Pluripotent stem cells are cells capable of indefinite expansion and then differentiation into any and all of the cell types of the human body. Examples of pluripotent stem cells are human embryonic stem cells (hES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. These stem cells potentially offer a new technology platform for the manufacture of a wide array of cell types designed to be transplanted into the body to restore healthy tissue function.

BioTime and its subsidiaries are focused on developing and commercializing a broad portfolio of innovative cellular therapeutics and diagnostic products, while also continuing to build value in other ways, such as through the addition of new patents to our industry-leading intellectual property estate, said Dr. Michael D. West, Ph.D., BioTimes Chief Executive Officer. We are making significant strides in patenting our core platform of pluripotent stem cell technology and strengthening our competitive position in regenerative medicine. For the first time in history, pluripotent stem cells offer a means of manufacturing previously rare and valuable human cell types in a cost-effective manner and on an industrial scale. We plan to utilize our strengthened patent position to drive value for our shareholders as the field of regenerative medicine begins to address the large and growing markets associated with chronic and age-related degenerative disease.

New Patents Owned by BioTime or one of its subsidiaries:

European patent 1809739 This issued patent claims cell culture media for the proliferation and scale-up of hES cells. The patent issuing in Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland and Sweden provides a propagation medium for culturing hES cells in the laboratory such that the cells proliferate without differentiating as defined in the claims. The technology allows the user to rapidly produce high-quality embryonic stem cells for use in therapy and drug discovery, in a cost-effective and controlled manner, from defined or commercially available reagents. The patent is therefore useful for manufacturing products from hES cells. Patents in the same family have previously issued in the United States, Australia, UK, Israel, Singapore and Hong Kong, with additional applications pending.

Canada patent 2559854 and China patent ZL200580008779.0 These patents claim a differentiation method for making high purity heart muscle preparations from pluripotent stem cells such as hES cells suitable for use in regenerative medicine. The issued claims cover methods wherein the pluripotent stem cells are treated with specific growth factors and differentiation conditions to manufacture beating heart muscle cells. The patents are therefore useful in the manufacture and commercialization of heart muscle cells for research, for the testing of drugs on the heart, and potentially for regenerating heart muscle following a heart attack or heart failure. Patents in the same family have previously issued in the United States, Australia, UK, Israel, Japan and Singapore, with additional applications pending.

South Korea patent1543500B The patent titled, Hematopoietic Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells, claims methods for using pluripotent stem cell technology for inducing immune tolerance of cells transplanted into a patient (that is, in helping to prevent the rejection of transplanted cells). As such, the patent claims may be useful in commercializing diverse types of transplantable cells. Patents in the same family have previously issued in Australia, UK, Israel, Japan and Singapore, with additional applications pending.

Canada patent 2468335 The patent describes cartilage-forming cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells such as hES cells. The claims in the patent relate to a system of making the cartilage-forming cells using factors of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) family, of immortalizing the cells with the human telomerase gene, pharmaceutical formulations of the cells for therapeutic use in arthritis, as well as other claims. The patent is therefore useful for the manufacture of such cells for use in research and potentially in therapy for a number of applications in orthopedic medicine. Patents in the same family have previously issued in the United States, Australia, Singapore, Israel and South Korea, with additional applications pending.

Israel patent208116 The patent titled, Differentiation of Primate Pluripotent Stem Cells to Hematopoietic Lineage Cells, claims methods for the manufacture of dendritic cells from primate pluripotent stem cells. Dendritic cells are cells that trigger an immune response to a particular molecule. Often their role is to stimulate the immune system to attack microorganisms such as bacteria. BioTimes subsidiary Asterias Biotherapeutics is developing hES cell-derived dendritic cells modified to trigger an immune response to specific antigens related to cancer. A patent in the same family has previously issued in the United States, with additional applications pending.

Singapore patent 188098 The patent titled, Synthetic Surfaces for Culturing Stem Cell Derived Cardiomyocytes, claims certain polymers upon which heart muscle cells derived from pluripotent stem cells may be cultured. The patent is potentially useful for the manufacture of human heart muscle cells for drug screening and toxicity testing and for use in the manufacture of such cells for transplantation into human subjects for the treatment of heart disease. A patent in the same family has previously issued in the United States, with additional applications pending.

Singapore patent 176957 The patent titled, Differentiated Pluripotent Stem Cell Progeny Depleted of Extraneous Phenotypes, claims methods for the purification of pluripotent stem cell-derived oligodendrocytes by the removal of contaminating cells that display an antigen called epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). This method is potentially useful in the purification of such oligodendrocytes prior to their use in research or human therapy. Patents in the same family have previously issued in the United States and China, with additional applications pending.

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BioTime Announces Issuance of 14 New Patents in the Fields of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Technology, and Cancer ...

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