Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. (AST)

[martind18]

Nice day today!

[tradetrak]

Listened to the conference call. It seems that we're in good financial shape for at least a year now. The most interesting thing to me though was that, while efficacy date on the dose escalated cohorts isn't anticipated until 2016, Pedro made a point of saying that they ARE tracking efficacy in the lower dose because the switch to the cervical area means a much smaller injury site. The results from this cohort is expected in the second half 2015.
Anybody else tune in? Thoughts?

[tradetrak]

Unfortunately, that's not today. Ugh...

[martind18]

I think we have great days ahead with this company.

[RealGenius]

Elliott Wave set-up here.
Chart gettin ready for "b" wave.

[tradetrak]

Congrats on catching it at a low!

[tradetrak]

Great news hey? This opens AST to all kinds of new $$ 'Bout time we get back to a PS that reflects the potential of this

[swingingRichard]

all out @4.99, figured overall net of 20% was good enough for the day. May get back in with free shares.

[martind18]

Yes.... The movers and shakers beat this down... Bought shares... And up she goes ...

[Joe89]

Heads up, big reversal off support today!

[swingingRichard]

. . . and now we know.

http://ih.advfn.com/p.php?pid=nmona&article=67515373&symbol=AST

I've two lots at $4.37 and $3.77.

[DeepDive]

Back at the levels it started trading at. I'm seriously tempted, though BTX might be the better value. I can't see BTX offloading their stake.

[tradetrak]

Hmmm. I hadn't seen that but in looking at the huge sell at 4:02 today (700K shares) I'm thinking we didn't make it into the Russell 3000.
I'm also wondering if all this selling has been the directors whose shares vested at the beginning of June. Not too encouraging if so.
=(

[martind18]

Form 4 filed... appears to be 5000 shares bought by the director yesterday.

[tradetrak]

It's a preliminary assessment but we'll know soon.
<<Preliminary Reconstitutions of Russell 3000(R), Russell Global and Russell Microcap(R) Indexes Include Asterias Biotherapeutics
9:00 AM ET 6/15/15 | PR Newswire
Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: AST), a biotechnology company focused on the emerging field of regenerative medicine is included in the preliminary list of additions to three Russell Investments ("Russell") indexes. According to information published by Russell, Asterias is expected to be added to the Russell 3000(R), Russell Global and Russell Microcap(R) indexes when Russell reconstitutes its comprehensive set of U.S. and global equity indexes on June 26, 2015.

The preliminary list of additions and deletions for the Russell U.S. and global equity indexes, the first public step in Russell's annual reconstitution process, was listed on the Russell website on Friday, June 12, 2015, after the U.S. stock market closed. Russell will provide further updates on the preliminary reconstitution portfolio on Friday, June 19 and 26. The final membership lists, with breakouts for the Russell 1000(R) Index, the Russell 2000(R) Index and the Russell Midcap(R) Index, will be posted June 26 after the close of the U.S. markets. The newly reconstituted Russell indexes will take effect after the close of the U.S. stock market on Friday, June 26.

Each June, the entire family of Russell U.S. and global equity indexes are realigned and recalibrated to reflect market changes in the past year. This year's rebalance impacts approximately $5.7 trillion in assets benchmarked to and more than $800 billion in assets invested in products based on them.

Russell determines membership for its equity indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes. The Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for passive and active investment strategies. The Russell 3000(R) captures the 3,000 largest U.S. stocks as of the end of May of each year, ranking them by total market capitalization. The largest 1,000 companies in this ranking make up the Russell 1000(R) and the next largest 2,000 companies comprise the Russell 2000(R). The Russell 3000(R) also serves as the U.S. component to the Russell Global Index. The Russell Microcap(R) consists of the smallest 1,000 securities in the small-cap Russell 2000 Index, plus the next 1,000 smallest eligible securities by market cap.

[martind18]

No.... What's up with that?

[tradetrak]

I wish I'd had some dry powder to do the same but I'm tied up in something else. Still holding what I had tho so looking forward to some additional good news this quarter. Speaking of which, did you see we're being added to the Russell 3000?

