Healthcare Industry News: BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics
News Release - May 1, 2006
World-Renowned Safety Consultant Joy A. Cavagnaro Joins BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics
NEW YORK & TEL AVIV, Israel--(HSMN NewsFeed)--May 1, 2006--BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (OTCBB:BCLI ) announced today that it has appointed Joy A. Cavagnaro, Ph.D., DABT, RAC as Safety Consultant. BrainStorm is developing stem cell therapeutic products for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.Joy A. Cavagnaro is an internationally recognized toxicologist and regulatory strategist who focuses on emerging technologies and biopharmaceutical development. During her tenure in government, she served as Director of Quality Assurance and Assistant Director of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, where she contributed to the development of international guidelines for preclinical safety evaluation. She is currently President of Access BIO. She received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
"I look forward to being part of BrainStorm's development team," said Joy Cavagnaro. "Bone marrow-derived differentiated stem cells hold enormous potential as a source of regenerative tissue for a variety of neuronal therapies. The optimal design and analysis of preclinical safety and efficacy studies should facilitate initial clinical studies."
BrainStorm recently announced that it had successfully used its stem cell technology to derive oligodendrocyte-like cells as a potential therapy for Multiple Sclerosis.
In other studies, BrainStorm has successfully used bone marrow stem cells to produce dopaminergic-like cells shown to be capable of secreting dopamine and improving symptoms in animal models of Parkinson's disease.
BrainStorm also has used its bone marrow stem cell technology to produce astrocyte-like cells with the capacity of producing glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), the most potent neurotrophic factor known for dopaminergic neurons. Transplanted dopamine- and GDNF producing-cells, acting on their own or in combination, hold great promise for replacement and preservation of neurons in Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
About BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.
BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. is an emerging company developing neural-like stem cell therapeutic products, NurOwn(TM), based on autologous bone marrow derived stromal cells, for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. NurOwn(TM) patent pending technology is based on discoveries made by the team of prominent neurologist Prof. Eldad Melamed, Head of Neurology at Rabin Medical Center, and expert cell biologist Dr. Daniel Offen, at the Felsenstein Medical Research Center of Tel-Aviv University, enabling the differentiation of bone marrow derived stem cells into functional neurons and astrocytes, as demonstrated in animal models. The company holds rights to develop and commercialize the technology through an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with Ramot at Te- Aviv University Ltd., the technology transfer company of Tel-Aviv University. The company's initial focus is on developing treatments for Parkinson's Disease.
About Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cells are non-specialized cells with a remarkable potential for both self-renewal and differentiation into cell types with a specialized function, such as muscle, blood or brain cells. Stem cells may be sourced from fetal or embryonic tissue or from adult tissue reservoirs such as bone marrow. Use of embryonic stem cells has become the center of significant ethical and moral debate. In contrast, use of adult stem cells does not face the same moral or legal controversy. Stem cell therapy aims to "cure" disease by replacing the 'diseased' cells with 'healthy' cells derived from stem cells. This approach has the potential to revolutionize medicine and, if successful, the implied commercial opportunities are great. Currently, both embryonic stem cells (ESC) and adult stem cells (ASC) are being explored as the potential basis for multiple cell therapy products.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute "forward-looking statements" and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'s actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks associated with BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'s limited operating history, history of losses and expectation to incur losses for the foreseeable future; limited cash resources and its need to raise additional capital to execute on its business plan and continue operations; transition issues related to the departure of its CEO; dependence on its license to Ramot's technology and ability to meet its funding and payment obligations included in such license agreement; ability, together with its licensor, to adequately protect the NurOwn(TM) technology; dependence on key executives and on its scientific consultants; ability to identify, negotiate and successfully implement strategic partnering relationships; ability to complete clinical trials successfully and to obtain required regulatory approvals; competition with companies, some of which have greater resources and experience in developing and obtaining regulatory approval for treatments in BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'s market; the limited public trading market for BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'s stock which may never develop into an active market; and other factors detailed in BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc.'s annual report on Form 10-KSB, quarterly reports on Form 10-QSB, current reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission available at http://www.sec.gov/ or by request to the Company. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements made by us.
Source: BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics
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