Ocata Reports the Publication of Data about the Generation of Corneal Endothelial Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
December 28 2015 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Results Published in PLOS One Online
Ocata Therapeutics, Inc. (OCAT), a leader in the field of
regenerative medicine, reported today that early research was
published in the journal PLOS One (online, December 21, 2015) by
Ocata and its collaborators at the University of Miami, UCSD, and
Stanford University. The publication presents a method for
generating scalable amounts of human embryonic stem cell derived
corneal endothelial cells (hESC-CEC).
“Disease and injury to the cornea are leading causes of
blindness worldwide,” said Robert Lanza, M.D., Chief Scientific
Officer of Ocata and senior author of the paper. “Unfortunately,
many people are left visually impaired or blind due to lack of
available donor corneas. We have developed a simple, two-step
method for generating amounts of hESC-CECs, in-vitro, which does
not rely on donor corneas.” Dr. Lanza added, “The ability to
manufacture these cells from a single, replenishable stem cell
source may provide a potential solution to the worldwide shortage
of transplantable corneal tissue. As we near the completion of our
acquisition by Astellas, I am excited about the possibility of
moving this early research into pre-clinical studies in the
future.”
About Ocata Therapeutics, Inc.
Ocata Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology
company focused on the development and commercialization of
regenerative ophthalmology therapeutics. Ocata’s most advanced
products are in clinical trials for the treatment of Stargardt’s
macular degeneration, dry age-related macular degeneration, and
myopic macular degeneration. Ocata’s intellectual property
portfolio includes pluripotent stem cell platforms – hESC and
induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) – and other cell therapy
research programs. For more information, visit www.ocata.com.
Additional Information
This communication is provided for informational purposes only.
No statement in this document is an offer to purchase or a
solicitation of an offer to sell securities. Any offers to purchase
or solicitation of offers to sell will be made only pursuant to the
Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (including the Offer to
Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and other documents relating to
the Offer) that Astellas Pharma Inc. and Laurel Acquisition Inc.
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on
November 19, 2015. In addition, Ocata Therapeutics, Inc. (“Ocata”)
filed a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9
with respect to the Tender Offer Statement on November 19, 2015.
THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT (INCLUDING THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, A
RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND OTHER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE
SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION
THAT SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY AND CONSIDERED BY OCATA’S
STOCKHOLDERS BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER.
Such documents have been made available to Ocata’s stockholders at
no expense to them at www.ocata.com. In addition, you may obtain
copies of these documents (and all other Offer Documents filed with
the SEC) at no charge on the SEC’s website: www.sec.gov. OCATA’S
STOCKHOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE SCHEDULE TO AND THE SCHEDULE
14D-9, AS EACH MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME,
AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT OFFER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC BEFORE
THEY MAKE ANY DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER, BECAUSE THEY
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND
THE PARTIES THERETO.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements, other than historical facts, contained in this
news release, including statements regarding Ocata’s belief
regarding the ability to manufacture scalable amounts of hESC-CECs
using a method that does not rely on donor corneas, Ocata’s belief
that such method will provide a potential solution to the worldwide
shortage of transplantable corneal tissue, the completion of
Ocata’s acquisition by Astellas and the effects thereof, Ocata’s
belief that after the acquisition the company will be able to fund
early stage programs comprehensively through development, and any
other statements about Ocata’s future expectations, beliefs, goals,
plans, results 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: the fact that Ocata has no product revenue and no
products approved for marketing; Ocata’s limited operating history;
Ocata’s need for and limited sources of future capital; potential
failures or delays in obtaining regulatory approval of products;
risks inherent in the development and commercialization of
potential products; reliance on new and unproven technology in the
development of products; the need to protect Ocata’s intellectual
property; the challenges associated with conducting and enrolling
clinical trials; the risk that the results of clinical trials may
not support Ocata’s product candidate claims; the risk that
physicians and patients may not accept or use Ocata’s products,
even if approved; Ocata’s reliance on third parties to conduct its
clinical trials and to formulate and manufacture its product
candidates; 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
Ocata’s periodic reports, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. Forward-looking
statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of
Ocata’s management at the time they are made, and Ocata 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 Ocata’s management at the time they
are made, and Ocata 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 Ocata’s future clinical trials will be successful or
that the results of previous clinical studies will lead to
commercialization or products or therapies.
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Investors:Westwicke PartnersJohn Woolford,
443-213-0506john.woolford@westwicke.comorPress:Russo PartnersDavid
Schull, 858-717-2310david.schull@russopartnersllc.com
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