“We thank Wills Eye Institute once more for providing their IRB and their invaluable contribution to our macular degeneration studies,” said Gary Rabin, ACT’s chairman and CEO. “We are very happy that we can now report that Wills Eye Institute has been approved as a clinical trial site for both our SMD and dry AMD clinical trials. Ranked as one of the best ophthalmology hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, the Wills Eye Institute is a truly world-class institution. Our team is eagerly anticipating working with Dr. Carl Regillo, a renowned retinal surgeon and director of clinical retina research at Wills Eye Institute, as well as a professor of ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University, along with the rest of his team as we move forward with these ground-breaking trials.”

The Phase I/II trial for SMD is a prospective, open-label study designed to determine the safety and tolerability of the hESC-derived RPE cells following sub-retinal transplantation into patients with SMD. The trial will ultimately enroll 12 patients, with cohorts of three patients each in an ascending dosage format. Preliminary results relating to both early safety and biological function for the first two patients in the U.S., one SMD patient and one dry AMD patient, were recently reported in The Lancet.

Specific patient enrollment for both trials at the Wills Eye Institute will be determined in the near future. Further information about patient eligibility for the SMD study and the concurrent study on dry AMD is also available on www.clinicaltrials.gov ; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT01345006 and NCT01344993.

About Stargardt’s Disease

Stargardt’s disease or Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy is a genetic disease that causes progressive vision loss, usually starting in children between 10 to 20 years of age. Eventually, blindness results from photoreceptor loss associated with degeneration in the pigmented layer of the retina, called the retinal pigment epithelium.

About hESC-derived RPE Cells

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a highly specialized tissue located between the choroids and the neural retina. RPE cells support, protect and provide nutrition for the light-sensitive photoreceptors. Human embryonic stem cells differentiate into any cell type, including RPE cells, and have a similar expression of RPE-specific genes compared to human RPE cells and demonstrate the full transition from the hESC state.

About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit www.advancedcell.com .

About Wills Eye Institute

Wills Eye Institute is a global leader in ophthalmology, established in 1832 as the nation’s first hospital specializing in eye care. U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked Wills Eye as one of America’s top three ophthalmology centers since the survey began in 1990. Wills Eye is a premier training site for all levels of medical education. Its resident and post-graduate training programs are among the most competitive in the country. One of the core strengths of Wills is the close connection between innovative research and advanced patient care. Wills provides the full range of primary and subspecialty eye care for improving and preserving sight, including cataract, cornea, retina, emergency care, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, ocular oncology, oculoplastics, pathology, pediatric ophthalmology and ocular genetics, refractive surgery and retina. Ocular Services include the Wills Laser Correction Center, Low Vision Service, and Diagnostic Center. Its 24/7 Emergency Service is the only one of its kind in the region. Wills Eye also has a network of nine multi-specialty, ambulatory surgery centers throughout the tri-state area. To learn more, please visit www.willseye.org .

The presentation times for these two companies are:

• Athersys, Inc. (ATHX) – February 14, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. EST – Listen Live
• StemCells Inc. (STEM) – February 14, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. EST – Listen Live

The Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference assembles a select group of established public biotech companies, as well as top public and private equity investors and members of the sell-side investment community, to explore the current investment landscape and opportunities in life sciences.  In addition to plenary sessions and panel discussions on timely business topics and key therapeutic areas, the conference features presentations by leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, as well as a number of nonprofit and venture philanthropy organizations.  More information on the conference can be found at http://www.bio.org/bioceo.

About Athersys

Athersys is a clinical stage biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of therapeutic product candidates designed to extend and enhance the quality of human life. The Company is developing its MultiStem^® cell therapy product, a patented, adult-derived “off-the-shelf” stem cell product platform for multiple disease indications in the cardiovascular, neurological, inflammatory and immune disease areas. The Company currently has several clinical stage programs involving MultiStem, including for treating inflammatory bowel disease, ischemic stroke, damage caused by myocardial infarction, and for the prevention of graft versus host disease. Athersys has also developed a diverse portfolio that includes other technologies and product development opportunities, and has forged strategic partnerships and collaborations with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as world-renowned research institutions in the United States and Europe to further develop its platform and products. More information is available at www.athersys.com.

Athersys currently has several clinical trials ongoing with pharmaceutical partners or independently.  Under a global strategic partnership, [its partner] Pfizer is currently enrolling patients in a Phase II study of MultiStem for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, a common form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, which affects approximately 2.4 million people in the U.S., Europe and Japan.  In December 2011, Athersys initiated a Phase II, double blind placebo controlled, ~140 patient trial involving administration of MultiStem to treat patients that have suffered an ischemic stroke, a condition that affects more than 2 million people annually in the U.S., Europe and Japan, and 15 million globally.  Other recent study results include: completion of a successful Phase I clinical trial results involving administration of MultiStem to patients at risk of GvHD, demonstrating consistent safety and dose proportional reduction in GvHD, as well as improvements in other clinical parameters; and published results of a Phase I clinical trial demonstrating that administration of MultiStem to patients that had suffered a heart attack (AMI) was both safe, and resulted in meaningful improvements in heart function at both 4 months and one year after the AMI.

About StemCells, Inc.

StemCells, Inc. is engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of cell-based therapeutics and tools for use in stem cell-based research and drug discovery. The Company’s lead therapeutic product candidate, HuCNS-SC(R) cells (purified human neural stem cells), is currently in development as a potential treatment for a broad range of central nervous system disorders. Clinical trials are currently underway in spinal cord injury and in Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), a fatal myelination disorder in children, and the Company has received authorization from the FDA to initiate a Phase I/II clinical trial in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In addition, the Company is pursuing preclinical studies of its HuCNS-SC cells in Alzheimer’s disease. StemCells also markets stem cell research products, including media and reagents, under the SC Proven(R) brand, and is developing stem cell-based assay platforms for use in pharmaceutical research, drug discovery and drug development. Further information about StemCells is available at http://www.stemcellsinc.com.

The company had a banner year in 2011 with a major milestone being hit with the initiation of a Phase II study for its flagship product candidate, ICT-107 (a dendritic cell-based vaccine).  This Phase II study builds upon strong data collected in Phase I as an indication for glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer.  Phase I research showed ICT-107 outperforming current treatments by showing an 80% survival rate after two years compared to today’s rate of a mere 26.5% and a three-year survival rate of 55% as compared to 15% with standard care treatments.  An amazing 38% of the patients treated with ICT-107 continue to show no signs of tumor recurrence after three years as opposed to the bleak rate of 6% in patients receiving standard care.  No serious adverse events from the ICT-107 have been observed.

Moreover, ImmunoCellular has completed a $10.4 million financing, paving the way financially for the company through at least the end of 2013 for the ICT-107 Phase II trial and potentially the start of clinical trials for two more vaccines utilizing the same scientific principles as ICT-107 (ICT-140 for ovarian cancer and ICT-121 for recurrent glioblastoma).  The financing leaves IMUC in an envious position with cash on hand in excess of $16 million, a strong balance sheet thanks to a lean infrastructure, a robust group of life science investors and absolutely no need for dilutive practices.

The Phase II study is more than halfway through enrollment with more than 115 patients enrolled out of the estimated 160-200 through initiation of the trial at 23 centers, including some of the most prestigious brain tumor treatment centers in the U.S.  Enrollment is expected to be completed by the second quarter 2012.

The letter to shareholders covered the whole gamut of ImmunoCellular’s operations highlighting that the company is not only well-positioned for today, but is also forward-thinking and taking the necessary steps to secure its position as a leader in the immunotherapy sector.  Amongst its many developments in the last year, IMUC has manufacturing agreements in place for ICT-107 formulations with Progenitor Cell Therapy, a subsidiary of NeoStem (AMEX:NBS); initiated a strategic collaboration and new Joint Venture (called Caerus Discovery) with BioWa to develop enhanced versions of IMUC antibodies; and expanded its patent portfolio.

Industry experts are recognizing the ingenuity of ICT-107 and giving it extensive praise, including it being hailed as one of the “100 Great Investigational Drugs” by R&D Directions, a “Top 10 Licensable Oncology Products” by Windhover, listed as a top ten therapeutic cancer vaccines by Fierce Biotech and being featured on CBS News as a “promising vaccine” for brain cancer.

ImmunoCellular has clearly established itself as a pioneer in immunotherapy and possesses the technology that could truly change the landscape of oncology.  They are well-funded and organized, have an outstanding management team, they’re producing stellar clinical data and carry a price point that offers an upside which is arguably larger than any of its peers.  All of these qualities align IMUC as a prime acquisition target in a field of merger-hunger major pharmas looking to take the lead in any given field.  Keep an eye on this emerging micro-cap firm that could be shepherding in the next generation of brain cancer therapy right before our eyes.  Interested parties are encouraged to read the letter to shareholders from Dr. Singh, and keep an alert out for the company’s next SEC filing.

ImmunoCellular to Present at the 14th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference

Martin P. Rosendale, Chief Executive Officer of Cytomedix, commented, “Since joining Cytomedix as chief executive in 2008, our strategy has evolved, but the vision to transform the Company from a wound-care based technology platform into a broader regenerative medicine company has remained constant. In pursuit of this vision, we started with the successful 2010 acquisition and integration of the Angel System, a unique, best-in-class PRP platform technology that has allowed us to grow from nominal sales to $6 million per year in just over 18 months.

“This strategic acquisition of Aldagen provides Cytomedix with a novel, patent-protected cell selection technology that fits well with our existing commercial products and strengthens our long-range growth profile,” he continued. “In combination, we now touch the three pillars of regenerative medicine with autologous stem cells, platelet-derived signal molecules and plasma scaffolds,” he added. “We view the acquisition of Aldagen as an opportunistic transaction at an attractive valuation that will allow us to build and expand our new product development efforts with Aldagen’s technology, intellectual property, people and clinical expertise. In terms of maximizing opportunity for our shareholders while managing and mitigating risk, we feel this transaction is very advantageous.”

Commenting on the acquisition, Richard Kent, M.D., Chairman of the Board of Aldagen and a Partner with Intersouth Partners, Aldagen’s largest shareholder, said, “We are delighted to join forces with Cytomedix as this alignment unites commercial products with a growing revenue stream with a deep pipeline of clinical opportunities. We believe these autologous technologies are complementary and hold potential to produce more therapeutics than either one could on its own. The commitment of additional capital into Cytomedix by certain Aldagen investors underscores our confidence in the very promising potential for the combination of these regenerative technologies to change how we treat a variety of large disease areas with continued unmet medical need.”

Transaction Terms

At the closing, Cytomedix issued 135,398 newly designated Cytomedix Series E preferred shares to Aldagen shareholders. Pro forma for the conversion of these shares to common stock, as set forth in the designations documents for the Series E preferred stock, Aldagen shareholders will own approximately 17.3% of Cytomedix common shares outstanding after the concurrent conversion and/or redemption of all existing Cytomedix preferred shares.

There are also contingent clinical milestone payments totaling up to 20,309,723 shares, which will be issued to Aldagen shareholders upon the achievement of predetermined clinical milestones associated with an ongoing Aldagen Phase 2 trial in post-acute ischemic stroke. Notably, 80% of this contingent consideration is issuable only upon a favorable clinical efficacy signal in the above-mentioned trial. The costs of the clinical trial will be funded, in part, by the $5.0 million investment made by Aldagen shareholders, $3.0 million in proceeds from completed or committed warrant exercises by existing Cytomedix shareholders, as well as a portion of Cytomedix’ cash on hand. All upfront and contingent consideration shares are subject to lockup restrictions ranging from six to 18 months.

As part of the transaction, as of the closing date three Aldagen Board members have joined the Cytomedix Board, which has been expanded to nine seats. They are Richard Kent, M.D., Chairman of the Board of Aldagen; Lyle Hohnke, Ph.D., Aldagen’s former CEO; and Joseph Del Guercio, Managing Director of CNF Investments and a current Board Observer for Aldagen. Concurrent with these additions, Craig Mendelsohn has stepped down from the Cytomedix Board.

In addition, Edward L. Field, Aldagen’s Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer of Cytomedix.

Aldagen is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cytomedix and will retain manufacturing and product development facilities in Durham, N.C.

For additional information about this transaction, please refer to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about February 8, 2012.

About Aldagen

Aldagen is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing patent-protected autologous cell-based therapeutics for tissue repair and regeneration. Aldagen’s clinical development efforts are led by a team of leading researchers and experienced clinicians. All product candidates target conditions with significant unmet medical needs. Aldagen has a deep product pipeline and data generated in a number of disease states including:

• ALD-301 for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (“PAD”) and critical limb ischemia (“CLI”)
• ALD-201 for the treatment of ischemic heart failure
• ALD-401 for the treatment of ischemic stroke

Safety has been demonstrated in more than 70 patient treatments across all clinical trials of ALDHbr cells and positive study results in CLI and cardiac ischemia have been published and presented at major medical meetings. A growing body of scientific data validates Aldagen’s proprietary technology, including approximately 250 peer-reviewed publications and presentations. Aldagen has the only stem cell selection technology utilizing an intracellular enzyme marker to fractionate essential regenerative cells from bone marrow.

Aldagen’s proprietary bone marrow fractionation process identifies and isolates metabolically active cells expressing high levels of the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, or ALDH, which is a key enzyme involved in the regulation of gene activities associated with cell proliferation and differentiation. The selected biologically instructive cells, ALDHbr cells, have the potential to promote the repair and regeneration of multiple types of cells and tissues, including the growth of new blood vessels, which is critical to the generation of healthy tissue. Preclinical research suggests that ALDHbr cells specifically migrate to sites of ischemic damage and induce the formation of new blood vessels at those sites. In human clinical trials utilizing ALDHbr cells, evidence of improved perfusion in ischemic tissue has been observed. Other stem cell therapies require expansion of cells that increase manufacturing and regulatory risk, increase processing costs and may delay treatment of the patient up to several weeks. Aldagen produces well-characterized cell populations with a high level of purity without the need for these additional steps, thereby enabling a rapid turnaround time — typically 36 hours once the bone marrow is received.

Opus National Capital Markets served as financial advisor and Cozen O’Connor served as legal counsel to Cytomedix on the acquisition. The Merchant Banking Group of Burrill & Company served as financial advisor and Hutchison Law Group served as legal counsel to Aldagen, Inc. on the transaction.

Conference Call

Cytomedix and Aldagen management will hold a conference call to discuss the acquisition and to answer questions beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, February 9, 2012. Shareholders and other interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 888-713-4214 (domestic) or 617-213-4866 (international) and entering passcode 15132911. The call will also be broadcast live on the Internet at www.streetevents.com , www.fulldisclosure.com and www.cytomedix.com . A slide presentation will accompany the conference call and will be posted at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, February 9, 2012, to the home page of the Company’s website at www.cytomedix.com .

A replay of the conference call will be available beginning two hours after its completion through February 16, 2012, by dialing 888-286-8010 (domestic) or 617-801-6888 (international) and entering passcode 48593244. The call will also be archived for 90 days at www.streetevents.com , www.fulldisclosure.com and www.cytomedix.com .

About Cytomedix, Inc.

Cytomedix develops, sells and licenses regenerative biological therapies primarily for wound care, inflammation and angiogenesis. The Company markets the AutoloGel(TM) System, a device for the production of autologous platelet rich plasma (“PRP”) gel for use on a variety of exuding wounds; the Angel(R) Whole Blood Separation System, a blood processing device and disposable products used for the separation of whole blood into red cells, platelet poor plasma (“PPP”) and PRP in surgical settings; and the activAT(R) Autologous Thrombin Processing Kit, which produces autologous thrombin serum from PPP. The activAT(R) kit is sold exclusively in Europe and Canada, where it provides a completely autologous, safe alternative to bovine-derived products. The Company is pursuing a multi-faceted strategy to penetrate the chronic wound market with its products, as well as opportunities for the application of AutoloGel(TM) and PRP technology into other markets such as hair transplantation and orthopedics while actively seeking complementary products for the wound care market. Additional information regarding Cytomedix is available at www.cytomedix.com .

Safe Harbor Statement Statements contained in this communication not relating to historical facts are forward-looking statements that are intended to fall within the safe harbor rule for such statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The information contained in the forward-looking statements is inherently uncertain, and Cytomedix’ actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond Cytomedix’ ability to predict or control, including many among others, risks and uncertainties related to the Company’s ability to successfully integrate this acquisition, to successfully manage contemplated clinical trials, to manage and address the capital needs, human resource, management, compliance and other challenges of a larger, more complex and integrated business enterprise, viability and effectiveness of the Company’s sales approach and overall marketing strategies, commercial success or acceptance by the medical community, competitive responses, the Company’s ability to raise additional capital and to continue as a going concern, and Cytomedix’s ability to execute on its strategy to market the AutoloGel(TM) System as contemplated. To the extent that any statements made here are not historical, these statements are essentially forward-looking. The Company uses words and phrases such as “believes”, “forecasted,” “projects,” “is expected,” “remain confident,” “will” and/or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements in this press release. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events to differ from the forward-looking statements. More information about some of these risks and uncertainties may be found in the reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Cytomedix, Inc. Cytomedix operates in a highly competitive and rapidly changing business and regulatory environment, thus new or unforeseen risks may arise. Accordingly, investors should not place any reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Except as is expressly required by the federal securities laws, Cytomedix undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changed circumstances or future events or for any other reason. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the SEC and other subsequent filings. These filings are available at http://www.sec.gov .

