CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., July 6, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- U.S. BioDefense (OTCBB:UBDE) is pleased to announce today that it has signed a six (6) month option to license world patent application WO 03/054202 A1 and U.S. patient application 5,958,767 entitled "Generation of Human Neural Crest Stem Cell Line and Its Utilization in Human Transplantation" and related applications with the University of British Columbia developed by Dr. Seung Kim in the Department of Neurology at UBC. U.S. BioDefense joins StemCells, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEM) as the only two major public companies to pioneer Neural Crest Stem Cell technology in the United States.
U.S. BioDefense will evaluate the neural crest stem cell line and its utilization in human transplantation, which can be used to treat brain and spinal cord repair, and will release more detailed information about the neural crest stem cell technology and potential applications, including gene therapy, immediately after finalizing its evaluation and successful exercise of its option agreement by beginning of the 4th Quarter of 2005.
Director of Research, Dr. Cyndi Chen, Ph.D. stated, "The agreement makes it possible for us to pursue neural stem cell therapies and treatments for a number of degenerative diseases of the white matter such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ALS." Furthermore, future possibilities for therapies for muscular diseases, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, are on the horizon.
CEO David Chin stated that, "We are pleased to announce to shareholders that the company has entered into an evaluation agreement for the neural crest stem cells for brain and spinal cord repair. Currently, the existence of immature multi-potent stem cells has been identified in the embryonic and adult human brain and several groups have generated stable, perpetual neural stem cell lines that were utilized for cell replacement or gene transfer therapies in animal models of human neurological disorders. To this end, we are to evaluate a way to generate permanent cell lines of human neural stem cells with the ability to proliferate, exhibit self-renewal, generate a large number of clonally related progeny, retain their multi-lineage potential over time, and produce new cells in response to injury or disease."
Recent advances in stem cell biology have aroused wide and intense attention by investigators as well as the general public because of the stem cells' broad applications in basic biomedical research and transplantation therapies. Stem cells could be used in tissue transplantation therapies for clinical targets, including neurodegenerative diseases, spinal cord injuries, and strokes, among others. To realize the full potential of human multi-potent stem cells, however, further research lies ahead of us.
In contrast, neural crest stem cells from adults have several advantages: similar to embryonic stem cells, they have the innate ability to differentiate into many diverse cell types; they are easily accessible in the skin of adults; and the patient's own neural crest stem cells could be used for cell therapy. Neural crest stem cells however avoid both rejection of the implant and graft-versus-host disease. Neural crest stem cells may in many instances provide a non-controversial substitute for embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are unique, their use, however, raises ethical concerns because embryos are being destroyed in the process.
Safe Harbor Statement Forward-Looking Statements
Included in this release are certain "forward-looking" statements, involving risks and uncertainties, which are covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the U.S. BioDefense's financial performance. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those referred to or implied by such statements. In addition, actual future results may differ materially from those anticipated, depending on a variety of factors, including continued maintenance of favorable license arrangements, success of market research identifying new product opportunities, successful introduction of new products, continued product innovation, the success of enhancements to the U.S. BioDefense's brand image, sales and earnings growth, ability to attract and retain key personnel, and general economic conditions affecting consumer spending, including uncertainties relating to global political conditions, such as terrorism. Information with respect to important factors that should be considered is contained in the U.S. BioDefense's Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The U.S. BioDefense does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law.