DENVER, May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Regenerative Sciences, Inc., a company dedicated to advancing orthopedic care through non-surgical adult stem cell procedures, today announced that it has secured a $2M investment from philanthropist, visionary and businessman John C. Malone, PhD, chairman of Liberty Media Corporation. In addition to advancing Regenerative Sciences' clinical and lab-based stem cell research, the investment will help support the national expansion of their Regenexx Physician Network.

Regenerative Sciences' Regenexx procedures utilize a patient's own stem cells to help repair a broad range of common injuries and degenerative conditions, including cartilage lesions, torn ligaments and tendons, osteoarthritis and bulging spinal discs. For many, the procedures offer a viable alternative to arthroscopic surgery, open-joint surgery, or joint replacement surgery. Regenexx patients experience little or no downtime from the procedures and avoid the lengthy rehabilitation period associated with most surgical procedures.

"We are proud of our accomplishments in the field of regenerative interventional orthopedics and it's exciting that our work has drawn the attention of such a noted entrepreneur and philanthropist," said Christopher J. Centeno, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Regenerative Sciences. "Dr. Malone shares our vision for forging the next generation of minimally invasive regenerative treatments. This investment will not only bolster our existing stem cell research programs and make our procedures available in all regions of the U.S., but it will help us maintain a leadership role in clarifying the regulatory space for physician stem cell use."

Regenerative Sciences is at the forefront of regenerative orthopedic medicine within the United States and the company is bringing the future of orthopedic treatments to patient care today.

About Regenerative Sciences

Regenerative Sciences is an outgrowth of the Centeno-Schultz clinic, where we are reinventing orthopedic care for the 21st century using key biologics such as stem cells, next generation tools and devices, and unique therapeutic approaches. Our signature initiative, Interventional Orthopedics, allows doctors to treat orthopedic conditions through injection, rather than traditional invasive surgery. The Regenexx Physician Network brings together like-minded physicians from around the country to offer more patients access to our innovative procedures. For more information on Regenerative Sciences and Regenexx procedures, visit: http://www.regenexx.com

About John C. Malone, PhD

Dr. John C. Malone holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and economics from Yale University, where he was a Phi Beta Kappa and merit scholar. He also holds a master's degree in industrial management and a Ph.D. in operations research from Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Malone is Chairman of Liberty Media Corporation, a position he has held since 1990. Dr. Malone is also the Chairman of the Board of Liberty Global, Inc. (LGI), a position he has held since June, 2005. From 1996 to March 1999 when Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI) merged with AT&T Corp., he was also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TCI. Previous to that, from 1973 to 1996, Dr. Malone served as President and CEO of TCI. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for CATO Institute, Expedia, Inc., Discovery Communications, Inc., and SiriusXM.

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Regenerative Sciences Receives $2M Investment for Orthopedic Stem Cell Initiatives

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/lffnp7/stem_cell_research) has announced the addition of the "Stem Cell Research Products: Opportunities, Tools & Technologies 2012 (Updated)" report to their offering.

Stem cells are primitive cells found in all multi-cellular organisms that are characterized by self-renewal and the capacity to differentiate into any mature cell type. Several broad categories of stem cells exist, including embryonic stem cells, derived from blastocysts; fetal stem cells, obtained from aborted fetuses; adult stem cells, found in adult tissues; cord blood stem cells, isolated from umbilical tissue; dental stem cells, derived from deciduous teeth; cancer stem cells, which give rise to clonal populations of cells that form tumors or disperse in the body; and animal stem cells, derived from non-human sources.

In a developing embryo, stem cells can differentiate into all of the specialized embryonic tissues. In adult organisms, stem and progenitor cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing specialized cells. Of interest to researchers is the potential for use of stem cells in regenerative medicine to treat conditions ranging from diabetes, to cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders. Additionally, the ability to use stem cells to improve drug target validation and toxicology screening is of intense interest to pharmaceutical companies. Stem cells are also being studied for their ability to improve both the understanding and treatment of birth disorders.

