NeoStem, Inc. (NBS) Receives Two-Year $1.2 Million NIH Grant for First Clinical Study of VSEL Technology in Humans

NeoStem is a firm engaged in the fast growing cell therapy industry. This industry is expected to have a significant role in the future in the fight against chronic disease. The company’s contract development and manufacturing service business, Progenitor Cell Therapy LLC, supports the development of proprietary cell therapy products.

The company today announced that it has been awarded a two-year grant totaling $1,221,854 from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a division of the National Institute of Health (NIH). The grant was for “Repair of Bone Defects With Human Autologous Pluripotent Very Small Embryonic-Like Stem Cells (VSEL)”. NeoStem has an exclusive worldwide license to VSEL technology.

This peer-reviewed grant will support a Phase II investigation and the first approved NIH clinical study of VSELs. The study, headed by Neostem’s Dennis O. Rodgerson, Ph.D., will be conducted in collaboration with Drs. Russell Taichman and Laurie McCauley of the University of Michigan. Enrollment of the study is expected to begin in 2013.

The study revolves around the evaluation of VSEL stem cells as a potential treatment for periodontitus. This disease affects up to 90% of the world’s population. The most severe form of periodontitus affects between 5% and 15% of the U.S. population. NeoStem’s product candidate is an autologous therapy derived from a patient’s own stem cells. Its aim is the regeneration of bone tissue damaged by severe periodontitus disease.

The market NeoStem’s therapy will be addressing is believed to generate $1.25-$1.5 billion annually. For additional information about NeoStem and VSEL technology, please visit www.neostem.com.

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