ARM is a Washington, DC-based non-profit organization that promotes legislative, regulatory and reimbursement initiatives necessary to facilitate access to life-giving advances in regenerative medicine. American CryoStem’s decision to join ARM was based on the alignment of its ongoing mission to offer the highest quality products and services to help accelerate the regenerative medicine industry and ARM’s support of policy efforts toward safe and reliable cellular products.

Morrie Ruffin, Managing Director for the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, commented, “We are delighted to have American CryoStem as part of the Alliance and look forward to working together to advance the field of adipose-derived stem cells for a variety of therapeutic applications.”

ARM’s membership is diverse, representing leading regenerative medicine companies and investors, university-based and non-profit research institutions, patient advocacy groups, pharmaceutical companies engaged in regenerative medicine research and other organizations supporting regenerative medicine. American CryoStem has created and commercialized core proprietary products and platforms for processing, storing and quality management of adipose tissue and adipose derived adult stem cells that are broadly relevant to ARM’s membership.

“American CryoStem is committed to working with industry organizations to develop cutting edge adipose tissue based treatments and therapies. One unique component of our clinical laboratory product and service suite is offering individuals the opportunity to cryogenically store their younger, healthier adult stem cells for their own future use in regenerative medicine,” stated John Arnone, American CryoStem CEO. “We are pleased and honored to work with the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine to educate the public and regulators on the safe uses of adult stem cells and their potential life changing applications.”

In support of these goals, the Company recently launched ACS Laboratories, thus expanding its clinical processing technology to companies, institutions and medical professionals. ACS Laboratories offers a wide range of adipose tissue specific services. Through ACS laboratories patented ACSelerate(TM) cell culture media, a ten product suite, American CryoStem can leverage its technology and products to participate in a broad range of clinical application opportunities.

About American CryoStem: American CryoStem Corporation (otcqb:CRYO) markets clinical processing products and services for adipose (fat) tissue and adipose derived adult stem cells. CRYO’s clinical processing and preservation platform supports the science and applications being discovered globally by providing the highest quality, clinically processed cells and assuring their sterility, viability and growth cap abilities, while at the same time developing cutting edge application, therapies and laboratory products and services for consumers and physicians.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Certain of the statements contained herein, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements with respect to events, the occurrence of which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements may be impacted, either positively or negatively, by various factors. Information concerning potential factors that could affect the Company is detailed from time to time in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Building a Promising Cancer Treatment Platform

Galectin Therapeutics is focused on the development of galectin protein inhibitors. With promising efficacy seen in clinical trials, the company is re-positioning its GM-CT-01 treatment to work in conjunction with existing cancer vaccines and other immune cancer therapies such as ipilimumab (Yevoy, BMS) to improve their efficacy. The new approach could transform it into a platform play targeting numerous indications.

Currently, more than 100 cancer vaccines are being developed by a variety of companies, both public and private, that trigger some part of the immune system to produce additional tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. But all of these treatments are vulnerable to being turned off by the galectin effect of the tumor, which the company’s drug can help inhibit.

A Novel Mechanism for Fighting Cancer With The Patient’s Own Immune System

GM-CT-01 works by protecting the immune system’s tumor infiltrating lymphocyte’s (TILs) tumor killing capabilities. TILs are created by the body’s immune system to recognize antigens on tumor cells and ultimately kill off cancerous tumor cells. While many vaccine’s and drugs can enhance TIL production, GM-CT-01 is one of the only promising treatments to protect TILs from being turned off by the tumor’s galectin effect and enhance their efficacy in killing cancer.

An experiment conducted by the Ludwig Institute serves as evidence of GM-CT-01’s TIL protecting and reactivating capability.  To view the results of how CD8 TILs are protected and more effective with GM-CT-01 vs working on their go to Galectin Therapeutic’s website at http://www.galectintherapeutics.com/technology/cancer-immunology.php

A Large Clinical Opportunity in Fibrosis

Galectin Therapeutics is also targeting opportunities in the treatment of fibrosis, currently a series of untreatable diseases like liver cirrhosis, fatty liver disease and kidney fibrosis. Galectin-3 has been tied to inflammation and fibrosis thanks to a very convincing preclinical study. Researchers knocked out Galectin-3 in lab mice, and then, utilizing a proven protocol of organic chemical injections, attempted to create fibrosis of the liver in both mice missing Galectin -3 and normal mice. When the experiment showed no increase in fibrosis in the mice missing Galectin-3 and significant increase in fibrosis in normal mice who had Galectin-3 the researchers concluded that Galectin-3 was part of the root cause of the fibrotic condition.  Subsequently, the company has shown that its Galectin Inhibitors reverse fibrosis in toxic liver fibrosis and fatty liver associated fibrosis.

Since its galectin inhibitors have very low probability of toxicity potential and the drug addresses an unmet medical need for patients that may die from cirrhosis the company believes that there are expedited clinical trial pathways available such as fast track status with the FDA and orphan disease status.  Market entry as the first drug for an indication of liver fibrosis could lead to a large market share, favorable pricing, and a significant valuation.

A Unique Investment Opportunity in Biotech

Galectin Therapeutics offers biotech investors a unique opportunity. With three “block buster size” franchises in liver cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and cancer immunology enhancement, the company is well-positioned to pursue a combination of partnerships and could eventually become the target of a buyout offer.  Independent analyst Morgan Joseph TriArtisan has a risk adjusted NPV discounted $6 target price on this sub $1 stock which was written before the company had data indicating it had a drug that could treat the third franchise of fatty liver disease another disease currently without a pharmaceutical treatment. As a result, this is one stock that investors may want to watch closely over the coming months.

For a copy of the analyst report email your request to contact@galectintherapeutics.com

For more information, please see the following resources:

• Company Website
• Recent SEC Filings

Athersys, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATHX) today announced positive results from its Phase I clinical trial of MultiStem^®, its cell therapy product, administered to individuals undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs) for the treatment of leukemia and related conditions.  According to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, there are approximately 25,000 allogeneic HSCT performed annually, globally.  The study demonstrated that MultiStem therapy was well tolerated in both the single infusion and repeat infusion arms and also suggested that the therapy may provide benefit to recipients of allogeneic HSCT, such as reducing the incidence and severity of Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD) as compared to historical clinical experience.  The results are consistent with previous preclinical studies that show that MultiStem provides multiple benefits in HSCT and other transplant models, such as reducing inflammatory damage and promoting graft acceptance.

These clinical results could provide the foundation for further, accelerated development of MultiStem to prevent or reduce the severity of GvHD, a potentially life-threatening complication of such transplants.  Athersys received orphan drug designation from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration for prevention of GvHD in September 2010.  Orphan drug designation, which is intended to facilitate drug development, provides substantial potential benefits to the sponsor, including funding for certain clinical studies, study-design assistance, tax incentives and seven years of market exclusivity for the product upon regulatory approval.

Data highlights from the study include:

• The majority of patients participating in the study received transplants from unrelated donors (19 of 36), and nearly all of the patients received peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplants (34 of 36), both of which are associated with a higher risk of GvHD;
• All patients experienced successful neutrophil engraftment (median time of engraftment 15 days), and 86% of patients experienced successful platelet engraftment (median time of engraftment 16 days) which compares favorably to historical clinical experience for this patient population demonstrating a positive impact on blood and immune system recovery;
• Substantial reduction in acute GvHD incidence, relative to historical experience, at the highest single dose (11% grade II-IV GvHD, and 0% grade III-IV GvHD);
• Evidence of a dose response relationship, with patients receiving the highest single dose of MultiStem having a 33% lower absolute incidence of acute GvHD relative to patients who received a single low or medium dose, and patients receiving once weekly dosing of the medium dose through the first 30 days having reduced GvHD incidence relative to single or weekly dosing over the first two weeks post-transplant;
• Favorable relapse-free survival (RFS) rate at 100 days among all patients receiving MultiStem treatment relative to the historical clinical experience; and
• Limited infection-related complications over the first 100 days relative to historical clinical experience, consistent with the positive effect on engraftment rates.

Dr. Richard Maziarz, M.D., co-principal investigator of this study and Medical Director, Adult Stem Cell Transplantation Program at the Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute, commented, “The results from this study are encouraging, and suggest that MultiStem therapy could provide clinical benefit to patients receiving allogeneic stem cell transplants.  These patients are susceptible to GvHD and other complications from standard treatment regimens, and the data suggest that treatment with MultiStem could provide clinical benefits in several important ways.  The data certainly justify additional clinical investigation, and I look forward to subsequent clinical studies to explore how MultiStem can help these individuals.”  The study results are being presented at the annual American Society for Bone Marrow Transplantation Tandem meeting in San Diego, California.

“We believe the results of this study are meaningful and suggest that administration of MultiStem could provide substantial benefits to patients receiving hematopoietic transplants, especially those patients that are traditionally considered to be in higher risk categories, such as those receiving transplants from unrelated donors or receiving peripheral blood stem cell transplants, both of which have historically been associated with a higher risk of GvHD,” said Gil Van Bokkelen, CEO of Athersys, Inc. “We believe that these results could provide the basis for advancing this program clinically in an accelerated manner, and we look forward to discussing the data with the FDA.”

Continued Development

These clinical results provide the foundation for further, accelerated development of MultiStem for the prevention and reduction of GvHD.  Following final review of the data, and subject to input from its key scientific and clinical advisers, Athersys plans to meet with the FDA to discuss plans for the next phase of clinical development, which could include a blinded, controlled phase II/III study of MultiStem for GvHD prophylaxis and HSCT support.  The study would be intended to help lay the groundwork for approval in this indication, but would also help continue to establish the scientific foundation for MultiStem in related areas including GvHD treatment, solid organ transplant and other areas of immune system dysfunction.

Safety Results

During the first 48 hours following MultiStem administration, patients were assessed for infusion-related toxicity and other acute adverse events.  The primary endpoint for the study was the determination of the maximum tolerated dose, as determined by a continual reassessment methodology.  Regimen-related toxicities and infusion-related allergic toxicities through 30 days after MultiStem administration were also monitored.  Additionally, patients were evaluated for adverse events and infections through 100 days following the HSCT.

The administration of MultiStem was found to be well tolerated for all dosing groups in both the single and repeat dose administration arms.  Immediately following dosing, there were no clinically significant changes to vital signs or evidence of allergic reaction associated with MultiStem administration.  Over the 30-day observation period, no infusional toxicities or clinically significant adverse events definitively related to MultiStem occurred.

MultiStem had a favorable safety profile over the 100-day period following the HSCT.  There were no graft failures, which compares favorably with historical graft failure rates of 5–15% for these types of patients.  Of the 36 patients in the study, 30 patients completed 100 day follow-up and there were 6 withdrawals, including 2 relapses and 3 deaths (unrelated to treatment).  Other serious adverse events in the first 100 days were consistent with expectations for this patient population.

HSCT Support Highlights

While the primary objective of this Phase I clinical trial was to evaluate the safety of MultiStem administered to HSCT recipients, additional data regarding secondary endpoints, GvHD incidence, infection and survival, have been collected and are being evaluated for safety and evidence of efficacy signals to facilitate planning for subsequent clinical studies.  Specifically, following MultiStem administration, patients were assessed weekly by the attending physician for GvHD (and regimen-related toxicities), and information regarding infections and adverse events was collected as they occurred, through day 100.

Overall, MultiStem treatment was associated with a positive impact on blood and immune system recovery, as compared to expectations for this patient population based on historical experience and scientific literature, with 100% neutrophil and 86% platelet engraftment for study patients.  The median time to engraftment was 15 days for neutrophils and 16 days for platelets.

The cumulative incidence of acute GvHD for all subjects enrolled in the study (i.e. irrespective of administered dose) was generally in line with expectations for this patient population based on historical experience and scientific literature, using Kaplan-Meier estimates censored for study withdrawal due to relapse and death.  However, in the highest single dose group (10 million cells per kilogram body weight, infused on day 2 following HSCT), the 100-day cumulative incidence of moderate to severe acute GvHD was just 11%, which compares favorably with historical experience for this patient population (generally 40-60% grade II-IV GvHD), and, among the patients in this group, no patient developed severe GvHD.  Additionally, at the 5 million cells per kilogram body weight dose level, once weekly dosing of the intermediate dose through the first 30 days provided apparent additional benefit over single or weekly dosing over the first two weeks post-transplant.

Importantly, the incidence of infections and mortality over the observation period appear to be in line with or better than what would be expected for this high risk patient population.  Consistent with the positive impact on hematopoietic recovery, MultiStem was associated with a relatively low level of late stage infection and only one case of infection-related mortality occurred through 100 days, which compares favorably with historical experience with this patient population.  Overall, the Kaplan-Meier estimate of relapse-free survival at 100 days was 81%, compared to an expectation of around 65-70% based on published results from previously published clinical studies using comparable treatment approaches and patient groups.

About the Disease Condition and Study Design

Leukemia and certain related conditions are often treated with radiation and chemotherapy to eliminate cancerous or diseased cells, but this process also severely compromises the native blood forming and immune system in the patient, leaving them susceptible to infection and other complications.  To address this, a patient will often receive an allogeneic HSCT, whereby following radiation and chemotherapy treatment a patient’s blood stem cells are replaced with a transplant of hematopoietic stem cells obtained from the bone marrow or peripheral blood of a healthy donor.  Donors may be related or unrelated to the patient, but are matched according to tissue type in order to minimize the potential for GvHD, where donor immune cells transplanted with the donor HSCT attack tissue and organs of the patient. Following the transplant, the patient will often remain hospitalized in specialized units until successful engraftment provides a sufficiently functional immune system.

According to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, there are approximately 25,000 allogeneic HSCTs performed annually globally, although this number is projected to increase due to the anticipated growth in incidence of hematologic malignancies associated with an aging population.  While this treatment approach can be an effective medical therapy for these types of cancer, it is often associated with substantial tissue damage and side effects, such as GvHD. GvHD is a frequent complication associated with allogeneic HSCT, affecting approximately half or more of transplant recipients, and advanced GvHD can be severely debilitating or even fatal. Several factors affect a patient’s likelihood of having GvHD and GvHD severity, including the treatment protocol used, the degree of tissue match between donor and recipient (with lower GvHD rates and severity associated with related donors and better tissue matches), and the condition of the patient among other factors. In addition, higher GvHD rates are typically observed in patients receiving peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplants, as compared to patients receiving bone marrow-derived stem cell transplants.

The Phase I clinical trial was an open label, multi-center trial evaluating the safety and maximum tolerated dose of single or repeated dose administration of MultiStem following an allogeneic HSCT in patients being treated for leukemia or related cancers of the blood or immune system.  The single dose arm evaluated the infusion of a single dose of MultiStem administered intravenously two days following a peripheral blood or bone marrow HSCT, and included patients in three dose groups, based on cells per kilogram body weight — 1 million (n=6), 5 million (n=3) and 10 million (n=9).  The repeat dose arm evaluated patients enrolled in two groups – 1 million (n=3) and 5 million (n=3) per kilogram body weight – with MultiStem administration scheduled for days 2, 9 and 16 and in a third group (n=12) with MultiStem administration of 5 million per kilogram scheduled for days 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. The clinical trial was conducted at transplant centers in the United States and Europe, including the Oregon Health & Science University, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Texas Transplant Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Mayo Clinic Hospital Arizona, and UZ Leuven.

Twenty male and sixteen female subjects enrolled in the study, ranging in age from 20-62 years old.  Nineteen patients received HSCT from matched unrelated donors (MUD), including two with a slight degree of mismatch, and seventeen received HSCT from matched related donors (MRD). With respect to HSCT source, 34 grafts were from peripheral blood and two were from bone marrow, with 16 of 18 patients receiving PBSC transplants in the single dose arm of the study, and all 18 patients in the multiple dose arm of the study receiving PBSC transplants.  All patients received MultiStem therapy from the same product bank, reflecting MultiStem’s manufacturing scalability and shelf-life stability, an advantage over other cell therapies and an important potential commercial advantage for the company.

About MultiStem

MultiStem^® cell therapy is a patented product that has shown the ability to promote tissue repair and healing in a variety of ways, such as through the production of multiple therapeutic factors produced in response to signals of inflammation and tissue damage.  MultiStem has demonstrated therapeutic potential for the treatment of inflammatory and immune disorders, neurological conditions, and cardiovascular disease, as well as other areas, and represents a unique “off-the-shelf” stem cell product that can be manufactured in a scalable manner, may be stored for years in frozen form, and is administered without tissue matching or the need for immune suppression.  The product is extensively characterized for safety, consistency and potency.  Athersys has forged strategic partnerships with Pfizer Inc. to develop MultiStem for inflammatory bowel disease and with RTI Biologics, Inc. to develop cell therapy for use with a bone allograft product in the orthopedic market.

