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MicroIslet Transplantation Studies in Diabetic Primates Successful at Six-Month Milestone

[I’ve posted about his company from time to time although I’ve never owned them.]

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060807/lam049.html?.v=57

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Monday August 7, 6:00 am ET

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MicroIslet, Inc. (Amex: MII ), a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development and commercialization of patented technologies in transplantation therapy for people with insulin-dependent diabetes, today announced that primate subjects in ongoing studies have continued to exhibit improved glycemic control over a six-month period by means of MicroIslet's proprietary microencapsulated porcine islet transplantation treatment approach.

In reporting this crucial milestone, an industry first in the effort to establish a more effective treatment for diabetes, MicroIslet's primate subjects showed substantial reduction in the need for insulin to control blood glucose levels. Additionally, this breakthrough was achieved without the need for chronic immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection of the transplanted insulin-producing islets.

Marks breakthrough in improved treatment for diabetes

As the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has recently reported, "Scientists are studying ways to microencapsulate islet cells to prevent rejection and reverse the progression of diabetes. If successful, this method may lead to islet cell transplantation without the need for immunosuppressive medicines." MicroIslet management hailed attainment of the six-month milestone in its primate studies as a significant advance toward that goal.

"We believe that with this positive data, we are setting the cornerstone for a new and vastly improved treatment for diabetes, which has reached an epidemic stage, afflicting an estimated 21 million Americans, including over 6 million who are undiagnosed," commented James R. Gavin III, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of MicroIslet, former President of the ADA and an internationally recognized diabetes expert.

"There are five key elements supporting our belief," Dr. Gavin continued. "First, we have achieved long-term survival of transplanted insulin-producing islets in our primate subjects. Second, these islets have substantially reduced the need for injected insulin to control blood glucose levels and prevent the progressive damage to the heart, kidneys and other vital organs that make diabetes so devastating. The primate subjects have experienced improved glycemic control for six months in our ongoing studies. Third, our method for islet microencapsulation has eliminated the need for chronic immunosuppression to prevent rejection of the transplanted tissues. Fourth, the transplantation site in the peritoneum allows a minimally invasive procedure, substantially decreasing the risks inherent in major surgery. Finally, unique among the companies investigating islet transplantation, we have secured access to a sufficient supply of islet tissues for human clinical trials and eventual commercialization of our diabetes treatment approach, through our exclusive, long-term islet supply agreement with the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research."

The Company plans to submit abstracts documenting its findings to major transplantation symposia this fall and at the American Society of Cell Biology Conference Annual Meeting in San Diego, December 9-13.

About MicroIslet

MicroIslet is a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of patented technologies in the field of transplantation therapy for people with insulin-dependent diabetes. MicroIslet's patented islet transplantation technology, exclusively licensed from Duke University, includes methods for isolating, culturing, cryopreservation, and immuno-protection (microencapsulation) of islet cells. MicroIslet is working to develop and commercialize a first product, called MicroIslet-P(TM), a microencapsulated porcine islet cell suspension that will be used for transplantation in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. Additional information about MicroIslet can be found at www.microislet.com.
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