ACT Announces that Additional Patient with Stargardt's Disease Has Undergone
Embryonic Stem Cell Transplantation at UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Jan 25, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Advanced Cell Technology,
Inc. ("ACT"; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine,
announced today the dosing of an additional patient in its Phase 1/2 trial for
Stargardt's macular dystrophy using retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells
derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The patient was treated on
Tuesday (Jan. 24) by Steven Schwartz, M.D., Ahmanson Professor of Ophthalmology
at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and retina division chief at
UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute. The patient successfully underwent the
outpatient transplantation surgery and is recovering uneventfully.
"This is the fourth patient worldwide treated with ACT's hESC-derived RPE cells,"
said Gary Rabin, chairman and chief executive officer of ACT. "We are pleased to
be on schedule with our clinical programs to test the safety and tolerability of
ACT's stem cell-derived RPE cells. We are working with the best ophthalmology
institutes to evaluate the capacity of our cell therapy which may have the
ability to treat a variety of devastating diseases."
The clinical trial will enroll 12 patients each, with cohorts of three patients
each in an ascending dosage format. It is a prospective, open-label study,
designed to determine the safety and tolerability of hESC-derived RPE cells
following sub-retinal transplantation into patients with Stargardt's macular
dystrophy at 12 months, the study's primary endpoint. The patient, a 47-year-old
male, was treated with the smallest dose of 50,000 cells. The hESC-derived RPE
cells are currently also in Phase 1/2 for dry age-related macular degeneration.
Preliminary results for the first two patients in each of the Phase 1/2 clinical
trials were recently reported in The Lancet.
A third Phase1/2 trial for Stargardt's macular dystrophy was recently initiated
at the Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, treating the first patient on Jan. 20.
Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy (SMD) is one of the most common forms of macular
degeneration in the world. SMD causes progressive vision loss, usually starting
in children between 10 to 20 years of age. Eventually, blindness results from
photoreceptor loss associated with degeneration in the pigmented layer of the
retina, called the retinal pigment epithelium or RPE cell layer.
Further information about patient eligibility for the Stargardt's macular
dystrophy study is also available on clinicaltrials.gov
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.
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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
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of historical fact (including statements containing the words "will," "believes,"
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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.
SOURCE: Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.
Investors:
CEOcast, Inc.
James Young, 212-732-4300
or
Press:
ACT Corporate Communications
Bill Douglass, 646-450-3615
or
Russo Partners
Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D., 212-845-4292 |
