Published on March 4, 2010 at 11:34 PM
NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE Amex:
NBS) ("NeoStem" or the "Company"), an international biopharmaceutical company
with operations in the U.S. and China, announced today that it has entered
into a sponsored research agreement (SRA) with the University of Michigan to
evaluate bone defect repairs using human stem cells. The one-year project,
beginning in March, will be funded through the proceeds of a $108,746 grant
from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the Small Business
Innovative Research Program (SBIR). Under terms of the SRA, NeoStem will have
the first option to license discoveries stemming from the project.
Funding from this grant will support the study of the potential of very
small embryonic-like stem cells to form bone in an animal model and regenerate
a critical sized bone defect using NeoStem's proprietary VSEL(TM) Technology.
Very small embryonic-like stem cells are a heterogeneous population of stem
cells found in adult bone marrow that have properties similar to those of
embryonic stem cells. These cells have the potential to achieve the positive
benefits associated with embryonic stem cells without the ethical or moral
dilemmas or certain of the potential negative effects associated with
embryonic stem cells. The effort at the University of Michigan will be led by
principal investigator Dr. Russell Taichman, Professor of Dentistry,
Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan
School of Dentistry. "My team and I are excited about the partnership with
NeoStem," said Dr. Taichman. "The early evidence that very small embryonic-
like stem cells can differentiate into mesenchymal cells and then regenerate
bone tissue lays the foundation for the study of these cells as autologous
therapeutic agents, with the potential to treat conditions such as wound
healing, burns and fractures, orthopedic disorders and bone diseases such as
osteoporosis."
"We are grateful to the NIH for this grant to fund research using our
VSEL(TM) Technology to develop potential therapy for bone diseases," said
Robin Smith, M.D., Chairman and CEO of NeoStem. "Our research team is looking
forward to leveraging our adult stem cell expertise to advance the
understanding and development of autologous adult stem cell therapies for
osteoporosis and other regenerative diseases. We are excited to partner with
Dr. Russell Taichman and his team in this important pursuit."
SOURCE NeoStem, Inc.