MARLBOROUGH, Mass.,
March 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. ("ACT"; OTC Bulletin Board: ACTC), a
leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that
China's State Intellectual
Property Office (SIPO) has allowed the Company's patent application
to provide broad intellectual property protection in China for the manufacturing and pharmaceutical
preparations of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from human
embryonic stem cells (hESCs).
This Chinese patent filing provides coverage of the scalable
manufacturing of human RPE cells from hESCs. The claims cover
methods for producing purified preparations of RPE cells from
hESCs, and the use of those hESC-derived RPE cells in
pharmaceutical preparations and compositions.
"The fact that we are being awarded a set of broad claims in
China, following the issuance of
the three far-reaching RPE patents in the U.S. last year, gives us
greater confidence that we are in a position to create a dominant
patent position around our stem cell-derived RPE program in leading
markets around the world," said Gary
Rabin, ACT's interim chairman and CEO. "Our progress in
obtaining patent protection in China for our RPE program is a testament to
the continued recognition of the inventions and innovations
resulting from our scientific team's ongoing research, and further
protects the platform technology underlying one of our key
therapeutic programs."
The efficient production of highly pure RPE cell preparations
derived from human embryonic stem cells represents the first
critical step in the creation of a renewable source of
transplantable cells that can be used to target macular
degenerative diseases such as Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy (SMD)
and Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD). The Company has
already demonstrated that its hESC-derived RPE cells can rescue
visual function in animal models of macular degeneration. At
the end of 2010, ACT received clearance from the United States Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) for two of its Investigational New
Drug (IND) applications to initiate multicenter clinical trials
using hESC-derived RPE cells to treat patients with SMD in one case
(a common form of juvenile macular degeneration) and to treat Dry
AMD in the other. The claims allowed by SIPO are similar to
those the Company received as part of U.S. Patent Number 7736896,
issued last June.
"This IP issuance is a particularly valuable step forward for us
in Asia, as it could facilitate
partnering and licensing arrangements," added Mr. Rabin.
"China is predicted to
become the third-largest pharmaceutical market in the world later
this year, and is an essential part of our global strategy.
This patent allowance is an indicator of what we hope to
achieve in the IP realm in Europe
and elsewhere."
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 http://www.advancedcell.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:
ACT Corporate Communications, Bill
Douglass, 646-450-3615
or:
Russo Partners, Martina Schwarzkopf,
Ph.D., 212-845-4292
SOURCE Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.