1st Dec 2005 07:03
Stem Cell Sciences plc01 December 2005 For immediate release Stem Cell Sciences Acquires Cell Processing Centre To Advance Stem Cell Therapy Program Edinburgh, U.K., Kobe, Japan and Melbourne, Australia, 1 December, 2005 - StemCell Sciences plc (London AiM: STEM), the global stem cell company, todayannounced that its affiliate, Stem Cell Sciences KK (SCS KK), has commencedoperations in its new cell processing facility at the Institute for BiomedicalResearch and Innovation in Kobe, Japan. SCS KK acquired access to this new, state of the art, facility via a leaseagreement with Kobe Urban Promotion Service Co., Ltd. (KUPS) who manage thefacility on behalf of the City of Kobe. The cell processing facility is GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) compliant andwill enable SCS KK to produce the cells needed to advance its cell therapyprogram in degenerative disease through the preclinical stages and then into theclinic. SCS KK will initially produce the recently licensed human multipotentadipose-derived stem cells (hMADS) for use in preclinical models of DuchenneMuscular Dystrophy. Dr Peter Mountford, President and CEO of SCS plc said, "The Kobe FrontierMedical Precinct is truly unique due to being purpose built to enable thegeneration of novel therapeutics, particularly, cell-based regenerativemedicine, in mind. We are fortunate to have access to this cell-based programmethat is being developed by our affiliate SCS KK. We look forward to the firstsuccesses of the programme which will enable us to move into the pre-clinicalphase in degenerative diseases." "We are delighted to have acquired this cell processing centre so close to ourexisting laboratory within The Kobe Frontier Medical Precinct. The facility willenable us to produce clinical grade cells without the associated costs and delayof commissioning a new facility," stated Mr. Kenzo Nakajima, President and CEOof SCS KK. "We acknowledge the significant contribution and foresight of theCity of Kobe in designing this facility at the Medical Precinct and look forwardto working together with SCS plc to accelerate the realization of our globallyintegrated cell therapy business," added Mr. Nakajima. - Ends - Notes to Editors: About Stem Cells Stem Cells are undifferentiated (unspecialised) cells that can divide to makecopies of themselves or differentiate (change) to become specialized cells of aspecific tissue such as muscle, nerve cells or blood. About hMADS hMADS are stem cells derived from the fat tissue of young children. The tissuesample from which hMADS are derived may arise as a consequence of an unrelatedsurgical procedure or tissue biopsy. hMADS have been shown to integrate into themuscle of mice and to produce significant levels of the protein that isdefective in patients that suffer DMD. The hMADS cells licensed from the University of Nice were discovered by Dr.Christian Dani, INSERM Director and Head of the Stem Cells and Differentiationlaboratory and Professor Gerard Ailhaud, Head of the Adipose Tissue Developmentlaboratory, both working at the Institute of Signaling, Biology of Developmentand Cancer in France. About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) DMD affects approximately 1 in every 3,500 boys and is the most the mostfrequent, lethal, inheritable childhood disease. DMD is the most common form ofa family of more than 20 muscle-wasting diseases andhas an estimated potential market of approximately US$3 billion. About Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) GMP is the part of Quality Assurance which ensures that products areconsistently produced and controlled to the quality standards appropriate totheir intended use and as required by the Marketing Authorisation or productspecification. Quality Assurance is defined as the total of the organisedarrangements made with the object of ensuring that medicinal products are of thequality required for their intended use. About Stem Cell Sciences plc Stem Cell Sciences PLC (SCS, AIM: STEM) is a global biotechnology companyestablished in Melbourne in1994 to undertake research on embryonic stem cell(ESC) technologies. SCS has integrated R&D operations in Australia, Japan andUK, each of which is affiliated with an academic centre of excellence. All ofthe subsidiaries focus on specific aspects of stem cell biology that, together,provide a leading position in stem cell research and product development. Thecompany's business model combines short-term revenue-generating activities withthe development of a pipeline of cell-based therapies. As a result of thisapproach, patients stand to benefit directly in the short term from theapplication of SCS technology to drug discovery and in the longer term throughaccess to cell-based therapeutics. Stem Cell Sciences listed on the London AIMexchange in July 2005. About Stem Cell Sciences KK Stem Cell Sciences KK (SCS KK), a joint venture between SCS plc and Sosei, is abiotechnology company focused on generating cell-based regenerative therapies.The Company is currently developing stem cell technologies for cell therapiesutilizing various intellectual properties obtained from its affiliated company,SCS plc, in the UK. Such technology development includes collaborative researchwith RIKEN Centre for Developmental Biology (CDB), Tissue Engineering ResearchCenter at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology(Kobe) and participation in the research project titled "Collaboration ofRegional Entities for the Advancement of Technological Excellence" supported bythe Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Forfurther information about SCS KK, please visit www.scskk.com. Contact for Stem Cell Sciences plc: Hugh Ilyine, Vice President and COO Phone: +44 (0) 131 662 9829 E-mail: [email protected] Contact for Stem Cell Sciences KK:Mr. Masachika Nokuchi Phone: +81 78 306 0381E-mail: [email protected] Weber Shandwick / Square MileYvonne Alexander - PRPhone: +44 (0) 207 067 0725Email: [email protected] This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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