[martind18]

I bought several times on the way down.

[tradetrak]

Ya think? Ridiculous.

[martind18]

Way over sold here

[tradetrak]

BTX 10K from the annual meeting materials:
https://materials.proxyvote.com/Approved/09066L/20150601/10K_251999.PDF

[tradetrak]

I haven't checked the short interest but BTX has a HUGE number of shares. I think it's something like 65% of the outstanding shares. I can't imagine why, with that much at stake, they would sell shares on the open market. But there was an article on SA talking about them divesting all their holdings.

I think the original selling began in reaction to an AST filing in May re: execution of warrants at $2.34 but the SA article has fueled a panic selling environment. However, this seems to me to be a pretty relevant paragraph from the BTX 6/1 filing (link to filing below):


ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION
The Reporting Person does not have any plans or proposals that relate to or
would result in: (a) the acquisition by any person of additional securities of
the Company, or the disposition of securities of the Company; (b) an
extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or
liquidation, involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (c) a sale or
transfer of a material amount of assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries; (d) any change in the present Board of Directors or management of
the Company, including any plans or proposals to change the number or term of
directors or to fill any existing vacancies on the board; (e) any material
change in the present capitalization or dividend policy of the Company; (f) any
other material change in the Company's business or corporate structure; (g)
changes in the Company's charter, bylaws or instruments corresponding thereto
or other actions which may impede the acquisition of control of the Company by
any person; (h) causing a class of securities of the Company to be delisted
from a national securities exchange or to cease to be authorized to be quoted
in an inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national securities
association; (i) a class of equity securities of the Company becoming eligible
for termination of registration pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Exchange
Act; or (j) any action similar to any of those enumerated above.>>
https://www.etrade.wallst.com/v1/stocks/fundamentals/filing.asp?dockey=168-15901145-6T4AJA1LOC43O24LIVE53IH27I&filingType=SC%2013D&filingDate=06/01/2015&User_SessionID=BC0EE5AFA2F78247E1774F33A1DB9E11

[ykootss]

So all this damage the last cpl weeks is from btx dumping shares? If it were just profit taking , those taking profits should be just about all gone by now I would think. Has anyone checked the short interest?

[tradetrak]

This is definitely related to the 6/1 BTX filing.

<<...Of that amount, BioTime currently owns 24,973,340 shares (including 3,150,000 in in-the-money warrants). The warrants are priced at $5 a share so assuming BioTime liquidates all its holdings for say $7 a share, it will net approximately $159 million ($174.8 million minus $15.7 million in warrant costs).>>

http://seekingalpha.com/article/3258915-biotimes-prospectus-setting-up-potential-divestiture-of-asterias-becomes-effective

[tradetrak]

Yeah. Think I would have learned that one by now. =(

[PennyWorld]

My experience with penny stocks is now to take profits and not get greedy. I have a few horror stories where I held out for the bigger apple.

[tradetrak]

I think it's, in part, due to larger investors rotating into GERN which had great news come out today. I had considered getting out in the low teens but given the way it was going I was afraid of not being able to get back in. My bad - should have had a stop in on at least half my position. As long as nothing has changed with the fundamental story, I'm sure it will run back up, but would rather be buying more down here with house money and not my own!

[PennyWorld]

I"m lucky I bailed at 11.40. No news that I can see for this. Must be simply .... profit taking. There could be a good re-entry point over the short term. I haven't checked the filings...so maybe some insiders dumping in anticipation of neg news. Time will tell.

[tradetrak]

Wow. Unbelievable. Guess you guys all bailed before this debacle.

[tradetrak]

Both BTX & AST seriously down today. Checked on Edgar and not seeing any filings. Anyone know what's up?