About Athersys

Athersys is a clinical stage biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of therapeutic product candidates designed to extend and enhance the quality of human life.  The Company is developing its MultiStem^® cell therapy product, a patented, adult-derived “off-the-shelf” stem cell product platform for disease indications in the cardiovascular, neurological, inflammatory and immune disease areas. The Company currently has several clinical stage programs involving MultiStem, including for treating inflammatory bowel disease, ischemic stroke, damage caused by myocardial infarction, and for the prevention of graft versus host disease. Athersys has also developed a diverse portfolio that includes other technologies and product development opportunities, and has forged strategic partnerships and collaborations with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as world-renowned research institutions in the United States and Europe to further develop its platform and products. More information is available at www.athersys.com.

The Athersys, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4548.

As President Obama prepares to submit his 2013 budget proposal,ALR Technologies executives have been regularly meeting with business leaders and policymakers nationwide to discuss how its innovative technology platform can both improve patient outcomes and curb spending. The Company’s senior leadership team is demonstrating how the company’s Internet-based diabetes management platform, HeC, uniquely supports mutual priorities around improved patient care, healthcare cost-containment, accountability, and job creation.

ALR Technologies President and Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Weinstein, stated, “Health-e-Connect has enormous potential to impact the fight against diabetes, one of the most common — and expensive — chronic diseases facing the nation today. One in ten Americans is diagnosed with diabetes and the cost to the U.S. is estimated at $174 billion annually, according to the American Diabetes Association. Since receiving our 510(k) clearance, we have made great progress in conveying the benefits of the HeC system to elected officials and industry leaders. In late 2011, we relocated our headquarters to Richmond, Virginia, keeping us centrally located for the ongoing meetings and presentations. The relationships that we have been building is putting us closer to what we believe will be a very successful product launch in 2012.”

“There are many reasons that diabetes is so costly, including disease prevalence, poor patient adherence, and lack of accountability around blood glucose self-testing supplies covered by both public and private payers,” added Sidney S. Chan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at ALR Technologies. “Recent reports from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (available to the public at http://oig.hhs.gov), indicate the loss of nearly $218 million annually from the Medicare program attributed to poor documentation around self-testing supplies. These statistics do not account for losses incurred by Medicaid or private payers. Improving accountability around diabetes self-glucose testing supplies alone could save the U.S. healthcare delivery system billions of dollars over the next five years.”

Mr. Chan continued, “A recent study from the Temple University School of Pharmacy indicates that the U.S. could save up to $8.1 billion annually by improving patient adherence to diabetes treatment plans. Currently, there is very little oversight around the buying, selling and appropriate use of diabetes self-glucose testing supplies. Attempts at oversight are fragmented, primarily paper-based, and rely on unverifiable patient reporting. Our HeC system provides solutions to overcome these obstacles and potentially save the country billions of dollars while providing better healthcare for its citizens. We feel that the timing could not be better for our company and shareholders as we are emerging as a leader in the chronic disease management space.”

While the Health-e-Connect platform has been initially configured to support diabetes management initiatives, the technology has vast potential to assist in the management of a variety of chronic disease therapies.

About ALR Technologies Inc.
ALRT Health-e-Connect (HeC) System is the principal product of the Company. HeC is a web-based patient management platform for medical professionals to improve compliance and management of care plans of patients in their homes. HeC is currently programmed to assist healthcare providers caring for diabetes patients. The platform will be expanded to cover patients with other chronic diseases. More information on ALR Technologies and its products can be found athttp://www.alrt.com.

This release contains certain “forward-looking statements” relating to ALR Technologies’ business, and these statements reflect the current views of ALR Technologies with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. When used, the words “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. There are many factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of ALR Technologies and its products to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Further management discussions of risks and uncertainties can be found in the Company’s quarterly filings with the Securities Exchange Commission.

Athersys, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATHX), a leader in the emerging field of regenerative medicine, announced today grant funding aggregating $3.6 million to further advance its MultiStem^(R) product programs and cell therapy platform. Specifically, Athersys was awarded a SBIR Fast-Track grant of up to $1.9 million from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke(NINDS) to develop MultiStem for the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI). In addition, Athersys’ subsidiary based in Belgium, ReGenesys BVBA, was awarded a $1.2 million (EURO0.9 million) grant from the Belgium’s Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT) to further develop cell therapy formulations and manufacturing capabilities. The company has also been awarded funding recently to work in other areas, such as using MultiStem to treat chronic cardiovascular disease.

“These grant awards provide us with additional funding to support further development of MultiStem in specific therapeutic areas, as well as enhance our manufacturing platform,” said Dr. Gil Van Bokkelen, Athersys Chairman & CEO. “Historically, we have been very successful at obtaining this type of funding, which reflects our commitment to outstanding science and technology development, and development of innovative new therapies.”

NINDS TBI Grant

The work under the NINDS grant to develop MultiStem for the treatment of TBI will be conducted in collaboration with researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School. The research program will include preclinical safety and efficacy studies required to support an Investigational New Drug (IND) application and the clinical investigation of MultiStem treatment of TBI.

TBI is a serious clinical problem that affects young people, members of the armed services and other adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are nearly 1.4 million emergency room visits each year as a result of TBI, resulting in 275,000 hospitalizations and 52,000 deaths annually.

“Based on the results from studies conducted with our collaborators, we believe MultiStem could have a significant impact in treating damage from acute neurological injury, such as TBI, ischemic stroke and other indications,” said Dr. Van Bokkelen.

Dr. Charles Cox, Jr., who directs the multi-disciplinary effort at UTHealth Medical School that is focused on stem cell therapy for traumatic brain injury and related neurological injuries, will lead the collaboration with Athersys. “Our prior work with Athersys has demonstrated that MultiStem modulates the inflammatory component of secondary brain injury in preclinical models of TBI,” said Dr. Cox, professor of pediatric surgery at UTHealth and director of the pediatric trauma program at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. “This is an area of tremendous unmet medical need, which carries both a high cost burden, as well as impacting patient and family quality of life. We will build on this promising work to advance the application of this cell therapy into clinical studies.”

IWT Grant

The IWT grant will fund a product and process development program undertaken in Belgium by ReGenesys, Athersys’ affiliate. A principal focus of these efforts will be the continued development of serum-free formulations for the manufacture of MultiStem and related cell therapy products. ReGenesys researchers will collaborate with researchers from the Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, as well as certain corporate partners to complete the program.

“Our ReGenesys affiliate plays a significant role in the development of improved process and manufacturing approaches for cell therapy products,” said William Lehmann, President and COO of Athersys, and Manager of ReGenesys. “We expect this grant-funded work to have substantial impact on product manufacturing and clinical development in Europe and globally.”

About MultiStem

MultiStem^(R) cell therapy is a patented product that has shown the ability to promote tissue repair and healing in a variety of ways, such as through the production of multiple therapeutic factors produced in response to signals of inflammation and tissue damage. MultiStem has demonstrated therapeutic potential for the treatment of inflammatory and immune disorders, neurological conditions, and cardiovascular disease, as well as other areas, and represents a unique “off-the-shelf” stem cell product that can be manufactured in a scalable manner, may be stored for years in frozen form, and is administered without tissue matching or the need for immune suppression. The product is extensively characterized for safety, consistency and potency. Athersys has forged strategic partnerships with Pfizer Inc. to develop MultiStem for inflammatory bowel disease and with RTI Biologics, Inc. to develop cell therapy for use with a bone allograft product in the orthopedic market.

About Athersys

Athersys is a clinical stage biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of therapeutic product candidates designed to extend and enhance the quality of human life. The Company is developing its MultiStem^(R) cell therapy product, a patented, adult-derived “off-the-shelf” stem cell product platform for disease indications in the cardiovascular, neurological, inflammatory and immune disease areas. The Company currently has several clinical stage programs involving MultiStem, including for treating inflammatory bowel disease, ischemic stroke, damage caused by myocardial infarction, and for the prevention of graft versus host disease. Athersys has also developed a diverse portfolio that includes other technologies and product development opportunities, and has forged strategic partnerships and collaborations with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as world-renowned research institutions in the United States and Europe to further develop its platform and products. More information is available at www.athersys.com.

Cardium Therapeutics (Amex: CXM) today reported on new insights and confirmatory preclinical study results on the Generx (Ad5FGF-4) angiogenic therapy product candidate based on the Company’s sponsored research conducted at Emory University.  The findings, which provide further support for the apparent safety and effectiveness of Generx as a potential one-time non-surgical approach to the treatment of coronary heart disease, are being presented at the Phacilitate Annual Gene and Cell Therapy Forum held January 30 – February 1, 2012 in Washington, DC.

The recent preclinical findings demonstrate that induced transient ischemia, using a standard angioplasty balloon catheter, combined with the intracoronary co-infusion of nitroglycerin, substantially enhanced adenovector-mediated gene delivery to the heart.  These findings have been incorporated into the protocol for the planned 100-patient Generx (Ad5FGF-4) ASPIRE Phase 3 registration study which, as previously reported, is expected be initiated in the first quarter 2012.  The YouTube video “Cardium Generx Cardio-Chant” provides an overview of the Company’s Generx (Ad5FGF-4) product candidate,

The new data underscore the expected benefit of Cardium’s improved adenovector administration methods that combine non-surgical, percutaneous balloon catheter-based delivery with transiently-induced ischemia and nitroglycerin to enhance uptake leading to improved microvascular circulation in the heart. By increasing cell transfection efficiency, this modified approach allows for effectively obtaining additional targeted expression of growth factors within the ischemic heart, where the resulting angiogenesis or blood vessel growth can bring about improved blood flow throughout the ischemic myocardium.  Traditional interventional cardiology approaches such as coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) or angioplasty and stenting (PCI), not only require invasive and costly surgical procedures but they can only directly target selected vulnerable spots in larger vessels that are susceptible to treatment and reachable through mechanical intervention.

Another important outcome of these preclinical studies was the confirmation that intracoronary infusion of an adenovector directly to the ischemic region of the left ventricle caused no myocardial inflammation or any other untoward effects. These Cardium-sponsored studies were undertaken by researchers at the Carlyle Cardiothoracic Surgery Center at Emory University, Atlanta.  The presentation given at the Annual Gene and Cell Therapy Forum entitled “ASPIRE Trial: A Phase 3 Pivotal Registration Trial Incorporating Preclinical and Clinical Lessons Learned in the Past Decade”, is now available for viewing on the Generx section of Cardium’s website at http://www.cardiumthx.com/generx.html.

“Cardium has established the world’s largest clinical database on a DNA-based interventional cardiovascular therapeutic derived from clinical studies in over 650 patients with coronary artery disease that have been conducted at over 100 medical centers in the United States, South America and Western Europe.  Our extensive preclinical and clinical studies have also identified cardiac ischemia as a key factor for the successful use of non-surgical DNA-based angiogenic therapy.  The observation that myocardial ischemia is a necessary condition for both the effective delivery and therapeutic effectiveness of Generx is a very positive one, and has favorable implications for the potential utility of Generx in the treatment of coronary heart disease.  The new findings confirming that our modified delivery procedures have the potential to substantially improve adenovector uptake further support the expected value of our ASPIRE Phase 3 registration study, which employs these techniques in targeted patients with coronary artery disease who have the potential to be best served by our Generx angiogenic therapy,” stated Christopher J. Reinhard, Cardium’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Generx ASPIRE Clinical Study

The Company has received clearance from the Russian Ministry of Health and Social Development to commence a Phase 3 registration study for the Company’s Generx™ (alferminogene tadenovec, Ad5FGF-4) biologic product candidate, which is expected to begin patient enrollment in the first quarter 2012.  Generx is a new and innovative DNA-based angiogenic therapy designed for the potential treatment of myocardial ischemia due to coronary artery disease. The Russian Health Authority has assigned Generx the therapeutic drug trade name of Cardionovo™ for marketing and sales in Russia.

This newly approved clinical study (ASPIRE) is a randomized, controlled, parallel group, multi-center study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Cardium’s Generx product candidate using SPECT imaging to measure improvements in microvascular cardiac perfusion following a one-time, non-surgical, catheter-based administration of Generx DNA-based angiogenic therapy.  As designed, the ASPIRE clinical study is expected to enroll approximately 100 men and women with myocardial ischemia due to coronary artery disease at up to six leading medical centers in Moscow.  The study’s primary efficacy endpoint will be the improvement in reversible perfusion defect size as measured by SPECT imaging.

The ASPIRE study will represent the fifth clinical study under Generx’s clinical development program that when completed will have enrolled more than 750 patients at over 100 medical centers throughout the U.S., Canada, South America, Western Europe and Russia.  Based on the specified clearance for the Russian Health Authority, with positive safety and efficacy data from this single registration study, Cardium’s Russian sponsor and development partner, Advanced Biosciences Research, an affiliate of the contract research organization bioRASI, would be in a position to consider the submission of an application for marketing and sales of Generx in the Russian Federation, and to advance forward with applications and submissions seeking approval for marketing and sales of Generx in certain other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, comprising former republics under the Soviet Union.  The ASPIRE study could also provide additional clinical evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of Generx that would be useful for optimizing and broadening commercial development pathways in other industrialized countries.

Positive results from the prior Phase 2a clinical study (Grines et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2003; 42:1339-47) showed that Generx improved myocardial blood flow in the ischemic region of the hearts of men and women following a single intracoronary infusion as measured by the objective efficacy endpoint of SPECT imaging.  As noted in the publication, the mean change observed in Generx-treated patients was a 4.2% absolute reduction (which represents a 20% relative reduction) in the reversible perfusion defect size from baseline at eight weeks (p<0.001), while the placebo group showed only a 1.6% absolute reduction from baseline (not significant) at eight weeks following treatment.  The observed treatment effect for patients receiving Generx was similar in magnitude to that reported in the literature for patients undergoing angioplasty/stent or revascularization procedures with reversible perfusion defects of comparable size at one year following these procedures.

An independent long-term prospective study published in Circulation (Meier et al, Circ. 2007; 116:975-983) provided key evidence indicating that men and women with more recruitable collateral circulation have a better chance of surviving a heart attack than patients who have less developed collateral circulation.  This important study quantitatively evaluated coronary collateral blood flow in 845 patients with coronary artery disease during a 10-year follow-up period and showed that long-term cardiac mortality was approximately 66% lower in patients with a highly developed collateral vessel blood supply (p=0.019).  For the first time, this study showed the importance of collateral circulation beyond simply the relief of angina and provided further support of the potential for long term benefits from angiogenic therapy.

About Cardium

Cardium is focused on the acquisition and strategic development of new and innovative bio-medical product opportunities and businesses with the potential to address significant unmet medical needs that have definable pathways to commercialization, partnering and other economic monetizations.  Cardium’s current medical opportunities portfolio, which is focused on health sciences and regenerative medicine, includes the Tissue Repair Company, Cardium Biologics, and the Company’s in-house MedPodium Health Sciences healthy lifestyle product platform.  Cardium’s lead commercial product Excellagen™ topical gel for advanced wound care management, has recently received FDA clearance for marketing and sale in the United States.  Cardium’s lead clinical development product candidate Generx® is a DNA-based angiogenic biologic intended for the treatment of patients with myocardial ischemia due to coronary artery disease.  In addition, consistent with its capital-efficient business model, Cardium continues to actively evaluate new technologies and business opportunities.  In July 2009, Cardium completed the sale of its InnerCool Therapies medical device business to Royal Philips Electronics, the first asset monetization from the Company’s biomedical investment portfolio. News from Cardium is located at www.cardiumthx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for statements of historical fact, the matters discussed in this press release are forward looking and reflect numerous assumptions and involve a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from stated expectations.  For example, there can be no assurance that enhancements in the uptake of adenovectors can be successfully applied to improve the uptake or therapeutic effects of Generx in human patients; that Generx can be successfully advanced in clinical studies outside of the U.S.; that results or trends observed in one clinical study or procedure will be reproduced in subsequent studies or procedures, or that clinical studies even if successful will lead to product advancement or partnering; that improvements in the formulation or use of Generx will be commercially practicable, or that Generx could be successfully advanced as a therapeutic in developing markets or that the results of studies in such markets could be used to advance or broaden the regulatory or commercialization activities of Generx in the U.S. or other markets; that the ASPIRE clinical study will be successful or will lead to approval of Generx by the Russian Health Authority for marketing and sales in Russia or lead to approvals in other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States; that additional clinical evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of Generx that might be obtained in Russia would be useful for optimizing and broadening commercial development pathways in other industrialized countries; that our products or product candidates will not be unfavorably compared to competitive products that may be regarded as safer, more effective, easier to use or less expensive; that FDA or other regulatory clearances or other certifications, or other commercialization efforts will be successful or will effectively enhance our businesses or their market value; that our products or product candidates will prove to be sufficiently safe and effective after introduction into a broader patient population; or that third parties on whom we depend will perform as anticipated.

