Cryo-Cell Isolates Maternal Stem Cell With New Therapeutic Potential for Advancing Women's Healthcare
Company Launches Center for Regenerative Medicine to Oversee Emerging Intellectual Property (IP) Portfolio
OLDSMAR, Fla., May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Researchers at Cryo-Cell International Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CCEL), one of the world's largest cord blood banks, have isolated a new type of adult stem cell with potential for treating a broad range of diseases in the future. The stem cell, called a maternal placental stem cell (MPSC), is taken from the discarded placental tissue immediately after childbirth. Like stem cells recovered from umbilical cord blood, these cells may be collected without any risk to the mother or child.
The new cell is maternal in origin, meaning it is genetically matched with the mother. Cryo-Cell is preparing to commercialize an exclusive new service offering involving collection and preservation of MPSCs from placental tissue at the time of birth. The proposed new service will be based on the Company's intellectual property (IP) associated with methods, processes and systems for the procurement, isolation, processing and cryopreservation of MPSCs.
Maternal stem cells have not to date been used in human therapies however, researchers believe that these cells may serve as an alternative to embryonic stem cells in the development of human cellular therapies and for use in regenerative medicine associated with the donor (mother). In independent laboratory studies, MPSCs have successfully differentiated into several other cell types, including neural, bone and fat cells. Even after many population doublings, MPSCs appear to remain stable and retain key characteristics.
The Company plans to offer the MPSC service, when it is commercially available, bundled with its U-Cord(R) umbilical stem cell collection and storage services. Cryo-Cell believes that the MPSC service will provide families with the unique opportunity to safeguard both the mother and her newborn with stem cells preserved for their future potential therapeutic utilization. The Company is proceeding with steps to commercialize the proposed service and expects to announce a targeted launch date in the coming months. Prior to the Company's commercial launch of this service, certain developments must occur, including completion of clinical validation and testing for commercialization of the process and the Company's development of its final business and economic model in offering this service. These activities are currently underway.
"This is a very exciting advance for women's healthcare -- identifying maternal stem cells from a tissue source traditionally regarded as medical waste that are matched to the donor and can differentiate into several types of cells," said Julie Allickson, Ph.D., Vice President, Laboratory Operations, Research and Development. "With the MPSC and its apparent proliferative capability, we may have a potential new pathway for prospective therapeutic applications associated with a broad range of conditions afflicting women, such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and neurological disorders, to name a few."
Cryo-Cell is in the process of partnering with prominent academic institutions specializing in regenerative medicine and expects to initiate preclinical (animal) studies of the MPSC to advance research and development. The Company also intends to explore the potential for future pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical applications of this proprietary technology.
"Cryo-Cell will be positioned to offer expectant mothers a combination no other company can promise: the highest accredited quality of umbilical cord blood preservation, a proven life-saving treatment, combined with the maternal placental stem cell service, which has the potential to protect the mother's health in the future. We expect that the compelling synergies between these two services will serve to significantly differentiate Cryo-Cell's future message to expectant mothers: 'Protect your baby, protect yourself'," said Mercedes Walton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cryo-Cell.
Center for Regenerative Medicine
In a related development, the company has formed the Cryo-Cell Center for Regenerative Medicine. The center, located within the company's Oldsmar headquarters, unifies the company's emerging proprietary technology portfolio under the leadership of Dr. Allickson, who was recently named Vice President, Laboratory Operations, Research and Development. In addition to MPSC, the Center will continue to develop other types of stem cells that could potentially lead to new, life-saving and life-enhancing products and services.
"The Center for Regenerative Medicine is a new function within our organization that will consolidate Cryo-Cell's emerging IP portfolio and state-of-the-art lab facilities to support the Company's strategic plans for product and service diversification, while potentially creating new sources of revenue through technology license," said Walton. "We believe these non- controversial stem cells will offer innovative opportunities to create life- saving and life-enhancing products."
About Cryo-Cell International, Inc.
Based in Oldsmar, Florida, with over 135,000 clients worldwide, Cryo-Cell is one of the largest and most established family cord blood banks. ISO 9001:2000 certified and accredited by the AABB, Cryo-Cell operates in a state-of-the-art Good Manufacturing Practice and Good Tissue Practice (cGMP/cGTP)-compliant facility. Cryo-Cell is a publicly traded company. OTC Bulletin Board Symbol: CCEL. Expectant parents or healthcare professionals may call 1-800-STOR-CELL (1-800-786-7235) or visit http://www.cryo-cell.com .
Forward-Looking Statement
Statements wherein the terms "believes", "intends", "projects" or "expects" as used are intended to reflect "forward-looking statements" of the Company. The information contained herein is subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in such forward-looking statements or paragraphs, many of which are outside the control of the Company. These uncertainties and other factors include the uncertainty of market acceptance of any potential service offerings relating to types of stem cells other than cord blood stem cells, given that such new stem cells have not yet been used in human therapies, and treatment applications using such stem cells are subject to further research; the need to complete certain developments, including completion of clinical validation and testing, before any such process can be commercialized, and the Company's development of its final business and economic model in offering any such service; any adverse effect or limitations caused by recent increases in government regulation of stem cell storage facilities; any increased competition in our business; any decrease or slowdown in the number of people seeking to store umbilical cord blood stem cells or decrease in the number of people paying annual storage fees; any adverse impacts on our revenue or operating margins due to the costs associated with increased growth in our business, including the possibility of unanticipated costs relating to the operation of our new facility; any technological breakthrough or medical breakthrough that would render the Company's business of stem cell preservation obsolete; any material failure or malfunction in our storage facilities; any natural disaster such as a tornado, other disaster (fire) or act of terrorism that adversely affects stored specimens; the costs associated with defending or prosecuting litigation matters and any material adverse result from such matters; decreases in asset valuations; any continued negative effect from adverse publicity in the past year regarding the Company's business operations; any negative consequences resulting from deriving, shipping and storing specimens at a second location; and other risks and uncertainties. The foregoing list is not exhaustive, and the Company disclaims any obligations to subsequently revise any forward- looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in other documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB and any Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by the Company.
Contact: Chris Goldrick
Edelman
312-240-2726
chris.goldrick@edelman.com
SOURCE Cryo-Cell International Inc.
Released May 7, 2007