[tradetrak]

Saw an after hours trade of 1000 at $12.90

[stocktrademan]

$AST recent news/filings

bullish

## source: finance.yahoo.com

Mon, 01 Jun 2015 10:31:00 GMT ~ 6:31 am Asterias Biotherapeutics announces positive, long-term data from a Phase 2 clinical trial of AST-VAC1 in intermediate and high risk acute myelogenous leukemia


read full: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/inplay-briefing-com-055139997.html#ast
*********************************************************

Mon, 01 Jun 2015 10:30:00 GMT ~ Positive New, Long-Term Follow-Up Data of Asterias Biotherapeutics' AST-VAC1 Cancer Vaccine Demonstrates Prolonged Relapse-Free Survival in Patients with High-Risk Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)

[PR Newswire] - MENLO PARK, Calif., June 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: AST), a biotechnology company focused on the emerging field of regenerative medicine, today announced positive, new, long-term follow-up data from a Phase 2 clinical trial of AST-VAC1 in patients with intermediate and high risk acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). AST-VAC1 is the Company's autologous (using cells sourced from the patient) telomerase-based dendritic cell cancer vaccine. AML is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults with 12,000 new cases diagnosed annually, and remains an unmet clinical need, especially in patients over the age of 60 who face poor outcomes and have limited therapies available to them.

read full: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/positive-long-term-data-asterias-103000152.html
*********************************************************

Fri, 29 May 2015 15:36:06 GMT ~ Current report No 15/2015

[at noodls] - The Board of Directors of ASTARTA Holding N.V. (Company) herby informs that between May 25, 2015 and May 29, 2015, during trading sessions on the main market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange, the Company purchased ...

read full: http://www.noodls.com/view/91304211BB008ED20737C5746AFF52B2F40CA88A
*********************************************************

Tue, 26 May 2015 20:30:06 GMT ~ ASTERIAS BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC. Files SEC form 8-K, Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities, Financial Statements and E


read full: http://biz.yahoo.com/e/150526/ast8-k.html
*********************************************************

Tue, 26 May 2015 13:15:00 GMT ~ Asterias Biotherapeutics Receives $11.7 Million in Proceeds from Exercise of Warrants

[PR Newswire] - MENLO PARK, Calif., May 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: AST), a biotechnology company focused on the emerging field of regenerative medicine, today announced that all outstanding common share purchase warrants originally issued in June 2014 were exercised prior to their expiry on June 15, 2015, resulting in total proceeds to the Company of $11.7 million. "We thank our shareholders for their continued support," said Pedro Lichtinger, President and CEO of Asterias. "This exercise of warrants represents a strong vote of confidence from our long-term shareholders in Asterias, the prospects for our clinical programs, and our potential to create value.

read full: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/asterias-biotherapeutics-receives-11-7-131500918.html
*********************************************************

$AST charts

basic chart ## source: stockcharts.com



basic chart ## source: stockscores.com



big daily chart ## source: stockcharts.com



big weekly chart ## source: stockcharts.com



$AST company information

## source: otcmarkets.com

Link: http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/AST/company-info
Ticker: $AST
OTC Market Place: Not Available
CIK code: 0001572552
Company name: Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.
Incorporated In:


$AST share structure

## source: otcmarkets.com

Market Value: Not Available
Shares Outstanding: Not Available
Float: Not Available
Authorized Shares: Not Available
Par Value: Not Available

$AST extra dd links

Company name: Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.
## STOCK DETAILS ##
After Hours Quote (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/after-hours
Option Chain (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/option-chain
Historical Prices (yahoo.com): http://finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=AST+Historical+Prices
Company Profile (yahoo.com): http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=AST+Profile
Industry (yahoo.com): http://finance.yahoo.com/q/in?s=AST+Industry

## COMPANY NEWS ##
Market Stream (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/stream
Latest news (otcmarkets.com): http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/AST/news - http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=AST+Headlines