Actual results may also differ substantially from those described in or contemplated by this press release due to risks and uncertainties that exist in our operations and business environment, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties that are inherent in the development of complex biologics and in the conduct of human clinical trials, including the timing, costs and outcomes of such trials, our ability to obtain necessary funding, regulatory approvals and expected qualifications, our dependence upon proprietary technology, our history of operating losses and accumulated deficits, our reliance on collaborative relationships and critical personnel, and current and future competition, as well as other risks described from time to time in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  We undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof.

UBS Investment Bank and Leerink Swann LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Lazard Capital Markets LLC, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and Rodman & Renshaw, LLC are acting as co-managers for the offering.

A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 26, 2012.

Copies of the final prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained by contacting UBS Investment Bank, Attention: Prospectus Department, 299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10171, (888) 827-7275, or Leerink Swann LLC, Attention: Syndicate Department, One Federal Street, 37th Floor, Boston, MA 02110, (800) 808-7525, ext. 4814.

InvestorStemCell.com strongly believes that validation in regenerative medicine using human embryonic stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, and bone marrow stromal stem cells, also called mesenchymal stem cells, is likely in 2012. So what is validation? Validation can be of many forms. Is it safe? Will it ease suffering? Does it work as designed? This is efficacy, the 8 letter word that every company wants a peer reviewed journal to declare about its therapy.

The below publicly traded companies are nearing proof of concept and may achieve validation in 2012. They are off the radar, trading at near all-time lows, yet their science is on the cusp of validation. Many of the companies are at the halfway point in the 15-20 year cycle of research and development with the ultimate goal of commercialization of drug(s). If proof of concept is achieved, the investment capital of mainstream, institutional investors and retail investors will rush in and ultimately lift the company firmly out of the valley of death for good. If you are risk adverse I would advise looking elswhere for an investment. Clinical stage companies can provide excellent return on investment but are not for the faint of heart. If you can stomache volatility and risk for the unproven science of regenerative medicine and thus balance the reward then take a long look.

Aastrom Biosciences (NASDAQ:ASTM) Phase 3 Clinical Trial Critical Limb Ischemia
Trading at $1.91; near all-time lows
* Advanced Cell Technology (OTCBB:ACTC) Phase 1/2 U.S.-EU Trial for AMD and SMD
Trading at $0.15; near all-time lows
* Athersys, Inc.(NASDAQ:ATHX) Launching three Phase 2 trials in AMI, IBD,&stroke.
Trading at $2.00
• Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc (OTCBB:BCLI) Phase I/II for ALS in Israel
Trading at $0.26
• BioTime, Inc. (AMEX-BTX) Has 7 subsidiaries,positioned for explosive growth
Trading at $5.28
• Cytori Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CYTX) Advanced trial in EU for AMI-Cardiovascular
Trading at $2.73; near all-time lows
• Neuralstem, Inc.(NYSEAMEX:CUR) Phase 1 for ALS in US. FDA cervical region ok.
Trading at $1.08; near all-time lows

American CryoStem (OTCBB:CRYO) has just been added to the Investor Stem Cell watch list for 2012. The Company has a proprietary storage platform for adipose tissue. The emerging market of Bio-Insurance makes CRYO a likely growth opportunity for 2012.

Begin your research at Investor Stem Cell: www.InvestorStemCell.com the world’s only on-line message forum dedicated to stem cell investors.

• Disclaimer Our newsletter and website have been prepared for informational purposes only and are not intended to be used as a complete source of information on any particular company. An individual should never invest in the securities of any of the companies profiled based solely on information contained in a newsletter, website etc. Individuals should assume that all information contained in the report about profiled companies is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research.

About Investor Stem Cell
Investor Stem Cell is dedicated to bringing investors and stakeholders together in thoughtful discussion to educate and publicize the incredible advancements in the regenerative medicine sector.

Press Release Courtesy of Online PR Media: http://bit.ly/wPcSK6

The company recently announced an update to its ICT-107 clinical trial for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).  Patients are enrolling in 23 major clinical centers including the Arizona Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic, Moffitt Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Penn State, Baylor, UC San Diego, Northwestern, Rush University Medical Center, NYU Clinical Cancer Center, and others. The clinical centers currently recruiting for this clinical trial and enrollment criteria are listed at: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01280552?term=ICt-107&rank=1.

ICT-107 is the Company’s lead dendritic cell based cancer vaccine candidate targeting multiple tumor antigens on cancer stem cells for the treatment of GBM. The trial is expected to enroll approximately 160-200 patients to treat 102 patients with HLA-A1/A2 immunological subtypes. There are 115 patients enrolled in the study to date, ahead of the Company’s schedule. Enrollment for the trial is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2012 and an interim analysis is expected when 50% of events (32 deaths) have been observed.

The Phase I clinical study of ICT-107 in GBM, 16 newly diagnosed patients who received the vaccine in addition to standard of care of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, demonstrated two year overall survival of 80 percent and a three year survival of 55 percent. The most impressive part of this trial is six out of the 16 (37.6%) patients who received ICT-107 continue to show no tumor recurrence at the last analysis, with 3 of these patients (18.8%) remaining disease-free for more than 4 years.

If the Phase II data demonstrates similar results as phase I study, ICT-107 could change the treatment paradigm for the most aggressive brain cancers (GBM) which have eluded drug developers for the last 30 years.

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. (OTCBB: AMBS.OB), a biotechnology company developing MANF, a first-in-class disease–modifying therapeutic protein being developed for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease, today announced an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Power3 Medical Products, Inc. (OTCBB: PWRM.OB) for the NuroPro^® Blood Test as it relates to Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Concurrent with the license, Amarantus has raised $100,000 from a private, foreign investor introduced to the Company by www.tomorrowsbluechips.com.

The NuroPro Blood Test is Power3’s diagnostic platform for the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases. It is being developed as a tool to assist physicians to more accurately diagnose disease and monitor progression. The platform involves monitoring the concentration of 57 protein markers in blood serum identified to be linked to neurodegeneration in order to accurately detect and distinguish between Alzheimer’s disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), and Parkinson’s disease. Amarantus’ license is focused on the further development of a subset of 21 of these protein markers specifically targeting early diagnosis and ongoing monitoring of Parkinson’s disease.

The Parkinson’s disease application of the NuroPro Blood Test has completed proof-of-concept and Phase 1 clinical validation studies. Amarantus plans to initiate a Phase 2 clinical validation study in the first half of 2012 that is expected to last approximately six months. Management of the trial will be partnered to Power3 as part of its ongoing strategy to build its Clinical Research Organization business unit.

“The in-license of the NuroPro Blood Test for Parkinson’s disease expands our product offering as we strive to become the leader in the evaluation and treatment of Parkinson’s disease,” said Gerald Commissioning, President and CEO of Amarantus BioSciences. “Now that we will be able to tailor our therapeutic development pathway towards a companion diagnostic product that we control, Amarantus is positioned to build a strategic advantage over competitors as the execution of our clinical and regulatory strategy continues to advance MANF as a disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson’s disease. The Company was also recently awarded the composition of matter patent for MANF by the US Patent & Trademark Office, further enhancing our position in the field.”

Given the length of time it takes to accurately diagnose Parkinson’s disease and the relatively high early misdiagnosis rates, the development of a blood-based biomarker test is likely to generate significant interest among neurologists and primary care physicians as it will allow them to intervene at an earlier stage in disease progression. In addition, the NuroPro Blood test for Parkinson’s may generate partnering and revenue opportunities for Amarantus.

The terms of the agreement give Amarantus an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, have manufactured, use, market, sell and import medical devices and methods under the Power3 Parkinson’s Disease Intellectual Property (IP). In addition, the license provides Amarantus an exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid-up worldwide license to Power3 know-how, patents and patent applications which relate to medical devices and methods for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease as it relates to Parkinson’s disease.

Amarantus paid a $25,000 exclusivity fee in common stock on November 11, 2011 and will issue to Power3 $475,000 worth of common stock. In addition, Amarantus has an option to purchase all of the Parkinson’s Disease IP owned by Power3 for $500,000 worth of common stock and maintains a Right of First Refusal to acquire the balance of the NuroPro platform for Alzheimer’s, ALS and all other neurodegenerative diseases. The initial term of this License Agreement is for one year and is renewable upon mutual written agreement of the parties.

About MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor)

MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor) is a protein that corrects protein misfolding, one of the major causes of apoptosis (cell death). This property provides a compelling rationale for the research and development of MANF-based products as therapeutics for human disease. The lead MANF product development effort is centered on a therapy for Parkinson’s disease, currently funded by a research grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The Company also owns an inventory of 88 cell lines referred to as “PhenoGuard Cell Lines.” MANF was the first therapeutic protein discovered from a PhenoGuard Cell Line. It is anticipated that additional therapeutic proteins useful for various therapeutic approaches to the Central Nervous System will be identified from the Company’s inventory of PhenoGuard Cell Lines.

About Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. is a California-based development-stage biotechnology company founded in January 2008. The Company has a focus on developing certain biologics surrounding the intellectual property and proprietary technologies it owns to treat Parkinson’s disease and other human diseases. The Company owns the intellectual property rights to a therapeutic protein known as Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor (“MANF”). For further information please visit www.amarantus.com.

About Power3 Medical Products, Inc.

Power3 Medical Products, Inc. (OTCBB:PWRM.OB) is primarily engaged in commercializing its intellectual properties in the area of diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the possible benefits of MANF therapeutic applications and/or advantages presented by Amarantus’ PhenoGuard technology, as well as statements about expectations, plans and prospects of the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks that the anticipated benefits of the therapeutic drug candidates or discovery platforms, as well as the risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates, including those identified under “Risk Factors” in Amarantus’ most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other filings Amarantus periodically makes with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements Amarantus does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this presentation.

The Fight Against Cancer Recurrence

Cancer recurrence is simply the return of cancer after a period of remission. Cancer recurrence can be local (in the same place), regional (in lymph nodes), or distant (metastasized) in relation to the location of the original cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, about 10% to 20% of all cancer patients experience recurrence, typically within the first three to five years after initial treatment. However, in more aggressive cancers, such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a common form of brain cancer, tumors eventually recur in every patient, usually within less than a year.

What are Cancer Stem Cells?

Stem cells have the remarkable ability to develop into many different types of cells in the body during early life and growth. Moreover, they can serve as an internal repair system, dividing without limit to replenish other cells. When a stem cell divides, the new cell can either remain a stem cell or become a more specialized cell.

Conventional cancer treatments can eliminate cancer cells, but cancer stem cells have been shown to be more resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Even a few remaining cancer stem cells can continue to replicate and cause recurrence.

IMUC’s Cancer Immunotherapy ICT-107

IMUC has developed a unique treatment that targets cancer stem cells. In a Phase I study with GBM patients, the company’s lead product ICT-107 resulted in a median cancer remission time of 16.9 months.  The disease-free rate for the current standard of care, radiation and chemotherapy, is only 6.9 months. Six of the 16 patients in the trial remain free of disease after more than three years. More importantly, the three-year survival rate was 55% compared to 16% for historical controls.

In early 2011, IMUC began a Phase II trial with ICT-107 in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. The double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial will enroll approximately 160 patients at more than 20 sites around the U.S.  Enrollment is more than half completed, and the company expects to finish in Q2 2012. Management anticipates an interim analysis by the end of 2012 and final results near the end of 2013.

A Great Investment Opportunity

There’s growing evidence that cancer stem cells contribute to tumor recurrence, and IMUC’s cancer immunotherapy (ICT-107), which effectively targets cancer stem cells, has had very promising results in patients.

IMUC is not alone in believing that targeting cancer stem cells can significantly delay cancer recurrence. Verastem, a private biopharmaceutical company, backed by well-known venture capitalists, including MPM Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners, is also developing drugs that target cancer stem cells. Verastem has been able to raise almost $50 million and recently filed an S-1 for a proposed IPO.

IMUC management recently completed a financing round, increasing the company’s cash balance to over $15 million. The capital raise ensures enough money to last until the end of the Phase II study and funds additional studies in ovarian cancer and recurrent GBM. With a market capitalization of just $42 million, IMUC appears to be significantly undervalued compared to similar companies.

For more information on Immunocellular Therapeutics (OTCBB: IMUC) and other drug candidates in the company’s pipeline, please see the following resources:

• Company Website
• Recent SEC Filings

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. (OTCBB:AMBS.OB), a biotechnology company developing Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor (MANF), a first-in-class disease–modifying therapeutic protein, today announced a commitment by 11-year National Football League (NFL) Veteran and Pro Bowler Corey Chavous as well as former NFL safety and CEO of The Brewer Group Companies, Jack Brewer to support the further research of the treatments of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), including the current work being done by Amarantus BioSciences.

This announcement coincides with Brewer Sports International’s recent funding of a pre-clinical study by Amarantus evaluating their asset MANF as a potential treatment for TBI.

“Concussion management is a serious issue affecting athletes in a wide variety of sports and other activities, and we are grateful to have the continued support from Brewer Sports International and various professional athletes who are directly affected by Traumatic Brain Injury as we test MANF against this debilitating condition,” said Gerald Commissiong, President and CEO of Amarantus.

Chavous was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of 1998 NFL Draft and played 11 years in the NFL for three different teams (Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Rams), primarily as a safety but also as a cornerback. Known as one of the most instinctive safeties of his era, Chavous earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2003. During his NFL career, he was also a regular NFL draft television analyst and is the Founder and President of the media company and website DraftNasty.com.

“As an ex-NFL player, I personally have experienced hundreds of violent collisions throughout my career and also have several teammates and friends who suffer the lasting effects of Traumatic Brain Injury,” said Corey Chavous, NFL alumni and President of DraftNasty.com. “I am committed to helping advance TBI research and development and am hopeful that our support will raise awareness and new technology for the treatment of brain injury and concussions.”

Brewer Sports International (BSI) CEO Jack Brewer played for five years in the NFL, retiring in 2007. Many of BSI’s professional athlete clientele participate in sports where concussions are prevalent, and the firm maintains a strong desire to advance research and awareness in the area and will continue to bring on athlete ambassadors to support this effort. The Amarantus study targeting TBI fits this focus and if the initial study is positive, Brewer will also help Amarantus identify additional funding channels to support further studies.

About MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor)

MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor) is a protein that corrects protein misfolding, one of the major causes of apoptosis (cell death). This property provides a compelling rationale for the research and development of MANF-based products as therapeutics for human disease. The lead MANF product development effort is centered on a therapy for Parkinson’s disease, currently funded by a research grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The Company also owns an inventory of 88 cell lines referred to as “PhenoGuard Cell Lines.” MANF was the first therapeutic protein discovered from a PhenoGuard Cell Line. It is anticipated that additional therapeutic proteins useful for various therapeutic approaches to the Central Nervous System (CNS) will be identified from the Company’s inventory of PhenoGuard Cell Lines.

About Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. is a California-based development-stage biotechnology company founded in January 2008. The Company has a focus on developing certain biologics surrounding the intellectual property and proprietary technologies it owns to treat Parkinson’s disease and other human diseases. The Company owns the intellectual property rights to a therapeutic protein known as Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor (“MANF”). For further information please visit www.amarantus.com.

About Brewer Sports International

Brewer Sports International (BSI) offers a boutique of sports lending, corporate advisory and entertainment services for professional athletes, sports agencies, public and private corporations and various partners including international organizations, governments and NGOs. Based in Minneapolis, with offices in New York, Dallas, Beijing and the Caribbean, BSI was founded by Jack Brewer, a five-year National Football League (NFL) veteran and former team captain on three NFL teams. Additionally, BSI has created a unique financial services platform that is offered to professional athletes and sports agencies, as well as high net worth individuals and businesses touching professional sports. BSI takes pride in building value for its clients through sports and entertainment. For more information, please visit www.brewersports.com .

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the possible benefits of MANF therapeutic applications and/or advantages presented by Amarantus’ PhenoGuard technology, as well as statements about expectations, plans and prospects of the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks that the anticipated benefits of the therapeutic drug candidates or discovery platforms, as well as the risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates, including those identified under “Risk Factors” in Amarantus’ most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other filings Amarantus periodically makes with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements Amarantus does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this presentation.

Meanwhile, diabetes is becoming a growing problem around the world. By some estimates, 500 million people, or 1 in 10 adults, will have diabetes by 2030. For more information on these trends and statistics, investors can see the following article:

http://www.pitchengine.com/watervilleresearch/500-million-or-1-in-10-adults-will-have-diabetes-by-2030

Undervalued Stock in an Enormous Industry

ALR Technologies has a market capitalization of just $18 million, despite having a late-stage medical device within a multi-billion dollar industry. According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 25.8 million adults and children have the disease in the U.S., which represents some 8.3% of the population as of 2011 and cost some $174 billion in 2007.