To facilitate research resulting from interest in these far-ranging applications, a large and growing stem cells research products market has emerged. Large companies selling stem cell research products include Life Technologies, BD Biosciences, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Millipore, although dozens of other suppliers exist as well. Products offered by these companies include: antibodies to stem cell antigens, bead-based stem cell separation systems, stem cell protein purification and analysis tools, tools for DNA and RNA-based characterization of stem cells, stem cell culture and media reagents, stem cell specific growth factors and cytokines, tools for stem cell gene regulation, a range of stem cell services, tools for in vivo and in vitro stem cell tracking, and stem cell lines.

This report explores current market conditions and provides guidance for companies interested in developing strategically positioned stem cell product lines.

Featured elements of this report include:

- What are novel stem cells research products that can be developed?

- What stem cells types are most frequently used by research scientists?

- Which species of stem cells do scientists prefer and what are the factors driving this preference (access, pricing, funding, handling advantages)?

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Research and Markets: Stem Cell Research Products: Opportunities, Tools & Technologies 2012 (Updated)

LEUVEN, BELGIUM--(Marketwire -05/15/12)- TiGenix NV (TIG) a leader in the field of cell therapy, today gave a business update and announced the financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2012.

Business highlights

Financial highlights

"In the first quarter 2012 we continued to aggressively push our commercial efforts forward," said Eduardo Bravo, CEO of TiGenix. "As a result sales of ChondroCelect are developing in line with the improved traction we observed in the second part of last year. At the same time we are moving ahead of schedule with most of our clinical adipose stem cell programs. We closed the quarter with almost EUR 17 million cash on hand, which is sufficient to execute on our business plan and reach key inflection points."

Business update

ChondroCelect sales increase continues apaceThe Company reports net sales growth for the quarter of 123% compared with the same period of last year, and of 62% compared to Q4, 2011, a positive trend reflecting the uptake in Belgium, where we benefit from national reimbursement. In the Netherlands one of the leading private healthcare insurance companies has made treatment with ChondroCelect compulsory for its insured, and no longer reimburses non-ATMP treatments. Similarly, one of the large private insurers in the UK has expressed its intention to routinely reimburse ChondroCelect going forward. Discussions to obtain full national reimbursement keep advancing in the Netherlands, France, Spain and Germany.

Positive outcome of ChondroCelect compassionate use program published in leading journalPositive outcome data from the ChondroCelect compassionate use program (CUP), involving 43 orthopedic centers in 7 European countries, treating 370 patients with ChondroCelect over the span of four years, were published in advance online in Cartilage, the official journal of the International Cartilage Repair Society. The data show that the implantation of ChondroCelect results in a positive benefit/risk ratio when used in an unselected, heterogeneous population, irrespective of the follow-up period, lesion size and type of lesion treated. In addition, the CUP study significantly expands the data set used to obtain approval for ChondroCelect from the European Medicines Agency in 2009, increasing eight-fold, from 43 to 334, the number of patients with long-term follow up data. To date almost 700 patients have been treated with ChondroCelect.

ADMIRE-CD Phase III trial (Cx601) in complex perianal fistula on schedule The ADMIRE-CD (Adipose Derived Mesenchymal stem cells for Induction of REmission in perianal fistulizing Crohn's Disease) Phase III protocol was submitted to Ethics Committees or Health Authorities in all 8 participating countries, and to date approvals have been received in four of those countries already.

Cx611 Phase IIa in RA passes last safety hurdleOn April 17, upon review of the safety data of the first three patients of the third cohort of the company's Phase IIa clinical trial in rheumatoid arthritis (Cx611), TiGenix received the go-ahead from the independent Safety Monitoring Board to recruit and dose the remaining patients of this cohort. This fact is of major importance. In RA it ensures that the product will not be held back by any dose-limiting factors and that we will be able to move forward with the optimal treatment dose. Of almost equal importance is that, if required, we can expand the dosing range in other indications that we are exploring as well. With 6 months of follow-up, the current RA trial in 53 patients is expected to report meaningful results in H1 2013.