## STOCK ANALYSIS ##
Analyst Research (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/analyst-research
Guru Analysis (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/guru-analysis
Stock Report (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/stock-report
Competitors (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/competitors
Stock Consultant (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/stock-consultant
Stock Comparison (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/stock-comparison
Investopedia (investopedia.com): http://www.investopedia.com/markets/stocks/AST/?wa=0
Research Reports (otcmarkets.com): http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/AST/research
Basic Tech. Analysis (yahoo.com): http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ta?s=AST+Basic+Tech.+Analysis
Barchart (barchart.com): http://www.barchart.com/quotes/stocks/AST
DTCC (dtcc.com): http://search2.dtcc.com/?q=Asterias+Biotherapeutics%2C+Inc.&x=10&y=8&sp_p=all&sp_f=ISO-8859-1
Spoke company information (spoke.com): http://www.spoke.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Asterias+Biotherapeutics%2C+Inc.
Corporation WIKI (corporationwiki.com): http://www.corporationwiki.com/search/results?term=Asterias+Biotherapeutics%2C+Inc.&x=0&y=0

## FUNDAMENTALS ##
Call Transcripts (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/call-transcripts
Annual Report (companyspotlight.com): http://www.companyspotlight.com/library/companies/keyword/AST
Income Statement (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/financials?query=income-statement
Revenue/EPS (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/revenue-eps
SEC Filings (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/sec-filings
Edgar filings (sec.gov): http://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0001572552&owner=exclude&count=40
Latest filings (otcmarkets.com): http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/AST/filings
Latest financials (otcmarkets.com): http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/AST/financials
Short Interest (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/short-interest
Dividend History (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/dividend-history
RegSho (regsho.com): http://www.regsho.com/tools/symbol_stats.php?sym=AST&search=search
OTC Short Report (otcshortreport.com): http://otcshortreport.com/index.php?index=AST
Short Sales (otcmarkets.com): http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/AST/short-sales
Key Statistics (yahoo.com): http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=AST+Key+Statistics
Insider Roster (yahoo.com): http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ir?s=AST+Insider+Roster
Income Statement (yahoo.com): http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=AST
Balance Sheet (yahoo.com): http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bs?s=AST
Cash Flow (yahoo.com): http://finance.yahoo.com/q/cf?s=AST+Cash+Flow&annual

## HOLDINGS ##
Major holdings (cnbc.com): http://data.cnbc.com/quotes/AST/tab/8.1
Insider transactions (yahoo.com): http://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=AST+Insider+Transactions
Insider transactions (secform4.com): http://www.secform4.com/insider-trading/AST.htm
Insider transactions (insidercrow.com): http://www.insidercow.com/history/company.jsp?company=AST
Ownership Summary (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/ownership-summary
Institutional Holdings (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/institutional-holdings
Insiders (SEC Form 4) (nasdaq.com): http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/AST/insider-trades
Insider Disclosure (otcmarkets.com): http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/AST/insider-transactions

## SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER VARIOUS SOURCES ##
PST (pennystocktweets.com): http://www.pennystocktweets.com/stocks/profile/AST
Market Watch (marketwatch.com): http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/AST
Bloomberg (bloomberg.com): http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/AST:US
Morningstar (morningstar.com): http://quotes.morningstar.com/stock/s?t=AST
Bussinessweek (businessweek.com): http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot_article.asp?ticker=AST



$AST DD Notes ~ http://www.ddnotesmaker.com/AST

[tradetrak]

Very good news re: the VAC1 presentation, but this statement is really where the action is going forward:

"These positive long-term findings provide additional clinical rationale that supports our focus on progressing our AST-VAC2 allogeneic (non-patient specific) dendritic cell cancer vaccine development program into a Phase 1/2a clinical trial in lung cancer..."


Positive New, Long-Term Follow-Up Data of -2-

Jun 01, 2015 06:30:00 (ET)

Data Presented at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting

Management to Host Conference Call and Webcast to Discuss AST-VAC1 Development Strategy on Wednesday, June 3, 2015, at 4:30 p.m. ET

MENLO PARK, Calif., June 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: AST), a biotechnology company focused on the emerging field of regenerative medicine, today announced positive, new, long-term follow-up data from a Phase 2 clinical trial of AST-VAC1 in patients with intermediate and high risk acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). AST-VAC1 is the Company's autologous (using cells sourced from the patient) telomerase-based dendritic cell cancer vaccine. AML is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults with 12,000 new cases diagnosed annually, and remains an unmet clinical need, especially in patients over the age of 60 who face poor outcomes and have limited therapies available to them. The long-term follow-up showed that more than 50% of patients who received AST-VAC1 had prolonged relapse-free survival, even patients with high-risk AML including those over 60 years old and patients in second remission.

