ACT and Roslin Cells Announce Collaboration for Storage and Distribution of
Embryonic Stem Cells Using ACT's Blastomere Technology
Embryonic Stem Cells Made Using ACT's Patented Technique Soon To Be Available for
Researchers and Companies Worldwide
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Advanced Cell
Technology, Inc. ("ACT"; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative
medicine, announced today that it has entered into a definitive collaborative
agreement with Roslin Cells LTD ("Roslin Cells") of Scotland. The two companies
will work together to establish a bank of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-grade
human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines using ACT's patented, proprietary
"single-cell blastomere" technique for deriving hESC lines without destroying
embryos. Stem cell lines from the resulting bank will be made available for both
research and commercial purposes.
"This is a significant milestone in fulfilling our commitment to provide stem
cells for clinical trials designed to help patients who are suffering from
medical conditions for which there are no other options," said Gary Rabin, ACT's
interim chairman and chief executive officer. "Embryonic stem cell research
offers real promise for the treatment of a variety of currently incurable
diseases and conditions. With the commencement of several clinical trials using
hESC-based therapies, including the two for which ACT has been approved, the
excitement on the part of both researchers and patients continues to grow. Our
agreement with Roslin Cells is intended to address a number of practical and
ethical issues facing the field, and should make it easier for researchers to
explore the enormous potential of this exciting science for the future benefit of
patients."
Under the terms of the agreement, the hESC lines will be created and banked in
compliance with the regulations of both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Roslin Cells will be responsible for
maintaining the banked hESC lines, and it is anticipated that the banked hESC
lines can be ushered expeditiously from laboratory settings directly into
clinical programs, thereby speeding translational research. Roslin Cells will
promote access to the hESC lines to both academic and commercial entities, and
will establish a straightforward license which should enable third parties to
have a predictable path to commercialization, at the time they choose to use the
cells for discovery and preclinical research. ACT will continue to control any
licenses to commercialization of products for the eye. ACT and Roslin Cells will
share proceeds from these licenses, including milestone and royalty payments.
"Our aim is to provide researchers with access to hESC lines, which address many
of the concerns which currently relate to research involving human embryonic stem
cells," commented Aidan Courtney, chief executive officer of Roslin Cells.
"However, what is more exciting to us is the potential these hESCs hold with
respect to their characteristics. Being derived from a point of earlier
developmental potential, we anticipate that these single blastomere-derived ES
cells will have broad plasticity and be ideally suited for use in the development
and commercialization of regenerative medicine therapies. The collaboration with
ACT will also accelerate our engagement with leading researchers in the US."
ACT's single-cell blastomere technique involves the isolation of a single cell
from a 4-to-8 cell embryo, utilizing a one-cell biopsy approach similar to that
used in pre-implantation genetic diagnostics (PGD). This single-cell biopsy is
performed routinely around the world, and between one and two thousand children
are born every year in the United States and Europe after being conceived by in
vitro fertilization using this technique. ACT's "blastomere" technique has been
documented in Nature magazine, Cell Stem Cell, and elsewhere.
"There is considerable interest in using stem cell lines generated using our
single-cell blastomere technique," commented Robert Lanza, MD, ACT's Chief
Scientific Officer. "We are eagerly anticipating providing our cells to a variety
of institutions through this arrangement with Rosin Cells."
About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. is a biotechnology company applying cellular
technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit
advancedcell.com.
About Roslin Cells
Roslin Cells Ltd was established in 2006 by the Roslin Institute with the support
of the University of Edinburgh, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service
and Scottish Enterprise. The company's core mission is to provide ethically
sourced, pluripotent human cells manufactured to the highest quality available
according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP standards). Roslin Cells Quality
Management System has been independently verified according to rigorous standards
and successfully attained ISO 9001:2008 certification in February 2009
(certificate number:FS 544151). Since then, the company has continued to
demonstrate their meticulous standards, with successful annual renewals of their
Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority
(HFEA) licenses. Roslin Cells is headquartered in Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland,
and is a not for profit organization. Further information can be found at
roslincells.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release regarding future financial and operating results,
future growth in research and development programs, potential applications of our
technology, opportunities for the company and any other statements about the
future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management
constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements
of historical fact (including statements containing the words "will," "believes,"
"plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates," and similar expressions) should
also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of
important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially
from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including: limited
operating history, need for future capital, risks inherent in the development and
commercialization of potential products, protection of our intellectual property,
and economic conditions generally. Additional information on potential factors
that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from
time to time in the company's periodic reports, including the report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2010. Forward-looking statements are based on the
beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the company's management at the time they
are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its
forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other
circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs,
opinions, and expectations of the company's management at the time they are made,
and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking
statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances
should change. There can be no assurance that the Company's clinical trials will
be successful.
Contact:
Investors:CEOcast, Inc., James Young, 212-732-4300
Press:Bill Douglass, ACT Corporate Communications, 646-450-3615orRusso Partners,
Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D., 212-845-4292
SOURCE Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. |