Last patient treated in Cx621 Phase I clinical trialAll 10 healthy volunteers have been recruited and treated in the Phase I study of Cx621. Cx621 investigates the safety and feasibility of intra-lymphatic administration of stem cells. Intra-lymphatic administration of (all) stem cells is patented by TiGenix. The final report of this trial will be available at the end of June.

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TiGenix Reports Business & Financial Results for the First Quarter 2012

JERUSALEM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Gamida Cell announced today that it has closed an internal E financing round of $10 million. All major shareholders participated.

The financing will be used to support the global commercialization of the companys lead cell therapy product, StemEx, in development as an alternative therapeutic treatment for patients with blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, who can be cured by bone marrow transplantation but do not have a matched bone marrow donor. The company is currently seeking a strategic partner to join in the global commercialization of StemEx.

The financing will also support the continued development of the companys pipeline of products, primarily the NiCord clinical trial for sickle cell disease and thalassemia.

Mr. Reuven Krupik, chairman of the board of Gamida Cell said, The investors were unanimous in their decision to reinvest, understanding the importance of bringing StemEx to market as well as maintaining the companys leadership role in the stem cell industry. Gamida Cell is a game changer.

The international, multi-center, pivotal registration, Phase III clinical trial of StemEx completed enrollment in February 2012. Clinical outcome is expected in Q4/2012. The market launch of StemEx is planned for 2013. StemEx is likely to be the first allogeneic stem cell product in the market. StemEx is being developed by the Gamida Cell-TEVA joint venture.

Dr. Yael Margolin, president and chief executive officer of Gamida Cell said, With the continued support of our shareholders and the analysis of the clinical results of the StemEx trial just around the corner, we are now focused on submitting the BLA.

StemEx is a graft of an expanded population of stem/progenitor cells, derived from part of a single unit of umbilical cord blood and transplanted by IV administration along with the remaining, non-manipulated cells from the same unit. Competing products in development use two units. As the average cost of a cord blood unit in the U.S. is $40K, StemEx is expected to be a significantly less expensive treatment option. StemEx is also expected to be available in the market several years before any of the competing products.

About Gamida Cell

Gamida Cell is a world leader in stem cell population expansion technologies and stem cell therapy products for transplantation and regenerative medicine. The companys pipeline of stem cell therapy products are in development to treat a wide range of conditions including blood cancers, solid tumors, non-malignant hematological diseases such as hemoglobinopathies, neutropenia and acute radiation syndrome, autoimmune diseases and metabolic diseases as well as conditions that can be helped by regenerative medicine. Gamida Cells therapeutic candidates contain populations of adult stem cells, selected from non-controversial sources such as umbilical cord blood, bone marrow and peripheral blood, which are expanded in culture. Gamida Cells current shareholders include: Elbit Imaging, Clal Biotechnology Industries, Israel Healthcare Venture, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Amgen, Denali Ventures and Auriga Ventures. For more information, please visit: http://www.gamida-cell.com.

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Gamida Cell Closes $10 Million E Financing Round Earmarked to Support the Global Commercialization of the Company’s ...

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Forbes

Opinions On Genetic Engineering That Aren't Worth A Bean Forbes The gist of the article is that “there are serious issues with the way some soy is grown” that pertain to the use of the techniques of genetic engineering (also known as genetic modification, or GM); more specifically, that “extensive [genetic ... and more »

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WSJM

Biotechnology High School Ranks #2 in NJ Patch.com "The Biotechnology High School focuses on a collaborative learning experience that includes project-based learning, scholarly research, and interactive partnerships," describes the US News site. They also acknowledge the schools senior internship ... 3 NJ high schools named among top 100 in nationThe Star-Ledger - NJ.com all 133 news articles »

