NEW YORK and SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 22 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- NeoStem,
Inc. ("NeoStem") (NYSE Amex: NBS), an international
biopharmaceutical company with operations in the U.S. and
China and ImmuneRegen BioSciences,
Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IR BioSciences Holdings, Inc.
(OTC Bulletin Board: IRBS), announced today that they have entered
into a Collaborative Research Agreement, focused on the development
of an advanced, adult human stem cell product. Under the agreement,
NeoStem will investigate the effects of Homspera(R), ImmuneRegen's
lead drug candidate, which has been shown to enhance stem cell
activity, in combination with NeoStem's VSEL(TM) technology. Very
small embryonic-like stem cells are a population of stem cells
found in the bone marrow that can be mobilized and subsequently
harvested from the peripheral blood of adults.
NeoStem is the first company to provide adult stem cell
collection and banking services to the general adult population,
and is pursuing the research and development of adult stem cell
therapies, including therapies through the use of very small
embryonic-like stem cells, for regenerative purposes, both in the
U.S. and China, for a number of
health conditions.
ImmuneRegen has previously reported on the effects of Homspera
on the differentiation of human adult stem cells, particularly into
hematopoietic stem cells that are capable of becoming blood cells
and are the foundation of the body's immune system. Very small
embryonic-like stem cells are also found in adults but may have
broader applications and are morphologically closer to embryonic
stem cells in their potential. NeoStem has the ability to harvest
very small embryonic-like stem cells from individual patients,
representing a significant step toward overcoming the two major
limitations in the development of stem cell therapies today -- the
ethical dilemma regarding use of embryonic stem cells, and the
immunological problems associated with using cells from a
donor.
Under the collaboration, NeoStem has the right to execute an
option agreement to negotiate an exclusive license to resulting
technology.
"We look forward to working with the ImmuneRegen team to
evaluate the practical application of our exclusive VSEL(TM)
technology and advance our effort in the development of adult stem
cell-based therapies," said Robin
Smith, M.D., NeoStem's Chairman and CEO. "Very small
embryonic-like stem cells have the potential to improve the
diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, including neural,
cardiac, orthopedic disorders, and the Company is committed to
advancing the broad potential applications of the VSEL(TM)
technology for diagnostic and therapeutic uses internally and
through additional collaborative partnerships in the U.S. and
China."
"Collaborating with NeoStem will allow ImmuneRegen to accelerate
the development of Homspera(R) for adult stem cell applications
while, in parallel, supporting other clinical applications of
Homspera," said Hal Siegel, Ph.D.,
ImmuneRegen's Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. "Based
on our previous findings that Homspera enhances the development of
adult hematopoietic stem cells, we are eager to move forward into
broader applications using VSEL(TM) technology with NeoStem.
Additionally, marketing opportunities in China are especially interesting for these
novel stem cell applications."
About NeoStem, Inc.
NeoStem, Inc. is engaged in the development of stem cell-based
therapies and building of a network of adult stem cell collection
centers in the U.S. and China that
are focused on enabling people to donate and store their own
(autologous) stem cells for their personal use in times of future
medical need. The Company is also the licensee of various stem cell
technologies, including a worldwide exclusive license to VSEL(TM)
technology which uses very small embryonic-like stem cells, shown
to have several physical characteristics that are generally found
in embryonic stem cells, and is pursuing the licensing of other
technologies for therapeutic use. NeoStem's majority-controlled
Chinese pharmaceutical operation, Suzhou Erye, manufactures and
distributes generic antibiotics in China. For more information, please visit:
http://www.neostem.com .
About ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.
ImmuneRegen BioSciences Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IR
BioSciences Holdings, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: IRBS), is a
development-stage biotechnology company focused on the research,
development and licensing of Homspera(R) and its derivatives.
Homspera is an adult stem cell active compound that in study
results has been shown to regenerate and strengthen the immune
system and enhance wound healing. Additional intended uses being
developed include influenza as a stand-alone or combination therapy
and as a vaccine adjuvant. To advance its mission, the Scottsdale, Arizona based company has forged
numerous study partnerships with industry and academic leaders,
including Celgene Cellular Therapeutics, HemoGenix, Lovelace
Respiratory Research Institute and Virion Systems. For more
information, please visit http://www.ImmuneRegen.com .
Forward Looking Statements of ImmuneRegen
Statements about ImmuneRegen's future expectations, including
statements about the potential use and scientific results for its
drug candidates, science and technology, and all other statements
in this press release other than historical facts, are
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of
the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. ImmuneRegen intends that such
forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created
thereby. These future events may not occur as and when expected, if
at all, and, together with ImmuneRegen's business, are subject to
various risks and uncertainties. ImmuneRegen's actual results could
differ materially from expected results as a result of a number of
factors, including the uncertainties inherent in research and
development collaborations, pre-clinical and clinical trials and
product development programs (including, but not limited to the
fact that future results or research and development efforts may
prove less encouraging than current results or cause side effects
not observed in current pre- clinical trials), the evaluation of
potential opportunities, the level of corporate expenditures and
monies available for further studies, capital market conditions,
and others set forth in ImmuneRegen's periodic report on Form 10-Q
for the three months ended September 30,
2009 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. There are no guarantees that any of
ImmuneRegen's proposed products will prove to be commercially
successful. ImmuneRegen undertakes no duty to update forward-
looking statements.
Forward Looking Statements of NeoStem
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements reflect NeoStem management's
current expectations, as of the date of this press release, and
involve certain risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements
include statements herein with respect to the success of NeoStem's
VSEL(TM) technology and the commercialization of stem cell programs
as well as the future of stem cell in medical treatment about which
no assurances can be given. NeoStem's actual results could differ
materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors. Factors that could cause
future results to materially differ from the recent results or
those projected in forward-looking statements include the "Risk
Factors" described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
filed with the with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 31, 2010, as well as other
periodic filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
NeoStem's further development is highly dependent on future medical
and research developments and market acceptance, which is outside
its control.
For more information, please contact:
ImmuneRegen BioSciences Inc.
Michael K. Wilhelm or John Fermanis
Tel: +1-480-922-3926
Email: mwilhelm@immuneregen.com
jfermanis@immuneregen.com
Investor Contact: Redwood Consultants, LLC
Tel: +1-415-884-0348
NeoStem, Inc.
Robin Smith, CEO
Tel: +1-212-584-4174
Email: rsmith@neostem.com
Web: http://www.neostem.com
CCG Investor Relations
Lei Huang, Account Manager
Tel: +1-646-833-3417
E-mail: lei.huang@ccgir.com
Web: http://www.ccgir.com
Crocker Coulson, President
Tel: +1-646-213-1915
Email: crocker.coulson@ccgir.com
SOURCE NeoStem, Inc.