H. Jean Khoury, MD, FACP, professor of hematology and medical oncology, and director of the Division of Hematology in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine, presented the new long-term follow-up findings at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting during an oral presentation on Saturday, May 30, 2015.

"Many AML patients in complete remission following chemotherapy eventually relapse due to a substantial burden of remaining leukemic cells," said Dr. Khoury. "Additional therapies that are well-tolerated are needed for patients at high risk of relapse. The long-term follow-up data shows that patients tolerated AST-VAC1 treatment very well, and more importantly, relapse-free survival in this high-risk patient population continues to be encouraging. Eleven out of 19 patients (58 percent) receiving AST-VAC1 during complete remission were relapse-free with a median follow-up of 52 months. More importantly, four out of seven patients (57 percent) over the age of 60 remained in remission after a median 54 months of follow-up. These results suggest that targeting telomerase through a dendritic cell-based vaccine approach may prolong remission duration in patients with high-risk AML, and warrant additional study in future trials."

"AST-VAC1 represents the first development product from our proprietary dendritic cell immunotherapy technology platform that is designed to stimulate patients' immune systems to attack telomerase, a protein that is expressed in over 95 percent of cancers but is rarely expressed in normal adult cells," said Dr. Jane Lebkowski, President of R&D of Asterias. "Our dendritic cell immunotherapy technology is based on a unique mode of action that is complementary and potentially synergistic to immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs that have shown promising results in treating patients across multiple advanced cancers. These positive long-term findings provide additional clinical rationale that supports our focus on progressing our AST-VAC2 allogeneic (non-patient specific) dendritic cell cancer vaccine development program into a Phase 1/2a clinical trial in lung cancer, as well as pursue development strategies for the AST-VAC1 program."

Long-Term Follow-Up Results

Twenty-one patients received at least three injections of AST-VAC1 in the study, including 19 patients in clinical remission (CR); 16 in first clinical remission (CR1) and three in second clinical remission (CR2), and two patients in early relapse. Seven of the 19 patients in CR were at least 60 years old at the time of immunotherapy with AST-VAC1. Of the 19 patients who were in CR, 13 received all 12 doses of AST-VAC1 with one additional patient withdrawing consent just before the last vaccination dose. The two patients who were vaccinated with AST-VAC1 during early relapse progressed rapidly and did not receive the full dosing regimen.

Eleven of 19 patients (58 percent) in the trial remain in CR with a median duration of follow-up of 52 months from first vaccination. Four of the seven patients who were at least 60 years old at the time of immunotherapy with AST-VAC1 remain relapse free 52 to 59 months from first vaccination. The three patients who received AST-VAC1 while in CR2 were in remission as of their last follow-up of 24, 50 and 59 months. Historical results suggest that relapse-free survival in AML patients greater than 60 years old is poor with 10 percent to 20 percent surviving 60 months.

Patient immune response to telomerase after vaccination with AST-VAC1 was assessed by peptide ELISpot analysis to measure the presence of activated T-cells specific to hTERT. Positive immune responses were detected in 58% of patients.

AST-VAC1 was found to be safe and well-tolerated in this study over multiple vaccinations, with up to 32 serial vaccinations administered (median = 17). Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (grade 3-4) was reported in one patient. Other toxicities (grade 1-2) included rash or headache.

"We are very encouraged by these promising new, long-term relapse findings, and excited by the opportunity of having a third clinical stage program at Asterias," said Pedro Lichtinger, President and CEO of Asterias. "AST-VAC1 becomes our most advanced clinical opportunity fitting our strategic focus on major unmet medical needs without adequate available therapies. We are forming our clinical development plan for AST-VAC1, and intend to explore all strategic alternatives to further advance this product for the benefit of patients, and to maximize value for Asterias shareholders."

