BUSINESS WIRE
Trials Designed to Improve Laser Eye Surgery Outcomes
OCEANSIDE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO),
the first company to perfect a method of creating human
“parthenogenetic” stem cells from unfertilized eggs, has received
positive early results from animal trials designed to improve
photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), a form of corrective laser eye
surgery that offers an improved alternative to LASIK.
PRK is generally thought to be safer and produce better long-term
results than LASIK, but has not been used as frequently because of
patient discomfort following surgery and a longer healing time. By
combining ISCO’s human corneal cells with a proprietary surgical device
developed by Paul H. Chen, M.D., who is conducting the trials, ISCO and
Dr. Chen believe that cellular enhanced PRK can replace LASIK for many
of the hundreds of thousands of patients who now use LASIK.
The first stage animal trials just completed demonstrated that ISCO’s
corneal cells manufactured by ISCO’s subsidiary, Lifeline Cell
Technology, encouraged corneal-defect healing in the animals. The trials
are the first step toward gaining Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approval to test the efficacy of using ISCO’s cells to improve healing
after corneal surgery, and could result in the first FDA approved use of
human cells produced by ISCO.
Jeffrey Janus, President of ISCO and CEO of Lifeline, noted that “The
cells used in these trials are derived from donated human tissue
processed using proprietary techniques devised by ISCO’s subsidiary,
Lifeline Cell Technology. However, ISCO’s parthenogenic stem cells can
also produce human corneal cells. Corneal cells derived from ISCO’s
parthenogenetic stem cells may provide a consistent and reliable source
of corneal cells that could eliminate entirely the need for donated
human tissues.”
This work is being done in collaboration with Dr. Chen, who has
developed the cell transfer technology. Dr. Chen is an eye surgeon at
North County Laser Eye Associates, and he is on staff at Scripps
Memorial La Jolla and Scripps Encinitas Hospitals.
For more news and information on International Stem Cell Corporation
please visit www.IRGnews.com/coi/ISCO
where you can find the CEO's video, a fact sheet on the company,
investor presentations, and more.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STEM CELL CORPORATION (ISCO.OB):
International Stem Cell Corporation is a California biotechnology
company focused on developing therapeutic and research products. ISCO’s
technology, Parthenogenesis, results in the creation of
pluripotent human stem cell lines from unfertilized human eggs. ISCO
scientists have created the first Parthenogenetic homozygous stem
cell line (phSC-Hhom-4) that can be a source of therapeutic cells
that will minimize immune rejection after transplantation into hundreds
of millions of individuals of differing sexes, ages and racial groups.
These advancements offer the potential to create the first true “Stem
Cell Bank” and address ethical issues by eliminating the need to use or
destroy fertilized embryos. ISCO also produces and markets specialized
cells and growth media worldwide for therapeutic research through its
subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology. For more information, visit the
ISCO website at: www.internationalstemcell.com.
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