSC products into "cGMP" manufacturing conditions that are required by Federal regulators for manufacturing cells for future therapeutic use.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STEM CELL CORPORATION (ISCO.OB):

International Stem Cell Corporation is a California-based biotechnology company focused on therapeutic and research products. ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis, results in creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs). hpSCs avoid ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells with minimal immune rejection after transplantation into hundreds of millions of individuals of differing sexes, ages and racial groups. This offers the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell™, while avoiding the ethical issue of using fertilized eggs. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology. More information is available at ISCO's website, www.internationalstemcell.com.

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements pertaining to anticipated technological developments and therapeutic applications, 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," "should," "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