Phase 2 Trial Design

The multi-center, open label trial was designed to evaluate the feasibility of AST-VAC1 manufacture and the safety and tolerability of the vaccination regimen in patients with AML who were in complete clinical remission. Additional objectives of the study were to evaluate the immune responses to AST-VAC1 and to explore the effects of vaccination on relapse in this patient population.

Patients entered the trial in their first or second clinical remission. Prior to or shortly after completing consolidation chemotherapy, patients underwent leukapheresis to harvest normal mononuclear (white blood) cells from the bloodstream for vaccine manufacture.

Patients were vaccinated weekly for six weeks, with AST-VAC1 cells administered intra-dermally, followed by a non-treatment period of four weeks, and subsequent boost injections every other week for 12 weeks. Monthly extended boost injections were then administered until their vaccine product supply was depleted or the patient relapsed.

Complementarity with Other Therapeutic Approaches to Malignancies

AST-VAC1 is intended to stimulate specific anti-tumor immune responses and the current study in AML indicates that this therapeutic vaccine can successfully induce immune responses to the tumor antigen, telomerase, even in hematological malignancies. AST-VAC1 may be used to enhance the activity of recently approved or experimental immune checkpoint inhibitors that target the CTLA4, PD1, or other pathways by providing a potent stimulator of tumor-targeting immune responses. Likewise, AST-VAC1 could complement chimeric T cell receptor therapies. In this case, the chimeric T cell receptor therapies could serve as debulking agents facilitating remissions prior to administration of AST-VAC1. Such combinations could expand the addressable patient population for each therapeutic approach.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Management will host a conference call and webcast at 4:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 3, 2015, to discuss the new, long-term follow-up data from the Phase 2 clinical trial of AST-VAC1 and the Company's plan to maximize the asset.

For both "listen-only" participants and those participants who wish to participate in the question-and-answer portion of the call, the dial-in number in the U.S. is 877-407-8291. For participants outside the U.S., the dial-in number is 201-689-8345. To access the live webcast, go to http://asteriasbiotherapeutics.com/events-presentations/.

A replay of the conference call will be available for seven business days beginning about two hours after the conclusion of the live call. The telephone dial-in number for U.S. participants is 877-660-6853. For participants outside the U.S., the replay dial-in number is 201-612-7415. To access the replay for all callers, refer to Conference ID 13611351. An archived webcast will also be available for 30 days, and may be accessed at http://asteriasbiotherapeutics.com/events-presentations/.

About AST-VAC1

AST-VAC1 is an autologous product (using cells that come from the treated patient) consisting of mature antigen-presenting dendritic cells pulsed with RNA for the protein component of human telomerase ("hTERT") and a portion of a lysosomal targeting signal ("LAMP"). LAMP directs the telomerase RNA to the lysosome, the subcellular organelle that directs the RNA to a particular part of the cell membrane. AST-VAC1 is injected into the patient's skin; and from there the dendritic cells travel to the lymph nodes and instruct cytotoxic T-cells (T-cells that "kill" other cells) to kill tumor cells that express telomerase on their surface.

About Asterias Biotherapeutics

Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: AST) is a leading biotechnology company in the emerging field of regenerative medicine. The Company's core technologies center on pluripotent stem cells, which are characterized by the ability to become all cell types in the human body. Asterias is focused on developing therapies based on pluripotent stem cells to treat diseases or serious injuries in several medical areas where there is high unmet medical need and without adequate available therapies. Asterias' two therapeutic programs, AST-OPC1 (oligodendrocyte progenitor cells) for spinal cord injuries and AST-VAC2 (antigen-presenting allogeneic dendritic cells) for lung cancer, are based on the Company's proprietary technology platforms of Pluripotent Stem Cells and Allogeneic Dendritic Cell Immunotherapy, respectively. AST-OPC1 is currently in a Phase 1/2a clinical trial. Additional information about Asterias can be found at www.asteriasbiotherapeutics.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development, and potential opportunities for Asterias, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates") should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the businesses of Asterias, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in Asterias' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Asterias disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/positive-new-long-term-follow-up-data-of-asterias-biotherapeutics-ast-vac1-cancer-vaccine-demonstrates-prolonged-relapse-free-survival-in-patients-with-high-risk-acute-myelogenous-leukemia-aml-300091360.html

SOURCE Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.