Despite its growing prevalence, many forms of diabetes are preventable. According to the National Institutes of Health, studies have shown that people at high risk for diabetes can prevent or delay onset of the disease by losing 5-7% of their weight. And even if they have diabetes, many of its complications can be avoided by adhering to a diabetes management plan.

The problem is that many people don’t follow their diabetes management plan. Diabetes patients are responsible for more than 95% of their own care and many healthcare professionals express frustration that patients don’t follow diet or exercise plans, check blood sugars or even take their medications as prescribed.

HeC System Makes a World of Difference

ALR Technologies’ Health-e-Connect (HeC) System is an internet-based platform for diabetes patients and their healthcare providers to improve communication and monitoring of a patient’s health management program.  For instance, the software will upload data from a patient’s glucose meter into a database that allows healthcare providers to quickly assess user compliance and test results compared to targets.

In August 2010, Diabetes Care published the results of a trial conducted by Dr. Hugh Tildesley, et al, comparing insulin dependent diabetes patients receiving conventional care with patients that had additional follow-up via an internet based blood glucose monitoring system (IBGMS). The HeC System was the IBGMS deployed in the trial. The study showed A1c dropping from 8.8% to 7.6% over 6 months in the diabetes patients who had the additional IBGMS follow-up. The A1c test is important in diabetes treatment management as a long-term measure of control over blood glucose. In general, every 1% drop in A1c may reduce the risk of microvascular complications by 40%.

In July of 2010, the company submitted a 510(k) application to the FDA for its proprietary HeC System to enable it to market the technology in the U.S. On October 17, 2011, ALR Technologies announced the 510(k) clearance of its HeC system for remote monitoring of patients in support of diabetes management.

A Solid Investment Opportunity

ALR Technologies represents an early stage investment opportunity. With a 510(k) cleared medical device available for the market, the company’s $18 million market capitalization may be significantly undervalued.  Given the efficacy of IBGMS as reported by Dr. Hugh Tildesley, et al, the sales potential of the HeC system could be very large.

For more information on ALR Technologies, please see the following resources:

• Company Website
• Latest SEC Filings

Amarantus BioSciences Inc. (OTCBB:AMBS) is a biopharmaceutical company that has discovered a revolutionary therapeutic protein that could change the way many major diseases are treated. Recently, the biotech company released a video interview with its CEO, Gerald Commissiong that covers its development of MANF. Unlike Insmed Inc. (Nasdaq:INSM) or Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXN), MANF works by reversing the properties of cell apoptosis, which has shown strong signs of efficacy in a wide range of conditions. Recently, the company updated shareholders on its expanded corporate strategy and execution.

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. released news on January 3, 2012 providing shareholders with an update on the execution of its expanded corporate strategy first announced on November 1st 2011 to position Amarantus as a neurology-focused biotechnology company. Since that time, the Company has:

Received grant funding for a Traumatic Brain Injury collaboration with Banyan Biomarkers from Brewer Sports International;

Recruited seasoned neurology executive Mark Benedyk, PhD to advise the company on strategy and business development efforts;

Received positive feedback on the Company’s updated business plan from investors who attended the Company’s presentation at the National Investment Banking Association conference in Las Vegas, NV on December 1st, 2011.

“Amarantus has made good progress since the announcement of the Company’s expanded corporate strategy, and management will work diligently to cause this trend will continue into 2012,” said Gerald Commissiong, Amarantus’ newly appointed President and CEO. “We will continue to focus our efforts on securing additional corporate partnerships, improving our pipeline and adding seasoned neurology-focused executives to the executive team in order to diligently build shareholder value and improve the standard of care for patients.”

Amarantus believes that it has a unique opportunity to effect meaningful improvements in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease for millions of patients worldwide. The Company expects to release additional results to the marketplace from its lead program for Parkinson’s disease in the first half of 2012.

About MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor)

MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor) is a protein that corrects protein misfolding, one of the major causes of apoptosis (cell death). This property provides a compelling rationale for the research and development of MANF-based products as therapeutics for human disease. The lead MANF product development effort is centered on a therapy for Parkinson’s disease, currently funded by a research grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The Company also owns an inventory of 88 cell lines referred to as “PhenoGuard Cell Lines.” MANF was the first therapeutic protein discovered from a PhenoGuard Cell Line. It is anticipated that additional therapeutic proteins useful for various therapeutic approaches to the Central Nervous System will be identified from the Company’s inventory of PhenoGuard Cell Lines.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the possible benefits of MANF therapeutic applications and/or advantages presented by Amarantus’ PhenoGuard technology, as well as statements about expectations, plans and prospects of the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks that the anticipated benefits of the therapeutic drug candidates or discovery platforms, as well as the risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates, including those identified under “Risk Factors” in Amarantus’ most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other filings Amarantus periodically makes with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements Amarantus does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this presentation.

Cardium Therapeutics (Amex: CXM) today announced that it has entered into its first international agreement for the commercialization of Excellagen™ in the South Korean market. Cardium entered into a marketing and distribution agreement with BL&H Co. Ltd., an established pharmaceutical company based in Korea, for the commercialization of Excellagen Formulated Fibrillar Collagen Gel in the South Korean market under a transfer price arrangement as further described below.

“With our successful regulatory clearance of Excellagen by the FDA, and production of commercial supplies in process, we look forward to initiating commercialization of Excellagen with strategic and distribution partners having access to podiatrists and other wound care specialists,” stated Christopher J. Reinhard , Chairman and CEO of Cardium Therapeutics. “In that regard, we are pleased to announce the first of what we plan to be a series of marketing and distribution agreements with commercialization partners in the U.S. and other markets consistent with Cardium’s business model.”

Under the BL&H agreement, Cardium will manufacture and supply Excellagen to BL&H at an up-front transfer price which will be 40% of the sales price based on reimbursement pricing to be established for the South Korean market.  BL&H will be responsible for all costs related to regulatory filings, as well as sales, marketing and distribution activities.  The Korea Food and Drug Administration registration process is adaptive to products that have received U.S. FDA clearance and the registration and reimbursement pricing process can typically be completed within about a year from application.  As part of the regulatory process in Korea, BL&H plans to provide the health authorities with the findings of Cardium’s Matrix clinical study, which showed that formulated collagen can significantly accelerate reductions in wound radius immediately following application compared to standard of care therapy in diabetic foot ulcers, and can support platelet activation and release of the wound healing protein, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF).  These findings were published in the peer-reviewed official journal of the Wound Healing Society, Wound Repair and Regeneration, (2011) 19: 302-308, available at www.cardiumthx.com/pdf/ExcellagenPaper_WoundRepair.pdf.

About Excellagen™ Formulated Fibrillar Collagen Gel

Cardium recently received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market and sell its Excellagen™ professional-use, sterile, syringe-based wound care product for the management of diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers and other dermal wounds.  Excellagen is a highly-refined fibrillar flowable bovine collagen topical gel (2.6%) intended to support a favorable wound healing environment.  Excellagen is intended for use at one- to two-week intervals following surgical debridement (with weekly outer dressing changes) and will initially be supplied in the form of a kit consisting of four sterile, pre-filled, ready to use single-use syringes, each containing 0.5 cc of Excellagen formulated collagen topical gel (2.6%), and four sterile flexible applicators to facilitate topical administration to the wound site over a course of up to four treatments.  Detailed information about Excellagen, including the product’s directions for use, is available at www.excellagen.com and the investor presentation can be accessed at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=77949&p=irol-presentations.  An informational video, Excellagen: A New Wound Care Pathway, is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2GYCYc_8JE.

About BL&H Co. Ltd.

BL&H Co. Ltd. is a privately-owned pharmaceutical company based in South Korea.  BL&H was established in 1999 with the aim of becoming a leader in the delivery of pharmaceuticals and services that fulfill unmet medical needs in the Korean market.  The management team has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors and in bringing specialty products to market.

About Cardium

Cardium is focused on the acquisition and strategic development of new and innovative bio-medical product opportunities and businesses with the potential to address significant unmet medical needs that have definable pathways to commercialization, partnering and other economic monetizations.  Cardium’s current medical opportunities portfolio, which is focused on health sciences and regenerative medicine, includes the Tissue Repair Company, Cardium Biologics, and the Company’s in-house MedPodium Health Sciences healthy lifestyle product platform.  The Company’s lead commercial product Excellagen™ topical gel for wound care management, has recently received FDA clearance for marketing and sale in the United States.  Cardium’s lead clinical development product candidate Generx® is a DNA-based angiogenic biologic intended for the treatment of patients with myocardial ischemia due to coronary artery disease.  In addition, consistent with its capital-efficient business model, Cardium continues to actively evaluate new technologies and business opportunities.  In July 2009 , Cardium completed the sale of its InnerCool Therapies medical device business to Royal Philips Electronics, the first asset monetization from the Company’s biomedical investment portfolio. News from Cardium is located at www.cardiumthx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for statements of historical fact, the matters discussed in this press release are forward looking and reflect numerous assumptions and involve a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from stated expectations.  For example, there can be no assurance that we can successfully introduce Excellagen into wound care markets for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers or other dermal wounds; that Excellagen will be approved for commercialization in Korea or other international markets and sufficiently reimbursed; that we can have Excellagen or our other products manufactured in a successful and cost-effective manner; that we can attract suitable commercialization partners for our products or that such partners will successfully commercialize our products; that our exchange listing compliance can be reestablished and maintained; that our product or product candidates will not be unfavorably compared to other competitive products that may be regarded as safer, more effective, easier to use or less expensive; that results or trends observed in one clinical study or procedure will be reproduced in subsequent studies or procedures or in actual use; that clinical studies and regulatory clearances even if successful will lead to product advancement or partnering; that that FDA or other regulatory clearances or other certifications, or other commercialization efforts will effectively enhance our businesses or their market value; that our products or product candidates will prove to be sufficiently safe and effective after introduction into a broader patient population; that new collaborative partners will be found; that additional product opportunities will be established; or that that third parties on whom we depend will perform as anticipated.

Actual results may also differ substantially from those described in or contemplated by this press release due to risks and uncertainties that exist in our operations and business environment, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties that are inherent in the development of complex biologics and in the conduct of human clinical trials, including the timing, costs and outcomes of such trials, our ability to obtain necessary funding, regulatory approvals and expected qualifications, our dependence upon proprietary technology, our history of operating losses and accumulated deficits, our reliance on collaborative relationships and critical personnel, and current and future competition, as well as other risks described from time to time in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  We undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof.

Copyright 2012 Cardium Therapeutics, Inc.  All rights reserved.

For Terms of Use Privacy Policy, please visit www.cardiumthx.com.

Cardium Therapeutics®, Generx®, Cardionovo™, Tissue Repair™, Gene Activated Matrix™, GAM™, Excellagen™, Excellarate™, Osteorate™, MedPodium™, Appexium™, Linee™, Alena™, Cerex™, and Nutra-Apps™, Neo-Energy™, and Neo-Carb Bloc™ are trademarks of Cardium Therapeutics, Inc. or Tissue Repair Company.

(Other trademarks belong to their respective owners)

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. (OTCBB: AMBS.OB), a biotechnology company developing MANF, a first-in-class disease–modifying therapeutic protein, today provided shareholders with an update on the execution of its expanded corporate strategy, first announced on November 1st, 2011, to position Amarantus as a neurology-focused biotechnology company. Since that time, the Company has:

Received grant funding for a Traumatic Brain Injury collaboration with Banyan Biomarkers from Brewer Sports International;

Recruited seasoned neurology executive Mark Benedyk, PhD to advise the company on strategy and business development efforts;

Received positive feedback on the Company’s updated business plan from investors who attended the Company’s presentation at the National Investment Banking Association conference in Las Vegas, NV on December 1st, 2011.

“Amarantus has made good progress since the announcement of the Company’s expanded corporate strategy, and management will work diligently to cause this trend will continue into 2012,” said Gerald Commissiong, Amarantus’ newly appointed President and CEO. “We will continue to focus our efforts on securing additional corporate partnerships, improving our pipeline and adding seasoned neurology-focused executives to the executive team in order to diligently build shareholder value and improve the standard of care for patients.”

Amarantus believes that it has a unique opportunity to effect meaningful improvements in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease for millions of patients worldwide. The Company expects to release additional results to the marketplace from its lead program for Parkinson’s disease in the first half of 2012.

About MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor)

MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor) is a protein that corrects protein misfolding, one of the major causes of apoptosis (cell death). This property provides a compelling rationale for the research and development of MANF-based products as therapeutics for human disease. The lead MANF product development effort is centered on a therapy for Parkinson’s disease, currently funded by a research grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The Company also owns an inventory of 88 cell lines referred to as “PhenoGuard Cell Lines.” MANF was the first therapeutic protein discovered from a PhenoGuard Cell Line. It is anticipated that additional therapeutic proteins useful for various therapeutic approaches to the Central Nervous System will be identified from the Company’s inventory of PhenoGuard Cell Lines.

About Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. is a California-based development-stage biotechnology company founded in January 2008. The Company has a focus on developing certain biologics surrounding the intellectual property and proprietary technologies it owns to treat Parkinson’s disease and other human diseases. The Company owns the intellectual property rights to a therapeutic protein known as Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor (“MANF”). For further information please visit www.amarantus.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the possible benefits of MANF therapeutic applications and/or advantages presented by Amarantus’ PhenoGuard technology, as well as statements about expectations, plans and prospects of the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks that the anticipated benefits of the therapeutic drug candidates or discovery platforms, as well as the risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates, including those identified under “Risk Factors” in Amarantus’ most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other filings Amarantus periodically makes with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements Amarantus does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this presentation.

Cardium Therapeutics (NYSE Amex: CXM) today announced that it has entered into a cross-strategic investment agreement with SourceOne Global Partners, a leading supplier of exclusive science-based ingredients and proprietary formulas to the nutritional supplement and related functional food & beverage industries.  The Cardium and SourceOne agreement provides for the joint development and commercialization of customized nutritional supplements, as well as pharmaceuticals and medical foods based on SourceOne’s branded ingredients that include specialized formulations of EPA/DHA Omega-3 oils, Citrus Polymethoxylated Flavonoids (PMFs, which have been used for promoting cholesterol balance and health), Ubiquinol-QH (a specialized CoQ10 formulation), TocoSource® Palm Tocotrienols,  and VESIsorb® (which is designed to enhance bioavailability of a variety of nutraceutical ingredients and dietary supplements).*

“We are pleased to announce this cross-equity investment agreement with SourceOne Global Partners, a global nutritional business with an industry-wide reputation in the health markets,” stated Christopher J. Reinhard , Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cardium.  “We look forward to working collaboratively with SourceOne’s seasoned team to expand our MedPodium healthy lifestyle brand platform, and to identify, develop and commercialize customized nutritional supplements, as well as pharmaceuticals and medical foods through appropriate commercialization pathways.”

Jesse Lopez , founder and Chief Executive Officer of SourceOne Global Partners, commented, “We look forward to working with Cardium in the development of strategic and proprietary nutraceutical products, as well as pharmaceutical and medical food product candidates designed to support cardiovascular health. We believe Cardium’s extensive clinical research and development experience, combined with their business acumen, will be instrumental in expanding our leadership role in the nutritional marketplace.”

Under the agreement, Cardium has made a $0.75 million equity investment in the form of unregistered, restricted Cardium shares to acquire rights to a 15% ownership interest in SourceOne Global Partners.  Cardium’s ownership interest was acquired through the issuance into escrow of 1.5 million shares of Cardium common stock based on a $0.50 per share value representing a 70% premium above the closing price of Cardium stock on December 19 , 2011.  The shares would be held in escrow and subject to release in four allotments at 6, 9, 12 and 18 months following the closing date.  Cardium also has certain rights to maintain its proportionate ownership interest in SourceOne, and to acquire SourceOne in the event SourceOne were to receive an offer from a third-party acquiror.

In parallel with the cross-equity investment and acquisition of an ownership interest in SourceOne, Cardium also received a license for a portfolio of nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and medical food product opportunities for a licensing fee of $0.75 million , which SourceOne applied to the purchase of 1.5 million restricted shares of Cardium common stock at $0.50 per share, which shares are to be held in escrow for six months and subject to release at future dates thereafter based on Cardium’s advancement of certain jointly-developed products.  Under terms of the licensing arrangement, Cardium received a fully-paid-up license to commercialize formulations of various SourceOne ingredients to be marketed as nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and/or medical foods.  In addition, Cardium can designate up to ten products to be jointly developed by the partners, with cash and other resources to be contributed by both Cardium and SourceOne under a profit-share arrangement.