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BBC News

Edinburgh firm Angel Biotechnology buys collagen plant BBC News Biopharmaceutical firm Angel Biotechnology has bought a collagen manufacturing facility in Glasgow as it seeks to expand its core business. The purchase was undertaken by Angel's newly-formed and wholly-owned subsidiary, Angel Biomedical Ltd (ABL). Angel Biotechnology planning to expand operationnebusiness.co.uk all 2 news articles »

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LA Weekly (blog)

Black Licorice Found to Fight Diabetes LA Weekly (blog) A research team at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin, has identified a group of natural substances in licorice root called amorfrutins. Using a mouse model, the scientists found that amorfrutins reduce blood sugar levels and ... and more »

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"In January 2012, we submitted two
applications to the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine
(CIRM) for 'Disease Team Therapy Development Research Awards,' one
for Alzheimer's disease and one for cervical spinal cord injury. A
research award may be up to $20 million, payable over four years, to
fund preclinical and IND-enabling activities with the aim of starting
human clinical trials within a four-year window."

Source:
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

Source:
http://californiastemcellreport.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

 "Saira's
extensive experience in global healthcare investment banking and
strategic advisory consulting will bring valuable financial,
commercial assessment and business development skills to our board."

Compensation for Sangamo directors in 2011 ranged from $75,000 to $35,000 for those who served a full year plus stock options. 

Sangamo is sharing
in a $14.5 million, four-year grant from CIRM with the City of Hope
in Los Angeles dealing with an AIDS- related lymphoma therapy. The
grant was approved in 2009. Sangamo expects to receive $5.2 million from the grant if it runs for the full four years. As of the end of 2011, the firm has received $2.4 million, according to its financial documents. In March, Ellen Feigal, CIRM senior vice
president for research and development, said the effort is due for an
evaluation late this year.  Earlier this year, CIRM terminated one $19 million grant in the same round after it failed to meet milestones.

Source:
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By Andrew Beam abeam@troyrecord.com Twitter.com/beam_record

Ryan Gilbert, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and G.E. Washington, visiting assistant professor of art at The College of Saint Rose, stand under an inflated sculpture of a ganglion knot created as a result of their unique collaboration inside RPIs Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies in Troy Friday. (J.S. Carras/The Record)

TROY A professor and scientist from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a visiting professor of art from the College of Saint Rose were both taken out of their comfort zones to create artistic and educational works based on research being conducted into stem cell technologies and the repair of spinal cord injuries.

The exhibit, titled A Walk Through the Nervous System: Artists View of Nerves and Spinal Cord Injury opened Friday with the hope of making it easier for the community at large to better comprehend not only how nerves work but also how injures affect the spinal cord.

Dr. Ryan Gilbert, an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at RPI, received a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, $10,000 to $20,000 of which is earmarked for community awareness and outreach. The remainder of the grant funds the research Gilbert and his colleagues are conducting in the departments laboratories.

Gilbert said the department is working with biomaterials on both a nano and micro scale, and in the future hopes to implant them into the spinal cord to regenerate it. Currently, Gilbert explained, when someone injures his or her spinal cord, there is not only the potential for paralysis, but also for permanent damage, as no cure exists yet.

To show exactly what materials Gilbert and his colleagues are working with, department head Deepak Vashishth reached out to Washington, a visiting assistant professor of art at the College of Saint Rose, and his colleagues to help create pieces of art to represent them.

Washington said he spoke with Gilbert about the project. After listening to Gilbert explain some of the materials he was working with and realizing the interest he had in what he was doing, Washington himself became more interested in the project.

Its very interesting and sexy work, Washington said.

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Scientist, artist collaborate on exhibit about spinal cord injuries

11-05-2012 14:16 Stem cells are the body's repair cells. They have the ability to divide and differentiate into many different types of cells based on where they are needed throughout the body. Stem cells can divide and turn into tissues such as skin, fat, muscle, bone, cartilage, and nerve to name a few. With this capability, we can use them as a treatment for joint injuries, ligament and tendon damage, and fractured bones. Using MediVet America's Stem Cell Therapy, we have seen positive clinical improvement in 95% of the arthritic cases performed nationwide. Some owners have even reported seeing a difference in as little as a week!