/CONTACT: Investors, [e-mail], [phone]

/Web site: www.asteriasbiotherapeutics.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 01, 2015 06:30 ET (10:30 GMT)

[PennyWorld]

All, Seeking Alpha PRO is the only way to obtain credible information off of that site. Everything else (without the PRO) is just pump or trash and dump. The pros know this.

[tradetrak]

Here's the Abstract that will be presented at ASCO on 5/30. You won't see me shorting this stock any time soon as, if this is any indication of the progress in their other clinical trials, it's definitely on track to kick some AST!

Long-term follow-up of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia receiving an autologous telomerase-based dendritic cell vaccine.

Sub-category:
Leukemia

Category:
Leukemia, Myelodysplasia, and Transplantation

Meeting:
2015 ASCO Annual Meeting

Abstract No:
7007

Citation:
J Clin Oncol 33, 2015 (suppl; abstr 7007)

Author(s): Hanna Jean Khoury, Robert Collins, William G. Blum, Patrick J. Stiff, Jane Lebkowski, Edward Wirth, Kevin Nishimoto, John F. DiPersio; Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA; The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH; Loyola Univ Med Ctr, Maywood, IL; Asterias Biotherapeutics, Menlo Park, CA; Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

Abstract Disclosures

Abstract:
Background: A phase II clinical trial was conducted in which subjects with AML were administered a telomerase-based dendritic cell immunotherapy (AST-VAC1; hTERT-DCs). The hTERT-DCs were prepared from leukapheresis collections from 33 subjects and were transfected with an mRNA encoding telomerase (hTERT) and the lysosomal sorting signal, LAMP-1, which enhances immunostimulatory activity. hTERT is essential for maintaining the proliferative capacity of tumor cells. Methods: AML patients were eligible to receive hTERT-DCs if they were in CR1 or CR2 with intermediate or high risk cytogenetics or if they were in early relapse with < 20% marrow blasts. The hTERT-DCs were prepared after induction therapy and before or after completion of consolidation cycles. The hTERT-DCs were administered as 6 weekly followed by 6 biweekly intradermal injections. Results: Twenty-one patients (median age: 55) in complete remission (16 CR1 and 3 CR2) and or early relapse (2) received at least 3 injections of the hTERT-DCs. Only one grade 3 or 4 adverse event, (idiopathic thrombocytopenia), possibly related to the immunotherapy was observed during the first year. The two patients who were vaccinated during early relapse progressed rapidly and did not receive the full dosing regimen of hTERT-DCs. Of the 19 patients that were in CR, 14 received all 12 doses of hTERT-DCs. Fifty-eight percent (11/19) developed cellular immune responses to hTERT as assessed by peptide ELISpot analysis. Eleven of 19 patients (median follow-up 52 mos.) are still in remission as of last follow-up; seven developed detectable cellular immune responses to hTERT. Of the 19 CR patients, 7 were = 60 yo at the time of hTERT-DC immunotherapy. Four of 7 patients = 60 yo remain relapse free 52-59 months post DC-hTERT immunotherapy with all four developing immune responses to hTERT. The three patients that received DC-hTERT while in CR2 were in remission as of their last follow-up of 24, 50 and 59 months with two having hTERT immune responses. Conclusions: The results suggest that immunotherapy with hTERT-DCs is safe, can stimulate an immune response to telomerase, and may provide anti-tumor immune responses even in high risk patients with AML Clinical trial information: NCT00510133

http://abstract.asco.org/156/AbstView_156_148041.html

[tradetrak]

AST is neither "long running" nor a failure. You want to short it that's your business, but anyone who's been following the science, taking note of the partners, and recognizes a great opportunity when they see one, isn't going to get suckered in by rehashed ancient history. Could it go to hell in a hand basket? Yeah, but there's NOTHING in this trash article that's got me shaking in my boots. The PHI, as is typical, was a safety study and had no efficacy related endpoints. The PHII that's in enrollment now will be the telling tale.

