May 18th.. Advanced Cell Technology to Present at World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine
Congress in London
Chairman and CEO Gary Rabin to Discuss Three Ongoing Clinical Trials Using Human
Embryonic Stem Cell (hESC)-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial (RPE) Cells to
Treat Macular Degeneration
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., May 18, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Advanced Cell Technology,
Inc. ("ACT"; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine,
announced today that chairman and CEO Gary Rabin will be presenting at the World
Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Conference, May 21-23, in London.
Mr. Rabin's presentation, titled "Successes and ongoing advancements of human
clinical trials for the treatment of AMD & Stargardt's Disease," will be given on
Monday, May 21 at 5:05 p.m. BST (London time). Mr. Rabin will provide an update
on ACT's three ongoing human clinical trials in the U.S. and E.U. for Dry
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD) and Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy
(SMD).
ACT recently announced Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) approval to move
forward with enrollment and treatment of additional patients with SMD in its U.S.
SMD trial, and to treat the final two patients to round out the initial dosing
arm in its European trial. All three of the company's ongoing clinical trials use
human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.
About SMD, Dry AMD and Degenerative Diseases of the Retina
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.
Degenerative diseases of the retina are among the most common causes of
untreatable blindness in the world. As many as thirty million people in the
United States and Europe suffer from macular degeneration, which represents a
$25-30 billion worldwide market that has yet to be effectively addressed.
Approximately 10% of people ages 66 to 74 will have symptoms of macular
degeneration, the vast majority the "dry" form of AMD -- which is currently
untreatable. The prevalence increases to 30% in patients 75 to 85 years of age. |