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Stem Cell Therapy Exclusively at Gandy Animal Hospital - Tampa, FL - Video

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Former President and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was suffering from a mineral deficiency in her bones arising from two corrective surgeries last September, wanted to seek alternative stem cell therapy abroad.

However, she was barred from leaving the country last November after Justice Secretary Leila de Lima refused to honor the temporary restraining order issued by the high court on the inclusion of Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Mike Arroyo in the immigration bureaus watch list.

In the wake of Arroyos supposed plan to try the radical technology at stem cell centers abroad to cure what her doctors here described as a rare bone disease, a province mate and a colleague of the former President filed a bill to put up a stem cell center in the country.

Pampanga Rep. Carmelo F. Lazatin, a member of the minority bloc in Congress, has filed House Bill No. 5287 mandating the establishment of a research facility to explore the benefits of stem cell technology as a potential cure for incurable diseases.

Blank cells

Stem cells, the foundation of every organ, tissue and cell within the human body, are like blank cells that do not yet have a specific physiological function, according to Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI).

But when proper conditions in the body or in the laboratory occur, stem cells develop into specialized tissues and organs, HSCI explains in its website, adding that there are two sources of stem cells used in research: the adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells.

Adult stem cells are found in differentiated tissues and organs throughout the body while embryonic stem cells are obtained from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, the ball of cells formed when the fertilized egg or zygote divides and forms two cells, then again to form four and so on, HSCI said.

In 2008, the Vatican issued a sweeping document on bioethical issues titled Dignitas Personae or The Dignity of the Person, taking into account recent developments in biomedical technology and reinforcing the Churchs opposition to embryonic stem cell research, in vitro fertilization, human cloning and genetic testing on embryos before implantation.

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In The Know: Stem cell therapy

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuralstem, Inc. (CUR) today reported its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and provided a business and clinical update.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20061221/DCTH007LOGO )

"In the first Quarter of 2012, we entered the final cohort of our Phase I clinical trial in ALS at Emory University Hospital. We are encouraged with the recent approval by the FDA to amend the trial protocol to bring back previously transplanted patients for additional dosing. These patients, who have each received ten lumbar injections earlier in the trial, may now receive an additional five cervical injections. These three patients in our ALS Phase I trial will become the first patients to receive neural stem cell injections up the full length of the spinal cord," said Karl Johe, PhD, chairman of the board and chief scientific officer of Neuralstem, Inc. "These patients are currently 15 to 17 months out from their original surgeries, so we are further encouraged by the fact that their disease progression has been slow enough that they can still be considered for these additional cervical injections. These segments of the spinal cord control breathing, and we believe that multiple injections in the cervical region may be the most effective way to help ALS patients. In order to be eligible, these three patients must meet the same inclusion criteria as new patients into the trial both before and at the time of surgery."

Dr. Johe continued, "This year will also see the start and finish of our neuroregenerative small molecule NSI-189 Phase Ib trial to treat major depressive disorder. This is a novel orally active drug that stimulates new neuron growth in the hippocampus which we believe can help patients with major depressive disorder. We are finalizing the preparations for the first of three cohorts of eight patients each that are scheduled to demonstrate the safety of escalating doses of daily administration of NSI-189 during a 28-day cycle. Dr. Maurizio Fava of Harvard University and Massachusetts General helped to design the trial and we thank him for his efforts.

"Internationally, we expect to commence a combined Phase I/II/III clinical trial for chronic motor disorders from stroke at BaYi Brain Hospital in Beijing through our wholly owned subsidiary, Neuralstem China later in the year. We are currently engaged in test runs at our facility in Suzhou, China where we will manufacture the neural stem cells for the trial," concluded Dr. Johe.