Medical foods, which are defined in Section 5(b) of the Orphan Drug Act, are formulated and administered under the supervision of a physician and are intended for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition.  There are a number of medical foods in pill and capsule form that are marketed and sold in the U.S. for disorders including depression, Alzheimer’s disease, osteopenia, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, central nervous system disorders and diabetic neuropathy.

About Cardium

Cardium is focused on the acquisition and strategic development of new and innovative bio-medical product opportunities and businesses with the potential to address significant unmet medical needs that have definable pathways to commercialization, partnering and other economic monetizations.  Cardium’s current medical opportunities portfolio, which is focused on health sciences and regenerative medicine, includes the Tissue Repair Company, Cardium Biologics, and the Company’s in-house MedPodium Health Sciences healthy lifestyle product platform.

Cardium’s lead commercial product Excellagen™ topical gel for advanced wound care management, has recently received FDA clearance for marketing and sale in the United States.  Cardium’s lead clinical development product candidate Generx® is a DNA-based angiogenic biologic intended for the treatment of patients with myocardial ischemia due to coronary artery disease.  In addition, consistent with its capital-efficient business model, Cardium continues to actively evaluate new technologies and business opportunities.  In July 2009 , Cardium completed the sale of its InnerCool Therapies medical device business to Royal Philips Electronics, the first asset monetization from the Company’s biomedical investment portfolio. News from Cardium is located at www.cardiumthx.com.

About SourceOne Global Partners

SourceOne Global Partners, headquartered in Chicago, IL , is a leading provider of health and wellness solutions, created through scientific research and innovative product development. SourceOne’s focus is on clinically-proven formulations, combined with technologically-advanced and proprietary delivery systems with applications in nutritional supplements, functional food and beverage, and personal care markets. The formulations are bundled in easily identifiable platforms that address condition-specific, consumer health concerns.

SourceOne develops formulations designed to incorporate the best science nature has to offer through health solutions like the award-winning Cholesstrinol™ Family of Heart Healthy Formulas; Omega Choice® Concentrated Omega-3 EPA/DHA fish oil; CoQsource® and CoQsource® QH Ubiquinol Bio-Enhanced Coenzyme Q10; AlivEL 100™ Eurycoma longifolia; and SterolSource® Phytosterols.* The Company’s product line, which continues to expand, also includes TocoSource® Palm Tocotrienols; GammaSource® Mixed Tocopherols; PMF-source™ Citrus Flavonoids (PMF); and others.  The SourceOne network of research and technology partners encompasses collaborations with Vesifact AG (Baar, Switzerland ), FINA ( Cincinnati, OH ), and Ingredients By Nature ( Montclair, CA ).  Additional information about SourceOne Global Partners can be found at http://www.source-1-global.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for statements of historical fact, the matters discussed in this press release are forward looking and reflect numerous assumptions and involve a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from stated expectations.  For example, there can be no assurance that that company will be successful in jointly developing customized nutritional supplements, pharmaceuticals or medical foods; that clinical studies will be regarded as sufficient substantiation for corresponding product claims or that the products will be accepted as being sufficiently safe, improved or cost-effective compared to other products; that the products can be successfully developed and commercially successful or will effectively enhance our businesses; that results or trends observed in clinical studies or other observations will be reproduced in subsequent studies or in broader use; that our products or product candidates will not be unfavorably compared to competitive products that may be regarded as safer, more effective, easier to use or less expensive; that the Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Trade Commission or other regulatory agencies will not introduce additional or more restrictive regulations covering naturally-derived products; that our in-house or external product commercialization efforts will be successful or will effectively enhance our businesses or their market value; that our co-development and strategic licensing arrangements will successfully and in a timely manner lead to the development, formulation, manufacture and licensing of products; or that these or any other third parties on whom we depend will perform as anticipated.

Actual results may also differ substantially from those described in or contemplated by this press release due to risks and uncertainties that exist in our operations and business environment, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties that are inherent in the development of biologics and in the development and commercialization of new products, the conduct of human clinical trials and other product development efforts, including the timing, costs and outcomes of such trials, our ability to obtain necessary funding, regulatory approvals and qualifications and to maintain our listing on a national stock exchange, our dependence upon proprietary technology, our history of operating losses and accumulated deficits, our reliance on collaborative relationships and critical personnel, and current and future competition and regulation, as well as other risks described from time to time in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  We undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof.

* Note: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Copyright 2011 Cardium Therapeutics, Inc.  All rights reserved. For Terms of Use Privacy Policy, please visit www.cardiumthx.com. Cardium Therapeutics®, Generx®, Cardionovo™, Tissue Repair™, Gene Activated Matrix™, GAM™, Excellagen™, Excellarate™, Osteorate™, MedPodium™, Appexium™, Linee™, Alena™, Cerex™, D-Sorb™, Neo-Energy™, Neo-Carb Bloc™, Nutra-Apps™ are trademarks of Cardium Therapeutics, Inc. or Tissue Repair Company. (Other trademarks belong to their respective owners)

Improving Upon a Classic Solution

Hybridoma technology is used to form hybrid cell lines by fusing a specific antibody-producing B cell with a myeloma cell that is selected for its ability to grow in a tissue culture. . While this technology has been used to produce highly specific monoclonal antibodies (Mabs), it is far less efficient than recombinant DNA technology such as Phage Display, which can generate copious amount of Mabs in a short time.  However, Phage Display technology requires the knowledge and availability of the desired target antigen, which is not the case with Hybridoma technology.

When one is searching for unknown antigens such as tumor specific markers, the use of hybridoma technology is the preferred mode.  Yet, because of the  inherent production limitations of the hybridoma technology, MabCure has re-engineered this classic technology into a highly efficient and optimized one. In particular, the company’s approach overcomes several key problems:

• Large quantities of antibodies can be produced in a relatively short time against putative tumor markers.  This a huge improvement over the traditional hybridoma technology.
• Antigens are preserved in their natural conformations, which means that the cell lines can better recognize and bind more selectively to tumor cells.

From Diagnostics to Therapeutics

MabCure has developed a highly effective business model that starts with cancer diagnostics and ends with therapeutics. After all, cancer diagnostics have lower development costs, faster time-to-market and offer a great jump-off point to the cancer therapeutics market. The result is nearer-term revenues and less dilution for the company’s shareholders.

Cancer diagnostics is also extremely important for another reason. The public fails to appreciate the fact that early detection of cancer (Stage 1)can result in a 5-year survival rate greater than 90%, according to the National Cancer Institute. If cancer isn’t detected early, the Stage 3 and 4 survival rates drop dramatically to a range of 9%-30%.

A Great Investment Opportunity

MabCure offers investors a unique opportunity to capitalize on a revolutionary new way to detect and treat cancer. By improving upon a proven lab technology, the company is bringing an exciting and efficacious new solution to market. With a prudent business model that has shareholders in mind, there is significant near-term potential.

To learn more about MabCure, please see the following resources:

• Company Website
• Latest SEC Filings

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is the umbrella organization of over 200 national diabetes associations in over 160 countries. It represents the interests of the growing number of people with diabetes and those at risk. The Federation has been leading the global diabetes community since 1950, and IDF’s mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention, and a cure worldwide.

New figures from the 5th edition Diabetes Atlas (see http://www.idf.org/diabetesatlas) indicate that the number of people living with diabetes is expected to rise from 366 million in 2011 to 552 million by 2030. IDF also estimates that as many as 183 million people are unaware that they have diabetes.

The release of these figures follows the September meeting of 193 Heads of State and government officials at the UN High Level Meeting in New York to agree on a Political Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including diabetes. This marks a major milestone for diabetes and other NCDs. Ann Keeling, CEO, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Chair of the NCD Alliance stated:

“World leaders have recognised the magnitude and impact of these diseases and the urgent need for action … The Declaration will accelerate international progress on diabetes and NCDs, saving millions of people from preventable death and disability.”

The growth in the diabetic market should be beneficial for the Health-e-Connect (HeC) System, which is the principal product of ALR Technologies ($ALRT).  HeC is a web-based platform designed to assist healthcare providers caring for diabetes patients improve the compliance to and management of patient care plans through remote monitoring.  Moreover, the system offers a solution to potentially reduce waste and cut costs to the healthcare system by electronically documenting or counting actual blood glucose test strip usage. Blood glucose test strips are a key element of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and billions of dollars are spent each year on test strips for patients with diabetes. Through a unique communications channel, the ALRT HeC System’s platform also enables test strip suppliers to offer extra support to patients by encouraging them to be more compliant with their diabetes treatment plans. Adherence to prescribed treatment plans should improve health outcomes and reduce long-term healthcare costs by helping to prevent diabetes complications. The ALRT HeC System was successfully used in a clinical trial by type 2 diabetes patients on insulin as part of an intensive glucose monitoring program.

The HeC System supports data uploads from blood glucose meters manufactured by Abbott Diabetes Care, Bayer Diabetes Care, LifeScan Inc. (a Johnson & Johnson Company) and Roche Diabetes Care.

Down the road, ALRT plans to expand this platform to serve cover with other chronic diseases.

Cardium Therapeutics (NYSE Amex: CXM) today announced the availability of MedPodium Nutra-Apps™, small, pharmaceutically-sealed, tasteless, easy-use capsules in pocket-sized packaging that are designed to address the unique needs of today’s highly mobile and technology-driven millennial consumers (aged 20-35). MedPodium’s Nutra-Apps Neo-Energy™ and Neo-Carb Bloc™ products are now available in select convenience stores in the Southern and Southwestern United States , and Cardium plans to introduce two additional Nutra-Apps products — Neo-Chill™ for relaxation and to help reduce stress and Neo-Sleep™ to help promote restful sleep.  For more information and to purchase MedPodium Nutra-Apps™ online, please visit http://www.medpodium.com/index.php/supplements.

MedPodium’s Neo-Energy™ is a dietary supplement capsule that provides a customized blend of natural caffeine, green tea leaf extract and Vitamin B3 (Niacin).  Each of Neo-Energy’s small, easy-to-use capsules provide an amount of caffeine comparable to commonly-sold energy shots or a premium coffee, or multiple cans (about 20 ounces) of various energy drinks.  A pocket-sized pack containing four Neo-Energy capsules will be sold for approximately the same retail price as a single liquid energy shot or beverage.  In addition, Neo-Energy capsules have no sugar, no calories, and no aftertaste as commonly found in various drinks.*

MedPodium’s new Neo-Carb Bloc™ is a dietary supplement that features a custom formulation of maximum strength Phase 2™, a white kidney bean extract that has been clinically studied and shown to reduce the enzymatic digestion of dietary starches contained in many carbohydrate-rich foods such as pastas, rice, crackers, breads, pastries, potato chips, and donuts.*  Sold in convenient, pocket-sized packages of two small, easy-use capsules, Neo-Carb Bloc™ is designed to selectively reduce the uptake of the types of carbohydrates found in many starchy foods, without blocking the absorption of “good” simple carbohydrates such as those derived from vegetables and whole grains.*

“Our new Neo-Energy small capsule-based formulation allows for convenient pocket-sized packaging and is competitively priced for today’s performance- and price-conscious convenience store and retail consumers, and Neo-Carb Bloc™ is a novel product entry into convenience stores where carbohydrate-rich snack foods are so commonly available,” stated Christopher J. Reinhard , Cardium’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  “We plan to further broaden our Nutra-Apps product portfolio with the addition of other product offerings, such as Neo-Chill and Neo Sleep and to expand distribution nationally.  With market traction, we plan to broaden our Nutra-Apps brand platform for potential distribution into the food, drug and mass markets.”

Reinhard added, “MedPodium is designing and formulating a portfolio of premium, best-in-class, science-based products based on key ingredients that have been well characterized scientifically and shown to be capable of promoting a healthy lifestyle, such as enhancing energy, cognition, mood, sleep, weight management, and fitness for millennial consumers.  We are highly selective and require that our products be substantiated with scientific data to support an understanding of the mechanism of action, have well-defined manufacturing standardizations, and allow for easy to use formulation and dosage.”*

About MedPodium Nutra-Apps™

MedPodium Nutra-Apps™ are small, pharmaceutically-sealed, tasteless, easy-use pills and capsules available in convenient, pocket-sized packaging. Nutra-Apps™ dietary supplements are science-based products and are designed to promote personal health in today’s increasingly complex work and social environments and to address the unique needs of today’s technology-driven millennial consumers.  Additional information about MedPodium Nutra-Apps™ is located at http://www.medpodium.com/index.php/supplements

About Cardium

Cardium is focused on the acquisition and strategic development of new and innovative bio-medical product opportunities and businesses with the potential to address significant unmet medical needs that have definable pathways to commercialization, partnering and other economic monetizations.  Cardium’s current medical opportunities portfolio, which is focused on health sciences and regenerative medicine, includes the Tissue Repair Company, Cardium Biologics, and the Company’s in-house MedPodium Health Sciences healthy lifestyle product platform.  The Company’s lead commercial product, Excellagen™ topical gel for advanced wound care management, recently received FDA clearance for marketing and sale in the United States.  Cardium’s lead clinical development product candidate Generx® is a DNA-based angiogenic biologic intended for the treatment of patients with myocardial ischemia due to coronary artery disease.  In addition, consistent with its capital-efficient business model, Cardium continues to actively evaluate new technologies and business opportunities.  In July 2009 , Cardium completed the sale of its InnerCool Therapies medical device business to Royal Philips Electronics, the first asset monetization from the Company’s biomedical investment portfolio. News from Cardium is located at www.cardiumthx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for statements of historical fact, the matters discussed in this press release are forward looking and reflect numerous assumptions and involve a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from stated expectations.  For example, there can be no assurance that Neo-Energy™, Neo-Carb Bloc™ or other Nutra-Apps™ can be effectively commercialized; that the MedPodium product line can be successfully broadened to include additional healthy lifestyle opportunities and that these products will be commercially successful or will effectively enhance our businesses or their market value; that results or trends observed in clinical studies or other observations will be reproduced in subsequent studies or in broader use; that our products or product candidates will not be unfavorably compared to competitive products that may be regarded as safer, more effective, easier to use or less expensive; that the Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Trade Commission or other regulatory agencies will not introduce additional or more restrictive regulations covering naturally-derived products such as those in our MedPodium product line; that our in-house or external product commercialization efforts will be successful or will effectively enhance our businesses or their market value; that our co-development and strategic licensing arrangements will successfully and in a timely manner lead to the development, formulation, manufacture and licensing of products for Cardium’s MedPodium healthy lifestyle line; or that these or any other third parties on whom we depend will perform as anticipated.

Actual results may also differ substantially from those described in or contemplated by this press release due to risks and uncertainties that exist in our operations and business environment, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties that are inherent in the development of biologics and in the development and commercialization of new products, the conduct of human clinical trials and other product development efforts, including the timing, costs and outcomes of such trials, our ability to obtain necessary funding, regulatory approvals and qualifications and to maintain our listing on a national stock exchange, our dependence upon proprietary technology, our history of operating losses and accumulated deficits, our reliance on collaborative relationships and critical personnel, and current and future competition and regulation, as well as other risks described from time to time in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  We undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof.

*Note: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Copyright 2011 Cardium Therapeutics, Inc.  All rights reserved.?For Terms of Use Privacy Policy, please visit www.cardiumthx.com.?Cardium Therapeutics®, Generx®, Cardionovo™, Tissue Repair™, Gene Activated Matrix™, GAM™, Excellagen™, Excellarate™, Osteorate™, MedPodium™, Appexium™, Linee™, Alena™, Cerex, D-Sorb™, Nutra-Apps™, Neo-Energy™, Neo-Carb Bloc™, Neo-Chill™, and Neo-Sleep™ are trademarks of Cardium Therapeutics, Inc. or Tissue Repair Company.?(Other trademarks belong to their respective owners)

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. (OTCBB:AMBS), a biotechnology company developing MANF, a first-in-class disease–modifying therapeutic protein, today announced Mark J. Benedyk, PhD will join the Company as a strategic advisor effective immediately. Dr. Benedyk is a seasoned life sciences executive with an extensive background in pharmaceutical licensing, operations and corporate development. In this role, he will support Amarantus on strategy and business development issues.

“I am excited to join the Amarantus team after having watched the company enhance its management team and expand its patent portfolio as it moves forward into the CNS arena,” said Dr. Benedyk. “I believe there are significant potential opportunities for the use of MANF and complementary technologies to expand the Amarantus pipeline in the future.”

Dr. Benedyk, is currently a Managing Partner at Rila Partners LLC, a business and corporate development consultancy he founded earlier in his career. Among other things, in this role, he is a Strategic Advisory Board member to a clinical-stage neuropsychiatry specialty care company, is a Director at the Center for Drug Research and Development Ventures, Inc., and is on the Translational Medicine Advisory Board of the CNS Regenerative Medicine Foundation. Previously he was head of The Pfizer Incubator (TPI) where his duties included membership on the Board of Directors, a director seat on several TPI portfolio company boards, overseeing the TPI operations team, and reviewing investment opportunities in multiple technologies. Dr. Benedyk also held executive Business Development roles at Ascenta Therapeutics, Optimer Biotechnology, Aurora Biosciences (acquired by Vertex Pharmaceuticals), and Elan Pharmaceuticals. He received his Ph.D. in Developmental Genetics, from The Rockefeller University, his B.S. degrees in Microbiology and Botany from the University of Michigan, B.S., and received financial certifications from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, and the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

“Mark’s experience and success as a business development executive will add valuable insight to our team at Amarantus as we look to expand our development of MANF for Parkinson’s Disease and evaluate additional opportunities to grow the company,” added Gerald Commissiong, President and CEO of Amarantus.

About MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor)

MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor) is a protein that corrects protein misfolding, one of the major causes of apoptosis (cell death). This property provides a compelling rationale for the research and development of MANF-based products as therapeutics for human disease. The lead MANF product development effort is centered on a therapy for Parkinson’s disease, currently funded by a research grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The Company also owns an inventory of 88 cell lines referred to as “PhenoGuard Cell Lines.” MANF was the first therapeutic protein discovered from a PhenoGuard Cell Line. It is anticipated that additional therapeutic proteins useful for various therapeutic approaches to the Central Nervous System (CNS) will be identified from the Company’s inventory of PhenoGuard Cell Lines.

About Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. is a California-based development-stage biotechnology company founded in January 2008. The Company has a focus on developing certain biologics surrounding the intellectual property and proprietary technologies it owns to treat Parkinson’s disease and other human diseases. The Company owns the intellectual property rights to a therapeutic protein known as Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor (“MANF”). For further information please visit www.amarantus.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the possible benefits of MANF therapeutic applications and/or advantages presented by Amarantus’ PhenoGuard technology, as well as statements about expectations, plans and prospects of the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks that the anticipated benefits of the therapeutic drug candidates or discovery platforms, as well as the risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates, including those identified under “Risk Factors” in Amarantus’ most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other filings Amarantus periodically makes with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements Amarantus does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this presentation.

Efficacious Treatment Already Generating Revenues

RegenoCELL is unique in that it’s already generating revenues from stem cell therapy that targets congestive heart failure. Many of these patients only have 3-6 months to live and have run out of options within the United States. Patients simply have a half liter of blood drawn which is sent to the company’s Israeli facility where stem cells and other more mature cells are extracted and replicated.

Since  stem cell procedures for indications other than cancer require approval in the United States, patients are transported  to countries where autologous (same patient) stem cell treatments are permitted to undergo an angioplasty-like procedure. The stem cells help create blood vessels in order to improve blood flow in the heart. While the procedure isn’t covered by insurance right now, the company has already realized over $600,000 in sales so far in 2011.

After undergoing the treatment, patients almost immediately report feeling better and realize the majority of the benefits after 3-6 months. With more than 500 patients treated, the company has seen a 90%+ survival rate after two years. This statistic is impressive given that many of these patients were so-called “no option” patients with 3 to 6 months to live.

Profits Used to Fund U.S. and E.U. Clinical Trials

RegenoCELL is working to scale its revenue generating business to help support its U.S. and E.U. clinical trials. With just 8 cell batches per month required to break even on its revenue generating business, the company has a very scalable model and is poised to get beyond break even at its cell processing operations in Israel next year. That cash coupled with raises over two years will fund these upcoming clinical trials.

The clinical trials will be focused on peripheral artery disease, but will use the same stem cell treatment as its congestive heart failure therapy. That is, stem cells are used to support angiogenesis and improve blood flow. Ultimately, an approval for this indication would enable it to receive insurance payouts and target much larger potential markets.

The data generated in its existing business may also help it expedite clinical trials. For instance, the safety profile of the therapy is well established with over 500 patients treated, meaning that it may be able to skip or fast track its way through Phase I safety trials. And the efficacy data could even help expedite its Phase II preliminary efficacy trials.

A Great Investment Opportunity

RegenoCELL is unlike many other stem cell companies in that it’s already generating revenues, but still has long-term plans to market in the U.S. and E.U. On top of this, the favorable results from 500 patients already treated should help give some clarity to its clinical pipeline. Combined, this makes it an attractive investment opportunity for those in biotech.

For more information, please see the following resources:

• Company Website (www.regenocell.com)
• Latest SEC Filings (www.sec.gov)

MANF: Significant Breakthrough, Blue Sky Potential

Amarantus’ MANF therapeutic protein represents the first discovery in a library of 80 proprietary cell lines engineered by astrocytes and neurons from various regions of the central nervous system. Moreover, these cell lines themselves have pioneered the development of immortalized mammalian cells that remain the phenotype of their parents.

While the company is initially focusing on Parkinson’s Disease and cardiac ischemia, its revolutionary MANF therapeutic protein may also prove efficacious when treating a number of other conditions. For instance, MANF could be used during liver or heart transplantation as a prophylactic or as an anti-inflammatory in a number of other cellular injuries.

Major Organizations Take Interest & Partner Up

Amarantus’ MANF therapeutic protein has been extensively tested both internally and externally by independent scientists. The positive results from these studies has attracted the attention of many leading companies and organizations. Some of these high-profile organizations have partnered with the company to develop the treatment.

For instance, the company’s focus on Parkinson’s Disease attracted the attention of the Michael J. Fox Foundation. In April of 2010, the firm received a research grant from the non-profit to finance a study of the efficacy of MANF for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. A brief prospectus can be found on the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s website.

Earlier this year, the company also partnered with Banyan Biomarkers, a leader in developing in vitro diagnostic products to detect traumatic brain injury (TBI), to evaluate its MANF protein’s potential as a disease-modifying agent for TBI treatment. Shortly afterwards, Brewer Sports International issued a grant to fund a preclinical study for concussion research.

A Look at the Cost & Time Benefits of Partnerships

Amarantus has far more viable development opportunities than it – or any company – could ever exploit. As a result, the company intends to partner product development with leading academic institutions, research institutes, hospitals, clinics, small to large scale biotechnology, pharmaceutical, diagnostic and devices companies to maximize value.

The company’s move to partner with these will also help keep its costs down and open up new lines of distribution. For instance, the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s research grant helped fund a clinical study and provided a key validation of its technology in the marketplace, while its Banyan Biomarkers and Brewer Sports partnerships have effectively done the same.

These efforts will help shareholders in several ways. First, lower capital costs mean less dilution needed to raise financing to complete its clinical trials. Second, new distribution channels help increase revenue potential down the road. And third, grants and collaborations with notable partners can serve as a validation of its technology.

About Amarantus BioSciences Inc.

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. is a California-based development-stage biotechnology company founded in January 2008. The Company has a focus on developing certain biologics surrounding the intellectual property and proprietary technologies it owns to treat Parkinson’s disease and other human diseases. The Company owns the intellectual property rights to a therapeutic protein known as Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor (“MANF”). For further information please visit www.amarantus.com.

The company’s core technologies take a novel approach to mutation detection using a PCR amplification reaction and hybridization to form mis-paired DNA molecules where there are mutations. This methodology has produced impressive performance, with a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 100% in recent trials.

Strong Results and Progress in 2011

Last month, Transgenomic reported its third consecutive quarter of growth with revenues that jumped 87% to $8.3 million. The results were driven by strong performance across all three of its business units. The reference lab business was boosted by the integration of the FAMILION cardiac genetic tests, while instrument sales were also very strong during the quarter.

Recently, the company also announced a collaboration with A. Menarini Diagnostics, which is one of the largest medical diagnostics companies in Europe. The firm will sell the company’s WAVE® MCE system and SURVEYOR® Scan mutation detection kits. Over the coming quarters, the company aims to build one of the strongest foundations in cancer research and diagnostics.

The company also announced a collaboration agreement with ScreenCell, which develops single-use devices designed to isolate all possible tumor cells by size and characterize them. Under the agreement, Transgenomic will become the exclusive distributor of these technologies used in combination with its own highly-sensitive mutation detection products.

Undervalued with Near-term Profitability

Transgenomic trades with a market capitalization of just $64 million, despite these promising new products and agreements. This represents just 2x its annualized third quarter sales at a time when its top-line is growing at 80%+ and its bottom-line is approaching breakeven. In fact, management believes the firm will breakeven or better on the bottom-line next year.

In a recent interview, management indicated that it’s targeting the $40 million range next year for revenues and a breakeven or better bottom-line. After all, the company has already broke through the EBITDA hurdle this year. And with two or three agreements with major pharmaceutical companies, the firm is starting to attract a lot of attention.

For more information about Transgenomic, please see the following resources:

• Company Website
• Recent SEC Filings

The New York Times published an article this past weekend titled, “Health Official Takes Parting Shot at Waste.”  Written by Robert Pear, the article focuses on commentary from Dr. Donald M. Berwick, the newly departed former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Of particular interest is Dr. Berwick’s opinion that, “Twenty percent to thirty percent of health spending is “waste” that yields no benefit to patients, and that some of the needless spending is a result of onerous, archaic regulations enforced by his agency.”  The doctor’s estimates of this “waste” amounts to between $150 billion and $250 billion per year — monies that are desperately needed in reducing our country’s enormous debt problem and that could also go toward providing better health care service.

Where does this waste come from?  Examples of excessive waste abound in the Medicare and Medicaid system. Just one example: the multitude of unused diabetes test strips prescribed for patients to self-monitor their blood glucose levels.  Even though they are paid for by CMS, many of these strips are never used.  More outrageously, some of the unused test strips are even “resold” on the gray market.  This waste and even outright abuse of the system are enabled because CMS does not require adequate accountability of if these test strips are used before paying for refills.

We as a nation simply can’t afford to continue spending like this without better accountability and reform.  Given the state of the healthcare system and the well-publicized needs for reform, change will inevitably happen; it’s just a matter of when.  Investors will be glad to know that there are countless junior companies well-positioned to capitalize on fundamental shifts in healthcare.  ALR Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: ALRT) provides a chronic disease management technology, the Health-e-Connect System, which could provide measurable benefits to CMS and those it covers in the near term.  ALR received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Health-e-Connect System for remote monitoring of patients in support of effective diabetes management programs in October 2011.

Specifically, ALR Technologies manufactures a chronic disease management system – Health-e-Connect – that allows sharing of blood glucose data between patients and their providers. The platform is intended to improve patient outcomes, when used as part of an effective diabetes management program, by enabling providers to make immediate medication and lifestyle adjustments and to address patient barriers to diabetes care plan adherence. Improved patient outcomes equate to less health care spending. Health-e-Connect also tracks diabetes test strip utilization – information that could be used by dispensers to curb rampant test strip waste currently contributing to the squandering of millions of CMS dollars annually.

Possessing a similar technology, but possibly carrying upfront costs with it, PositiveID Corporation (OTCBB: PSID) received FDA clearance for its iglucose™ mobile health system for diabetes management in mid-November 2011.

The electronic medical record arena has many firms vying for space.  According to Millennium Research Group, the electronic medical record market is projected to grow from less than $1 million in 2009 to more than $8.3 billion by 2016.  Software and office equipment maker Xerox Corp. (NYSE: XRX) reported last week that its ACS subsidiary bought cloud-computing company The Breakaway Group to grow its electronic medical records capacities.  At the ground-level price point, MMRGlobal Inc. (OTCBB: MMRF) is a leading junior in the electronic medical records space.  The company is conducting business with several household names to expand their products including Eastman Kodak (NYSE: EK), Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) and privately-held Chartis, Inc.

The original NY Times article can be viewed at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/health/policy/parting-shot-at-waste-by-key-obama-health-official.html?_r=2

At the same time that the federal government seeks to cut Medicare spending, awareness is growing about a fraudulent practice around diabetes test strips that is running up program costs and putting the health of patients at risk.

At the heart of the issue is the need for patients with diabetes to test their blood glucose levels regularly.  Knowing blood glucose levels allow patients to alter their diabetes management strategy if the levels are not near the target.¹ Doctors prescribe test strips to patients with diabetes to be used as part of their care plans. It is possible that a portion of test strips paid for by Medicare and other insurers are not used by many patients.  Nevertheless, patients covered by health insurance are often resupplied with blood glucose test strips whether or not they have used up their prescription.  As stated by Doug Hoey, CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association in an article by HME News², “We have heard stories of boxes and boxes of strips being sent to patients, charged to Medicare and the patient can’t use them fast enough,” he said. “Or the patient is deceased and the supplies continue to mount up at the home.”

Some of the unused test supplies are sold in the black market.  While test strips can be legitimately purchased over-the-counter for cash price by anyone, the second-hand sale of these test strips is fraudulent if the strips were obtained through a prescription and reimbursed by Medicare/Medicaid.  As such, the term “black market” is often replaced by “gray market” given the fact that selling test strips is not illegal in and amongst itself.

Awareness, outrage, and a call for action are beginning to build around the issue of the black market sale of test strips.  Several local television stations have exposed the practice this year.  CBS Denver was one of the first to break the story back in February 2011 with their broadcast of “CBS4 Investigates Black Market Diabetes Test Strips”³ exposing “an alarming practice that has the director of one of the nation’s leading diabetes centers and journals issuing a warning to patients.”  The alarming practice at the center of the report:  the buying and selling of diabetic test strips on the Black Market.  A practice that could ultimately cost a person with diabetes their life as recalled, expired and counterfeit strips are bought and sold daily.  Only a few weeks later, KENS in San Antonio, Texas followed with a report of its own⁴.

According to the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet⁵, 25.8 million people in the United States are affected by diabetes with associated healthcare costs of approximately $175 billion per year (for the year 2007).  Many diabetes patients do not have adequate insurance to cover the cost of test strips.  Monthly supplies for can run into hundreds of dollars.  As the person with diabetes in a Fox Baltimore report⁶ explained, “Not everybody has the kind of good insurance that I have, and this is really expensive stuff.”

Research⁷ has shown that through proper monitoring of blood sugar levels and adherence to care plans, diabetes patients are healthier and require fewer visits to the doctor than those who are non-compliant. The importance of following strict procedures in proper diabetes care is best summarized by William Herman, M.D., M.P.H.⁸, one of the world’s foremost experts on diabetes, in stating, “It’s now well-proven from scientific studies that diabetes control matters, and that better sugar control over years and decades is associated with a reduced risk of complications affecting the eyes, the kidneys, the nerves, heart and blood vessels.” Using test strips that do not meet FDA standards such as many of those sold on the Black Market can result in inaccurate data from faulty strips leading to dire consequences.

One possible solution: to account for the usage of prescribed test strips before more can be provided to the patients.  This is possible, as every major provider of blood glucose meters – Abbott, Bayer, LifeScan (a Johnson & Johnson company), Nipro and Roche – has the technology to handle verification of test strip usage.  However, because meters from each of these manufacturers are designed slightly differently and vendors of these supplies are faced with the onerous task of pulling the data separately for each system, a clear need exists for a cross-platform technology to bridge the gaps between manufacturers.  A few companies have addressed this challenge already.

HealthVault by Microsoft® (NASDAQ: MSFT), WellDoc, and the Health-e-Connect (HeC) System by ALR Technologies (OTCBB: ALRT) all are in the mobile health space and offer potential solutions to the cross-platform dilemma.  Juxtaposing the technologies, however, reveals some stark differences.

HealthVault, which does not have Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance, is a personal health record storage solution similar to what many companies are doing in the burgeoning electronic medical records arena.

WellDoc has conducted clinical trials comparing their system to traditional practices of diabetes care by measuring A1c (the standard measure for diabetes control) with positive results. The importance of patient compliance to prescribed blood sugar testing was confirmed in WellDoc’s research to reduce A1c levels. The caveat to WellDoc’s system is that it relies on patients to manually entering data into a cell phone several times a day.  Manual (user) data entry has been shown through other studies to be time consuming, inconsistent, and an inaccurate representation of actual use.

ALR Technologies’ HeC System, a chronic disease management technology, covers the complete range of compliance and documentation.  The HeC System has also been successfully used in clinical trials⁹ as part of intensive blood glucose monitoring programs.  Cleared by the FDA in October for remote monitoring of patients in support of effective diabetes management programs, HeC is a cross-platform system compatible with all the major manufacturers’ blood glucose meters which allows test results stored in a meter to be uploaded.  The data is organized for the respective needs of patients, clinicians, test supply vendors and insurers, whether it be encouraging patient compliance or documenting strip count for reimbursement and refill requirements.  ALR’s platform also allows for mobile alerts reminding diabetes patients that it is time to test their blood glucose levels.

The Black Market offerings and the subsequent risks involved are not going to disappear on their own, nor will the exorbitant waste of funds relating to non-documented strip reimbursement.  Fortunately, steps have been taken in the past to combat similar problems; such as when Medicare and many private insurers began mandating the verification of use for CPAP machines to allow reimbursement for sleep apnea.  Given this precedent and the mounting awareness of strip count fraud, it is easy to envision the government taking similar actions to deal with the issues surrounding diabetes test strips.  Such action would exponentially grow the usage of technologies such as the HeC System.  Medicare provides coverage to 10.9 million diabetes patients and pays over $1 billion* a year for test strips alone.^{5 10 11 12 13} With the financial pressures in the healthcare industry to regulate costs and provide better disease management, it would seem likely that further actions are imminent.

