ISCO Stem Cell Researcher
International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO)
CytoCor consists of transparent human tissue derived from pluripotent human stem cells. These structures are produced in the laboratory and recent testing at Sankara Nethralaya and laboratories in the US has demonstrated a range of structural, biochemical and refractory properties characteristic of human cornea.
'This is one more step in ISCO's stated plan of building its portfolio of therapeutic agents through strategic alliances throughout the world,” said Chairman, Ken Aldrich.
CytoCor may offer a first-in-class opportunity for high-quality, cost-efficient transplantation tissue for the 10 million people world-wide suffering from corneal vision impairment, particularly in India and the rest of Asia, as well as in Europe. Standardized tissues derived from pluripotent stem cells, such as the CytoCor tissue, could eliminate the current problem that corneal tissue derived from donors may harbor diseases that could be transferred from the donor to the recipient. It may also provide a much needed alternative to the use of live and extracted animal eyes in the $500+million market for safety testing of drugs, chemicals and consumer products.
According to Professor Dr. S. Krishnakumar, “Sankara Nethralaya is dedicated to the development and application of new state-of-the-
According to Dr. Geetha Krishnan Iyer, who is involved in the management of ocular surface disease at Sankara Nethralaya, 'The team at Sankara Nethralaya is pleased to collaborate with ISCO on stem cell-derived corneal tissue. In vitro studies to evaluate safety and efficacy of the tissue, as well as surgical feasibility tests will be carried out, following which there could be clinical application in lamellar keratoplasty using the above mentioned tissue. With improvements in surgical techniques over the past few years, the indications for anterior lamellar keratoplasty have expanded significantly. With high demand for donor corneal tissue for the same but limited availability, there is definitely scope for utilizing ISCO's corneal tissue following relevant tests.”
Jeffrey Janus, Senior VP of Operations at ISCO, states: 'This collaboration with the excellent team of scientists and clinicians at Sankara Nethralaya has already proven to be productive. Sankara's ophthalmology expertise and ISCO's cell culture capabilities constitute a perfect match to perfect and advance CytoCor tissue towards future use in treating corneal disease and injuries.”
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). These proprietary cells avoid ethical issues associated with use or destruction of viable human embryos and, unlike all other major stem cell types, can be immune matched and be a source of therapeutic cells with minimal rejection after transplantation into hundreds of millions of individuals across racial groups. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology and is developing a line of cosmeceutical products via its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care. ISCO is advancing novel human stem cell-based therapies where cells have been proven to be efficacious but traditional small molecule and protein therapeutics have not. More information is available at ISCO's website, www.internationalstemcell.com.
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About Sankara Nethralaya
Sankara Nethralaya was founded as a not-for-profit eye hospital in Chennai, India, in 1978. This mission of “non-commercial medicine” has continued until today when the organization has expanded its clinical practice to many regions of India and grown into a superior specialty institution for ophthalmic care and world-leading eye research. Sankara Nethralaya’s hospitals see 1,600 eye patients and do over 100 eye surgeries each day, often free to the patients. For example, in its main Chennai operating center, about 15,000 cataract surgeries are performed free of cost each year, amounting to 50% of all cataract surgeries done in Chennai the complex. On the research side, Sankara Nethralaya employs sixty scientists and clinicians dedicated to the basic and applied research and development and application of new state-of-the-
More information is available on the web site www.sankaranethralaya.org/
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements pertaining to anticipated technological developments and therapeutic applications, the potential benefits of collaborations, and other opportunities for the company and its subsidiaries, 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,"
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