Neuralstem's President and CEO Richard Garr added, "This New Year has seen us actively engaged in licensing discussions for our proprietary surgical device, invented by our ALS surgeon, Dr. Nicholas M. Boulis, with both the industry and Academia. We believe it will be the industry standard for such intraspinal procedures.

"We continue to work with our partner Sumitomo's Summit Pharmaceuticals International Corporation with the goal of licensing NSI-189 to a Japanese pharmaceutical company for development of the Japanese market this year," Mr. Garr continued. "We also continue to see strong interest in co-development opportunities for our preclinical library of additional patented novel neuroregenerative compounds. The company is committed to finding the right partner to move these preclinical compounds forward."

Clinical Program and Business Highlights

Cellular Therapy: Phase I Clinical Trial in ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease) at Emory University Hospital

Corporate News

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Neuralstem Reports First Quarter Financial Results And Provides Business And Clinical Update

NEWARK Stem cells might repair damage in a spinal cord, regenerating tissue currently considered irreparable. Electrical implants are already allowing a quadriplegic to control a robotic hand with their thoughts. And scientists are working on protein therapy that would keep a bad injury from becoming catastrophic .

These were just some of the advances in treating spinal cord injuries that were heralded at a symposium Wednesday at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. It was the second annual meeting of national scientists and researchers coming together in Newark to sharing their expertise.

The presentations show further advances since last years inaugural event, according to the experts.

"Everything Im seeing here is completely different than what I learned as a medical student 25 years ago," said Robert Heary, a UMDNJ neurosurgeon, the co-director of the Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory at the Spine Center of New Jersey, and the organizer of the event.

Stem cell implantation in a dozen spinal-cord patients is underway in Switzerland, according to Aileen Anderson, an associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of California-Irvine who has been involved in the work. She said the human clinical trial involving multipotent cells at the University of Zurich will be going through 2015 at least but stem cells advances have been moving relatively quickly.

"Cholesterol drugs took 30 years to get to market," Anderson said. "Stem cells as potential therapeutics have moved pretty quickly."

Some of the work presented variations upon a microscopic theme.

A UMDNJ team presented work in which an immune-system protein is suppressed to reduce inflammation allowing better recovery after catastrophic injury in mice. Michele Basso, a professor at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, presented work that showed rodents walking was dramatically improved after the another protein was suppressed, and they got exercise.

"We begin to see a gain of function that we wouldnt normally see," said Basso.

Still others focused on the technologies that being used to currently treat patients.

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UMDNJ symposium heralds advances in treating spinal cord injuries

NEWARK, Calif., May 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StemCells, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEM - News) today announced that Armin Curt, MD, FRCPC, Professor and Chairman, Spinal Cord Injury Center at the University of Zurich, and Medical Director of the Paraplegic Center at the Balgrist University Hospital and principal investigator for the Company's Phase I/II clinical trial in chronic spinal cord injury, will provide a progress report on the trial on Thursday, May 17 at the Interdependence 2012 Global SCI Conference. Interdependence 2012, which is being held in Vancouver, British Columbia on May 15-17, 2012, is jointly organized by the Rick Hansen Institute, a Canadian not-for-profit organization committed to accelerating the translation of discoveries and best practices into improved treatments for people with spinal cord injuries, and the Rick Hansen Foundation.

In addition, on Thursday, May 17, Stephen Huhn, MD, FACS, FAAP, Vice President and Head of the CNS Program at StemCells, Inc., will make a presentation on neural stem cell transplantation in neurological disorders. Dr. Huhn will describe the scientific and preclinical rationale for the Company's extensive clinical development program which encompasses all three elements of the central nervous system -- spinal cord, brain, and eye. StemCells was the first company to receive authorizations from the US Food and Drug Administration and Swissmedic to conduct clinical trials to evaluate purified human neural stem cells as potential therapeutic agents.

