OLDSMAR, Fla., Nov. 1, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (OTCBB:CCEL) (the "Company"), one of the world's largest and most established family cord blood banks and global stem cell innovators, today reported momentous progress on the third anniversary of Celle, the Company's proprietary menstrual stem cell technology service. The Celle service is based on Cryo-Cell's expansive intellectual property (IP) technology portfolio introduced on November 1, 2007. Celle is the first and only service of its kind that empowers women to collect and cryopreserve menstrual flow containing undifferentiated adult stem cells for future potential utilization by the donor, or possibly first-degree relatives, in a manner similar to umbilical cord blood stem cells.
Cryo-Cell discovered that menstrual flow contains millions of unique adult stem cells that demonstrate properties similar to bone marrow and embryonic stem cells. These stem cells have the potential to differentiate into possibly every other cell type in the human body. This finding represented a significant step forward in adult stem cell discoveries, as it was the first time researchers had found an adult stem cell with these properties. Menstrual stem cells (MenSCs) potentially offer compelling advantages over stem cells obtained from other sources because they can be easily obtained from women in a painless, recurring and non-invasive manner; and they are an exact match for the woman donor and therefore the patient's rejection of tissue may be avoided. Menstrual stem cells are highly prolific; harvested from a source that would otherwise be regarded as biological waste, and there are no ethical questions like those associated with embryonic stem cells.
Since 2007, Cryo-Cell has formalized nearly one dozen collaborative research and development (R&D) agreements with leading global stem cell researchers who licensed Celle technology to conduct promising pre-clinical (non-human) studies. The collective body of ongoing research may potentially change the types of therapies used to diagnose or treat a host of significant medical conditions in the future affecting hundreds of millions worldwide such as diabetes, stroke, liver disease, urinary incontinence, multiple sclerosis (MS) and wound healing. Under terms of the Company's universal R&D collaboration agreement, research is funded entirely by the partner for the development of a targeted therapeutic application. IP that may emerge for a potential therapy is expected to be shared equally by Cryo-Cell and the research partner. The Company believes there may be significant potential upside, both strategically and financially, from future advancements such as possible commercialization of Celle stem cell therapies; prospective Celle licensing opportunities, in addition to growing anticipated global demand for Celle banking services. To date, Cryo-Cell has licensed its proprietary Celle technology to sixteen global markets across Asia, Europe and Latin America.
"We are very pleased to recognize momentous milestone achievements on our third anniversary of the Celle commercial launch," stated Mercedes A. Walton, Chairman & CEO. "The Company is particularly proud to have executed what we believe is an unprecedented model of business development for innovative stem cell technology. Cryo-Cell is uniquely well-positioned to potentially benefit from an expansive R&D pipeline that may result in one or more future cellular therapeutic breakthroughs; while at the same time; the Company has effectively mitigated what would otherwise represent an onerous R&D expense. We believe that this resourceful strategy is a resounding tribute to the seismic potential of Celle technology, as perceived by the Company and our globally renowned research partners."
Since the first cord blood stem cell transplant in 1988, over 20,000 cord blood stem transplants have occurred worldwide; and possibly millions of cord blood specimens have been banked, both publicly and privately, over twenty-two years. The Company believes that its proprietary Celle menstrual stem cell technology may potentially develop over time similarly to the emergence of cord blood stem cell technology. The Company expects that as one or more of the many ongoing Celle pre-clinical studies potentially advance to human clinical studies in the U.S. and abroad; Cryo-Cell believes that prospects for exponential expansion of Celle banking; technology licensing and possible commercialization of cellular therapies, may present vast opportunities for future revenue and strategic growth.
About Cryo-Cell International, Inc.
Based in Oldsmar, Florida, with nearly 215,000 clients worldwide, Cryo-Cell is one of the largest and most established family cord blood banks. ISO 9001:2008 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. In November 2007, the Company launched Celle (pronounced "C-L"), the world's first-ever commercial service allowing women to cryopreserve their own menstrual stem cells. Cryo-Cell is a publicly traded company. (OTCBB:CCEL) Expectant parents or healthcare professionals may call 1-800-STOR-CELL (1-800-786-7235) or visit www.cryo-cell.com.
About Celle
The CelleSM service was introduced in November 2007 as the first and only service that empowers women to collect and cryopreserve menstrual flow containing undifferentiated adult stem cells for future utilization by the donor or possibly their first-degree relatives in a manner similar to umbilical cord blood stem cells. For more information, visit www.celle.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
Statements wherein the terms "believes", "intends", "projects", "anticipates", "expects", and similar expressions 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 actual strength of its momentum, actual future shareholder and enterprise value, the success of the Company's global expansion initiatives and product diversification, the Company's future ownership stake in future therapies emerging from its collaborative research partnerships, the success related to its IP portfolio, the Company's future competitive position in stem cell innovation, future success of its core business, the future costs to the Company related to R&D initiatives, the actual return on investment relative to the Safti-Cell acquisition and those risks and uncertainties contained in risk factors described in documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by the Company. The Company disclaims any obligations to subsequently revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.