Dear Friends of International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO):
Since the press release of October 27, 2009 announcing that ISCO had collaborated with Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York to demonstrate that immature human eggs (oocytes) could be used in place of mature eggs to create the parthenotes that are the starting point for our stem cell lines, I have been swamped with questions.
They all boil down to the same question: "What does this mean?" That is a very fair question, so let me try to explain. Obtaining the unfertilized eggs that are needed to create parthenogenetic stem cell lines has been a problem, particularly in the US, for a simple reason. Even though only a few of the 10-20 eggs that are harvested as part of a typical IVF procedure are ever used, common practice, particularly in the US, has been to fertilize all the eggs the woman produces and freeze the excess. That can result in 10 or 15 frozen embryos that are never used, but the physicians running IVF clinics are reluctant to recommend to their patients that they withhold eggs from fertilization because they want to maximize the chance of obtaining successful implantation. That has made it difficult for ISCO and other researchers to obtain unfertilized eggs.
But there is another by-product of the IVF procedure. Among the mature eggs that are fertilized for use in the IVF procedure are a number of immature eggs that are unsuitable for transplant and could not be fertilized successfully to become babies. Until now, those were just medical waste, of no value to anyone. What our discovery means is that we may now be able to use these waste and immature eggs to produce cell lines that could result in cures for millions of people.
As you may recall if you have been following our company, one of our most important goals is to create a "bank" of stem cell lines that will match the immune systems of almost anyone on the globe. This is not like banking of umbilical cord blood, which benefits only the donor and her immediate family; it is instead analogous to a blood bank from which anyone can withdraw blood that his or her body will not reject. To create such a bank, we need donations of unfertilized eggs from women of widely diverse genetic backgrounds. Those are hard to obtain when physicians routinely fertilize all of a woman's mature eggs. However, when all that is asked for is what is now considered waste tissue, it is very easy for both the physician and the mother-to-be to donate. Not only are they helping science and other people, they may get a stem cell line that is a perfect genetic match for themselves.
With that advantage, we at ISCO believe we have made a giant leap forward in our quest to make regenerative medicine available and affordable for everyone.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Aldrich, Chairman
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: www.internationalstemcell.com .
To subscribe to receive ongoing corporate communications please click on the following link: http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1468&to=ea&s=0 .
About Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York:
RMA of New York is the reproductive endocrinology and infertility division of Mount Sinai Medical Center and has been caring for patients in the midtown Manhattan location since 2001, with additional locations in Westchester and Long Island. RMA of New York is a full-service fertility center that consistently achieves high live birth rates, while maintaining low rates of triplet and higher birth outcomes. Highly individualized patient care is offered through seven reproductive endocrinologists, a urologist, a complementary care team of a clinical psychologist and a licensed clinical social worker, and highly qualified staff. For more information, please call 212.756.5777 or visit www.rmany.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Statements pertaining to anticipated future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development and potential joint venture 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," "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.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Letter to the Shareholders Regarding Leap in Making Regenerative Medicine Available and Affordable
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
International Stem Cell Corporation and Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York Announce Breakthrough in Creating an Abundant and Ethical New ...
International Stem Cell Corporation and Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York Announce Breakthrough in Creating an Abundant and Ethical New Source of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Oceanside, Calif., October 27, 2009 — International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO, www.internationalstemcell.com) and Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York (RMA of New York) have shown that immature, unfertilized human eggs can be used to create “parthenotes” from which human parthenogenetic stem cell lines may be derived. Immature eggs are normally discarded during standard in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures due to their inability to create an embryo. This discovery vastly increases the opportunity for ISCO to create new stem cell lines and hastens the time when “banks” of stem cells that match a patient’s immune system may be available. This vision of a “patient matched stem cell bank” could function similarly to how blood banks currently store and distribute blood products.
A “parthenote” results when an egg divides without using sperm (no fertilization) and can yield “parthenogenetic” stem cells that have similar medical potential as embryonic stem cells to create various human tissues for therapy yet have the additional medical advantage of allowing immune-matching to reduce the chance of rejection - a significant potential problem with the use of embryonic stem cells. Parthenogenesis also addresses critical ethical issues by eliminating the need to use fertilized embryos.
According to Dr. Alan Copperman, Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and Vice-Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, “This scientific breakthrough opens many new opportunities for our clinical and scientific teams to explore. Transforming immature oocytes into stem cell lines capable of differentiating into a variety of cell types has the potential to revolutionize the field of regenerative medicine.”
Dr. Copperman is an accomplished infertility specialist who practices at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York and is a member of ISCO’s Scientific Advisory Board.
This ground-breaking work was presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s 65th Annual Meeting held in Atlanta, GA on October 19, 2009.
Jason Barritt, PhD, Scientific Director of RMA of New York noted, “This work shows that immature oocytes that are normally unusable and discarded in standard IVF procedures may be used for scientific innovation and clinical application. Using a currently experimental technique, these oocytes can be matured, frozen and thawed and used to produce parthenotes that may be instrumental for the study and derivation of parthenogenetic stem cells. I want to add that we are very grateful to our patients who have made this work possible by donating unused immature oocytes.”
ISCO’s technology, called parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human parthenogenetic stem cell lines from unfertilized human eggs. This new methodology offers the potential to create the first stem cell bank composed of stem cell lines that can be immune-matched to large segments of the population. ISCO also produces and sells the Lifeline brand of specialized cells and growth media worldwide for therapeutic research through its wholly-owned subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology.
According to Jeffrey Janus, Senior VP of ISCO and CEO of Lifeline Cell Technology, “The accomplishments of Drs. Copperman and Barritt and the ISCO research team have expanded the potential that parthenogenetic stem cells will be an important part of discovering and providing cures for many devastating diseases. We are fortunate to be working with such noted and respected researchers and clinicians.”
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: www.internationalstemcell.com.
To subscribe to receive ongoing corporate communications please click on the following link: http://www.b2i.us/
For more news and information on International Stem Cell Corporation please visit www.IRGnews.com/coi/ISCO where you can find the CEO’s video, a fact sheet on the company, investor presentations, and more.
About Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York:
RMA of New York is the reproductive endocrinology and infertility division of Mount Sinai Medical Center and has been caring for patients in the midtown Manhattan location since 2001, with additional locations in Westchester and Long Island. RMA of New York is a full-service fertility center that consistently achieves high live birth rates, while maintaining low rates of triplet and higher birth outcomes. Highly individualized patient care is offered through seven reproductive endocrinologists, a urologist, a complementary care team of a clinical psychologist and a licensed clinical social worker, and highly qualified staff. For more information, please call 212.756.5777 or visit www.rmany.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Statements pertaining to anticipated future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development and potential joint venture 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,” “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
Contact:
International Stem Cell Corporation
Kenneth C. Aldrich, Chairman, CEO
760-940-6383
or
The Investor Relations Group
212-825-3210
Laura Colontrelle