The goal of Interdependence 2012 is to bring together international healthcare and research facilities to showcase their work through presentations, workshops and exhibits and discuss how to advance research, implement new best practices and shape the next generation of spinal cord injury research.

About the Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Trial

The Phase I/II clinical trial of StemCells, Inc.'s HuCNS-SC(R) purified human adult neural stem cells is designed to assess both safety and preliminary efficacy. Twelve patients with thoracic (chest-level) neurological injuries at the T2-T11 level are planned for enrollment. The Company has dosed the first three patients all of whom have injuries classified as AIS A, in which there is no neurological function below the injury level. The second and third cohorts will be patients classified as AIS B and AIS C, those with less severe injury, in which there is some preservation of sensory or motor function. In addition to assessing safety, the trial will assess preliminary efficacy based on defined clinical endpoints, such as changes in sensation, motor and bowel/bladder function.

All patients will receive HuCNS-SC cells through direct transplantation into the spinal cord and will be temporarily immunosuppressed. Patients will be evaluated regularly in the post-transplant period in order to monitor and assess the safety of the HuCNS-SC cells, the surgery and the immunosuppression, as well as to measure any recovery of neurological function below the injury site. The Company intends to follow the effects of this therapy long-term, and a separate four-year observational study will be initiated at the conclusion of this trial.

The trial is being conducted at Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, a world leading medical center for spinal cord injury and rehabilitation, and is open for enrollment to patients in Europe, Canada and the United States. For information on patient enrollment, interested parties may contact the study nurse either by phone at +41 44 386 39 01, or by email at stemcells.pz@balgrist.ch.

Additional information about the Company's spinal cord injury program can be found on the StemCells, Inc. website at http://www.stemcellsinc.com/Therapeutic-Programs/Clinical-Trials.htm and at http://www.stemcellsinc.com/Therapeutic-Programs/Spinal-Cord-Injury.htm, including video interviews with Company executives and independent collaborators.

About Balgrist University Hospital

Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich is recognized worldwide as a highly specialized center of excellence providing examination, treatment and rehabilitation opportunities to patients with serious musculoskeletal conditions. The clinic owes its leading international reputation to its unique combination of specialized medical services. The hospital's carefully-balanced, interdisciplinary network brings together under one roof medical specialties including orthopedics, paraplegiology, radiology, anesthesiology, rheumatology, and physical medicine. More information about Balgrist University Hospital is available at http://www.balgrist.ch.

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StemCells, Inc. to Provide Progress Report on Spinal Cord Injury Trial at the Interdependence 2012 Global SCI ...

University of Michigan Hospital (Credit: UM.edu)

ANN ARBOR Three patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will be permitted to receive a second dose of stem cells delivered directly to the spinal cord, in a clinical trial being led by the University of Michigans Eva Feldman, M.D.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the second treatment after a review concluded that the patients showed no adverse effects from their first implantation surgeries.

All have ALS, the inevitably fatal degenerative disease of the nervous system that many call Lou Gehrigs disease. They received injections directly into the lumbar, or lower, area of the spinal cord.

None of the patients experienced any long-term complications related to either the surgical procedure or the implantation of stem cells, or showed signs of rejecting the cells. And in the months following the surgery to inject the cells, none showed evidence that their ALS progression was accelerating.

These patients will receive a second implantation to the cervical, or upper, region of the spine where the nerves that control breathing reside. Most ALS patients die of respiratory failure as these nerves die or are damaged by the disease.

We believe that the cells and the route of administration are safe, said Feldman, principal investigator of the trial and the director of the UMs A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute. The FDA go-ahead to bring these three patients back for re-dosing is a further validation of that.

The trial is funded by Neuralstem, to which Feldman is an unpaid consultant.

This Phase 1 safety trial, which is taking place at Emory University in Atlanta, began in January 2010. After reviewing safety data from the first 12 patients, the FDA granted approval for the trial to advance the cervical injections. Three patients so far have received injections to that area. Those to be re-dosed will come from the first cohort of 12.