[philsteen]

Seeking Alpha Explains Why AST is heading to $2

AST is a long running failure

[Mitshu35]

Seeking Alpha article - explains today's sell-off. Some old info in this article, written by short-seller (see last sentence of article - Our price target is $0. [we are short this stock]).

http://seekingalpha.com/article/3192796-asterias-biotherapeutics-stem-cell-program-is-dead-on-arrival

[Mitshu35]

It's a pretty impressive list of mutual funds that hold shares in this company (even though not huge amount of shares by any one of them).

Picked up more shares today under $11. Love good buying opportunities - down 6-7% or more on light volume = buy-time.

BTX is way undervalued just from the amount of AST stock they own, let alone their other subsidiaries.

[tradetrak]

Nice. Thanks for the post Mitshu. I hadn't seen that report but couldn't agree more with their assessment. Welcome aboard!

[Mitshu35]

Bought in today at $11. Been watching for a while as I own BTX, but I saw the below analyst report and decided to buy:

AST initiated with "buy", target set to $22
May 6, 2015 9:41 AM EDT

Lake Street Price at rating $12.71

May 6 (FlashRatings.com) - Analysts at Lake Street initiate coverage of Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. (AST) with a "buy" rating. The target price is set to $22.

Lake Street notes, "We believe investors have yet to fully appreciate the high barriers and underlying value in the stem cell technology platform that Asterias has built in regenerative medicine and cancer immunotherapy. The company has one of the largest intellectual property portfolios in the stem cell space, with more than 400 patents / patent applications, and its technology is ultimately better-suited to a pharmaceutical business model because of the ability to centrally produce large quantities of high-quality cells that can be used off-the-shelf - as opposed to manufactured for each patient from their own cells."

[tradetrak]

PS. Thanks for the heads up on the Yahoo board action.

[tradetrak]

I don't know that the ARCO presentation news was out there at the time of the big run. I think you might be right re: sell on the earnings news.

[ykootss]

I read the transcript and didn't see anything negative really. Maybe just a sell on earnings/news kind of thing? The yahoo mssg boards have a lot more action on this stock. A lot of shorters squawking over there. So maybe that had something to do with it too. The asco presentation should make this very interesting, but I'm wondering if maybe the big run up was a function of "pricing it in". I think its safe to say everyone is expecting good news with that. I may be over thinking it. Lots to consider

[tradetrak]

Well, last week gave you another shot at it. I was a little surprised at Friday's sell off after the clinical update. Haven't had time to listen yet but want to see what it was they didn't like!

[ykootss]

Good call! I wanted to see more of a base put in and missed my chance , for now. I still have my core tho so I'm still happy 8)

[tradetrak]

Wow. That was a drubbing! It came down enough that I actually picked up a little more.

[tradetrak]

Amen to that brother. I keep thinking I'll pick up some more on the "dips" but those dips are so short and shallow, I haven't done it. It'll be interesting to see what Monday brings.

[ykootss]

Wow yeah. Incredible. It kinda sux because I feel like we are still on the ground floor yet the pps has run up so dramatically. Its hard to plop down more at these elevated levels, yet it seems like no one has discovered AST. There are minimal comments on the SA articles and just us here. Like you said... its all house money at this point. I'd just like a lot more house money.

[tradetrak]

Definitely a winner so far. Playing with house money now. ;)
But this stock has such a low float and such dynamite potential, I don't even want to take profits for fear that it will open the next day at triple the close. I saw that someone copied an earlier post of mine to the GERN board. Maybe we'll see some interest from that camp if there are still some of the old guard that invested in GERN for the stem cell IP.