References:

^[1] http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/how-test-blood-sugar

² http://www.hmenews.com/?p=article&id=hm201111t4mCeo

³ http://denver.cbslocal.com/2011/02/09/cbs4-investigates-black-market-diabetes-test-strips/

⁴ http://www.kens5.com/home/Black-market-test-strips-could-put-diabetics-in-danger-116701774.html

⁵ http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2011.pdf

⁶ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR2wGW3f6H8

⁷ http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/295/14/1688.short

⁸ http://www.med.umich.edu/diabetes/research/profilesWilliamHerman.htm

⁹ http://www.alrt.com/products/hec-clinicalsupport

¹⁰ http://oig.hhs.gov/oas/reports/region9/90800043.pdf

¹¹ http://oig.hhs.gov/oas/reports/region9/90800044.pdf

¹² http://oig.hhs.gov/oas/reports/region9/90800045.pdf

¹³ http://oig.hhs.gov/oas/reports/region9/90800046.pdf

*Numbers estimated.  Reference 5 shows 10.9 million U.S. residents aged 65 years and older had diabetes in 2010.  Reference 10 shows DME MAC Jurisdiction A allowed payment for $225 million in test strips/lancets in 2007.  Reference 11 shows DME MAC Jurisdiction B allowed payment for $297 million in test strips/lancets in 2007.  Reference 12 shows DME MAC Jurisdiction C allowed payment for $499 million in test strips/lancets in 2007.  Reference 13 shows DME MAC Jurisdiction D allowed payment for $219 million in test strips/lancets in 2007.

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. (OTCBB: AMBS), a biotechnology company developing Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor (MANF), a first-in-class disease–modifying therapeutic protein, today announced a commitment by Brewer Sports International (BSI) to fund a pre-clinical study evaluating MANF’s potential as a treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This funding will support the collaboration recently announced between Amarantus and Banyan Biomarkers.

“Concussion management is a serious issue affecting athletes in a wide variety of sports and other activities, and we are grateful for this initial contribution from Brewer Sports to test MANF against this debilitating condition,” said Gerald Commissiong, President and CEO of Amarantus. “As a former professional athlete, I have a vested interest in this area of focus for Amarantus and look forward to reporting on the results in early 2012.”

As a multi-faceted sports management and financial services firm, Brewer Sports International is focused on providing tailored solutions to emerging sports and wellness-related companies through its vast network. BSI’s CEO Jack Brewer played for five years in the National Football League, retiring in 2007. Many of BSI’s professional athlete clientele participate in sports where concussions are prevalent, and the firm maintains a strong desire to advance research and awareness in the area. The Amarantus study targeting TBI fits this focus and if the initial study is positive, Brewer will help Amarantus identify additional funding channels to support further studies.

“As an ex-NFL player I personally have experienced hundreds of violent collisions throughout my career and also have several teammates and friends who suffer the lasting effects of Traumatic Brain Injury,” said Jack Brewer, CEO of Brewer Sports International. “This is a passion of mine and BSI is committed to helping advance TBI research and development. I am hopeful that our support and this collaboration will help raise awareness and establish new technology for the treatment of brain injury and concussions.”

About MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor)

MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor) is a protein that corrects protein misfolding, one of the major causes of apoptosis (cell death). This property provides a compelling rationale for the research and development of MANF-based products as therapeutics for human disease. The lead MANF product development effort is centered on a therapy for Parkinson’s disease, currently funded by a research grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The Company also owns an inventory of 88 cell lines referred to as “PhenoGuard Cell Lines.” MANF was the first therapeutic protein discovered from a PhenoGuard Cell Line. It is anticipated that additional therapeutic proteins useful for various therapeutic approaches to the Central Nervous System (CNS) will be identified from the Company’s inventory of PhenoGuard Cell Lines.

About Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. is a California-based development-stage biotechnology company founded in January 2008. The Company has a focus on developing certain biologics surrounding the intellectual property and proprietary technologies it owns to treat Parkinson’s disease and other human diseases. The Company owns the intellectual property rights to a therapeutic protein known as Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor (“MANF”). For further information please visit www.amarantus.com.

About Brewer Sports International

Brewer Sports International (BSI) offers a boutique of sports lending, corporate advisory and entertainment services for professional athletes, sports agencies, public and private corporations and various partners including international organizations, governments and NGOs. Based in Minneapolis, with offices in New York, Boca Raton and Beijing, BSI was founded by Jack Brewer, a five-year National Football League (NFL) veteran and former team captain on three NFL teams. Additionally, BSI has created a unique financial services platform that is offered to professional athletes and sports agencies, as well as high net worth individuals and businesses touching professional sports. BSI takes pride in building value for its clients through sports and entertainment. For more information, please visit www.brewersports.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the possible benefits of MANF therapeutic applications and/or advantages presented by Amarantus’ PhenoGuard technology, as well as statements about expectations, plans and prospects of the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks that the anticipated benefits of the therapeutic drug candidates or discovery platforms, as well as the risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates, including those identified under “Risk Factors” in Amarantus’ most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other filings Amarantus periodically makes with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements Amarantus does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this presentation.

SOURCE: Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.

Cellceutix Corporation (OTCBB: CTIX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing small molecule drugs to treat unmet medical conditions, is pleased to report that Dr. Paul Marks has joined the Cellceutix Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Marks served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (“MSKCC”) from 1980 to 1999 where he helped to establish the high standards for research and patient care that MSKCC is world renowned for. He remains a vital part of MSKCC as President Emeritus and Member of the Sloan-Kettering Institute. Dr. Marks’ research in cell biology and cancer genetics has made major contributions toward a new approach to cancer treatment and prevention, through the development of new and more potent chemotherapy and chemoprevention agents. He also helped establish the highest standards for research and patient care at MSKCC and has provided leadership in the national and international medical science community.

Dr. Marks received his AB and MD degrees from Columbia University and postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health and the Pasteur Institute. Prior to his tenure at MSKCC, he was Professor of Human Genetics and Frode Jensen Professor of Medicine (1968-1980), Dean of the Faculty of Medicine (1970-1973), and Vice President for Health Sciences and Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center (1973-1980) at Columbia University.

Dr. Marks is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine and is a Fellow at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has been a recipient of numerous honors. He has published more than 350 scientific articles in various scholarly journals. (http://www.mskcc.org/research/paul-marks-prize-research/about-paul-marks)

Additionally, Cellceutix has now filed foreign patent applications relating to pharmaceutical compositions comprising its anti-cancer compound Kevetrin™. These applications are based on the earlier International Application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty in 2009.

The applications were filed under the direction of John Richards of the preeminent international intellectual property law firm Ladas & Parry. Mr. Richards is one of the leading worldwide experts on international pharmaceutical and chemical patents, having represented numerous large corporations on cases of major commercial significance.

“We are extremely pleased to add Dr. Marks to our team,” commented Cellceutix Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Krishna Menon. “We have assembled a world-class advisory board with Dr. Emil Frei, Dr. Samuel Danishefsky, Dr. Paul Ginsburg and now Dr. Paul Marks. Going forward with Kevetrin™ in clinical trials, as well as other drugs in our pipeline, their experience and knowledge will play a key role in our success. I wish to add that I have never been as excited about a cancer compound as I am now with Kevetrin™. Everything is coming together very nicely. It is indeed a very exciting time for Cellceutix and its shareholders.”

About Cellceutix

Cellceutix Corporation is a preclinical cancer, anti-inflammatory and autism drug developer. More information is available on the Cellceutix web site at www.cellceutix.com

Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements

To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, including statements as to revenue projections, business strategy, outlook, objectives, future milestones, plans, intentions, goals, future financial conditions, future collaboration agreements, the success of the Company’s development, events conditioned on stockholder or other approval, or otherwise as to future events, such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. Factors that may impact Cellceutix’s success are more fully disclosed in Cellceutix’s most recent public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:

Cellceutix Corp.

Leo Ehrlich

(978) 236-8717

Email Contact

Researchers have been searching for years to find an alternative, complement and competition for AstraZeneca’s (NYSE:AZN) Nolvadex® (tamoxifen), a popular breast cancer therapy in use for three decades.  Recently, Dr. Jeffrey Tobias of University-College Hospital, London, commented on potential serious heightened risks associated with tamoxifen, including cancer of the womb lining, “This is a real concern in early breast cancer when patients are generally taking the drugs for up to five years.”  Dr. Tobias is an investigator in clinical trials of Arimidex®, an aromatase inhibitor which shuts down the body’s sometimes cancer-promoting oestrogen supply.  In all fairness to tamoxifen, most anti-cancer drugs carry potential for serious side effects, but the benefits generally outweigh the risk.

More recently, the hunt has also been for an alternative to Roche’s Herceptin® (trastuzumab), a drug proven to significantly extend the lives of HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor-2)-positive metastatic breast cancer patients.  While Herceptin® has shown a strong therapeutic benefit, it only targets HER2-positive patients and does not address Top2 (topoisomerase II)-positive patients, the second enzyme widely-known to be associated with aggressive forms of cancer. Etoposide drugs marketed as Etomedac®/Eposin by Medac and Bristol Meyer Squibb’s (NYSE:BMY) Etopophos® and Vepesid® are common treatments to exploit Top2 in cancer patients.

Sunshine Biopharma (OTCBB:SBFM) is looking to fill the gaps in breast cancer therapies with their flagship, compound Adva-27, a small molecule that targets and inhibits Top2.

Pre-clinical trials are now behind Sunshine Biopharma with strong data supporting further development of Adva-27.  Research to date has shown the compound to be 16-times more effective at killing multi-drug resistant breast cancer cells than Etoposide.  Importantly, Adva-27 is unaffected by P-Glycoprotein, the enzyme responsible for making cancer cells resistant to anti-tumor drugs, and is independent of Cytochrome P450, a mechanism that is less likely to produce toxic intermediates.  An excellent pharmacokinetic profile has been generated so far in pre-clinical research as well.  Adva-27 has potential for multiple indications, but initial clinical trials will focus on multi-drug resistant breast cancers.

According to the Breast Cancer Organization of the USA, it is estimated that more than 260,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed last year.  The dreaded disease has rightfully never slipped from the spotlight, but has garnered stronger attention again with the latest news about Avastin®.  By targeting drug-resistant cancer strains and outpacing Etoposide, Sunshine Biopharma’s Adva-27 is right in the mix with other anti-cancer drugs in development.  Just as Herceptin® revolutionized HER2 therapies for breast cancer – and generated nearly $7 billion in 2010 sales alone – Sunshine is looking to do the same with its Top2 drug in the future.

Amarantus BioSciences Inc. (OTCBB: AMBS), a biotechnology company focused on a therapeutic protein that addresses apoptosis, similar to companies like InVivo Therapeutics Corp (OTCBB: NVIV) and Roche Holdings Ltd. (Pink Sheets: RHHBY), announces collaboration agreement with Banyon Biomakers to evaluate treatment of traumatic brain injuries.

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. (OTCBB: AMBS), a biotechnology company developing MANF, a first-in-class disease–modifying therapeutic protein and Banyan Biomarkers, the leader in developing in vitro diagnostic products to detect traumatic brain injury (TBI), today announced a collaboration agreement to evaluate MANF’s potential as a disease-modifying agent for the treatment of TBI.

“TBI, often referred to as concussions, are the result of devastating acute blows to the head as are typically seen in contact sports or on the battlefield in military settings,” said Gerald Commissiong, President & CEO of Amarantus. “Given my football background, I am hopeful that MANF will prove effective in treating these injuries and believe that this area of research could become an important part of Amarantus’ overall strategy going forward.”

For Amarantus, targeting TBI utilizes the Company’s expertise in Central Nervous System disorders to broaden the potential applications of MANF. It also supports the Company’s strategy to pursue areas where its therapeutics can be paired with diagnostics to expand the utility and adoption of its product candidates.

“MANF appears to have a profile of activity in cerebral ischemia that is consistent with a potential therapeutic benefit in Traumatic Brain Injury,” said Dr. Andreas Jeromin, PhD, Director of Business Development and Assay Core Services at Banyan, “We are hopeful to be able to pair potential therapeutic treatments such as MANF alongside our groundbreaking diagnostic test going forward. This study will also utilize novel biomarkers of neurotoxicity developed by Banyan to assess drug safety.”

About MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor)

MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor) is a protein that corrects protein misfolding, one of the major causes of apoptosis (cell death). This property provides a compelling rationale for the research and development of MANF-based products as therapeutics for human disease. The lead MANF product development effort is centered on a therapy for Parkinson’s disease, currently funded by a research grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The Company also owns an inventory of 88 cell lines referred to as “PhenoGuard Cell Lines.” MANF was the first therapeutic protein discovered from a PhenoGuard Cell Line. It is anticipated that additional therapeutic proteins useful for various therapeutic approaches to the Central Nervous System (CNS) will be identified from the Company’s inventory of PhenoGuard Cell Lines.

About Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. is a California-based development-stage biotechnology company founded in January 2008. The Company has a focus on developing certain biologics surrounding the intellectual property and proprietary technologies it owns to treat Parkinson’s disease and other human diseases. The Company owns the intellectual property rights to a therapeutic protein known as Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor (“MANF”). For further information please visit www.amarantus.com.

About Banyan Biomarkers

Banyan Biomarkers is the leader in developing in vitro diagnostic products to address unmet clinical needs for the detection of traumatic brain injury. The Company is focused on developing a simple point-of-care blood test that will be used by physicians to detect the presence and severity of brain trauma and improve the medical management of head injured patients. Banyan Biomarkers has a licensing agreement with the University of Florida for exclusive global use of technology related to this product. To learn more about Banyan Biomarkers, Inc., visit http://www.banyanbio.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the possible benefits of MANF therapeutic applications and/or advantages presented by Amarantus’ PhenoGuard technology, as well as statements about expectations, plans and prospects of the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks that the anticipated benefits of the therapeutic drug candidates or discovery platforms, as well as the risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates, including those identified under “Risk Factors” in Amarantus’ most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other filings Amarantus periodically makes with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements Amarantus does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this presentation.

According to Companies & Markets, the cancer diagnostics market is poised to grow from $776 million today to $5.3 billion by 2015. And while genomic and epigenomic analysis dominate the market now, new technologies like biophotonics could revolutionize the field and steal a significant market share from the larger industry players.

Better Alternative: Highly-Efficacious Cancer Testing

Cancer is simply a collection of diseases caused by genetic malfunctions that lead to uncontrolled cell replication. Genomic diagnostics seek to identify genetic mutations that could be markers for cancer in patients. But since specific genetic markers must be identified for each type of cancer being targeted, there is always a possibility of missing the diagnosis.

In contrast, Guided Therapeutics’ LuViva™ technology uses light to detect chemical and structural changes in tissue itself. Light returned from the tissue being tested is analyzed by a spectrometer that subsequently generates a quantitative result that identifies healthy and diseased tissue. And since it uses purely light, there’s no needles or surgery involved in the diagnosis.

Unlike many other traditional cancer diagnostic tests, the company’s technology has also demonstrated high sensitivity and superior specificity. In a recent interview, management indicated that sensitivity was over 90% compared to 74% for the standard of care. Meanwhile, specificity was about 40%, which is a significant savings over existing tests.

Later-Stage Company Beginning Commercialization

Guided Therapeutics has plans to commercialize its diagnostic tests – initially for cervical cancer – in the near-term. The company plans to launch this first product internationally during the first quarter of next year and then in the U.S. three months later, upon approval by the FDA. The estimated deadline for this decision is January 20, 2012.

Outside of the U.S., they are already working with regional distributors in South East Asia, while agreements are also in place in Europe. In the U.S., the company plans to leverage its own highly-trained salesforce to help improve its overall performance. Combined, these worldwide launches could deliver exceptional value to shareholders.

In the meantime, investors have a number of catalysts in the near-term. The FDA’s estimated January 20, 2012 approval date could prove to be a defining moment for the company. Meanwhile, the product launch thereafter – if approved – will help generate near-term revenues. And yet, the stock trades with just a $46.17 million market capitalization.

About Guided Therapeutics Inc.

Guided Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCBB & OTCQB: GTHP) is developing a rapid and painless testing platform for the early detection of disease based on its patented biophotonic technology that utilizes light to detect disease at the cellular level. The Company’s first planned product is the LuViva™ Advanced Cervical Scan, a non-invasive device used to detect cervical disease instantly and at the point of care. In a multi-center clinical trial, with women at risk for cervical disease, the technology was able to detect cervical cancer up to two years earlier than conventional modalities, according to published reports. Guided Therapeutics has also entered into a partnership with Konica Minolta Opto to develop a non-invasive test for Barrett’s esophagus using the technology platform. For more information, visit: www.guidedinc.com.