Results from that cohort recently were featured in the peer-reviewed journal Stem Cells in an article authored by Feldman and her colleagues at Emory, including neurologist Jonathan Glass, M.D. and neurosurgeon Nick Boulis, M.D., who performed the implantation surgeries. Boulis, an adjunct professor at UMs Medical School and a Taubman Scholar, also developed the device used to inject the stem cells into the spinal cord, which received a notice of patent allowance from U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in October.

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ALS Patients Approved For More Stem Cells

MONT-SAINT-GUIBERT, Belgium, May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The Belgian biotechnology company, Cardio3--BioSciences (C3BS), a leader in the discovery and development of regenerative and protective therapies for the treatment of cardiac diseases, today announces that it has received CE Marking (Conformit Europenne) for its intra-myocardial C-Cath Injection Catheter. The CE Mark certifies that C-Cath complies with applicable European health, safety and environmental protection legislation. C-Cath is now available for commercial use in the EU and many other countries where the CE mark allows commercialization.

The C-Cath Injection Catheter is the most advanced device of its kind and was designed to address three key requirements: ease of use, safety and efficacy. During its development Cardio3 BioSciences combined its extensive experience in stem cell therapies and specific knowledge of the properties of heart tissue with key insights from leading cardiologists in the field. C-Cath's performance is based on its unique needle design as well as unique catheter properties. Previously announced pre-clinical data from a head to head comparison with the 'best' injection catheter available until now showed a close to threefold increase in retention of stem cells within the heart muscle in favour of the CCath Injection Catheter. Within a clinical setting, an increased retention rate could allow an increase in efficacy while reducing side effects.-

Dr Christian Homsy,CEOof Cardio3-BioSciences comments on today's announcement: "Today marks an important milestone for Cardio3 BioSciences and our innovative C-Cath technology. With C-Cath, we developed an advanced injection catheter that meets the requirements of physicians and has the potential to deliver better outcomes for patients. C-Cath demonstrates our commitment to continued innovation in regenerative heart therapy. This is a major step forward in addressing the patient needs for regenerative therapies for the heart and provides physicians with new treatment options."

About Cardio3 BioSciences

Cardio3-BioSciences is a Belgian leading biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of regenerative and protective therapies for the treatment of cardiac diseases. The company was founded in 2007 and is based in the Walloon region of Belgium. Cardio3-BioSciences leverages research collaborations in the US and in Europe with Mayo Clinic and the Cardiovascular Center Aalst, Belgium.

The Company's lead product candidate C3BS-CQR-1 is an innovative pharmaceutical product consisting of autologous cardiac progenitor stem cells. C3BS-CQR-1 is based on ground breaking research conducted at Mayo Clinic that allowed discovery of cardiopoiesis, a process to mimic in adult stem cells the natural signals triggered in the early stages of life during the cardiac tissue development. Cardio3-BioSciences has developed C-Cath, the next-generation injection catheter with superior efficiency of delivery of bio therapeutic agents into the myocardium.

C3BS-CQR-1, C-Cure, C-Cath, Cardio3 BioSciences and the Cardio3 BioSciences and C-Cath logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cardio3 BioSciences SA, in Belgium, other countries, or both. Mayo Clinic holds equity in Cardio3 BioSciences as a result of intellectual property licensed to the company. In addition to historical facts or statements of current condition, this press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect our current expectations and projections about future events, and involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. These forward-looking statements are further qualified by important factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including timely submission and approval of anticipated regulatory filings; the successful initiation and completion of required Phase III studies; additional clinical results validating the use of adult autologous stem cells to treat heart failure; satisfaction of regulatory and other requirements; and actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities. As a result, of these factors investors and prospective investors are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements.We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information contact:

Cardio3 BioSciences http://www.c3bs.com

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Cardio3 BioSciences Announces CE Marking for its C-Cath® Injection Catheter