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BioTime, Inc. (BTX) Announces Four Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Approved for Inclusion in NIH Registry

BioTime, Inc., a California biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine and blood plasma volume expanders, today announced NIH (National Institutes of Health) approval of four of the company’s embryonic stem cell lines for inclusion in the NIH Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry. The four stem cell lines are ESI-035, ESI-049, ESI-051, and ESI-053, developed by BioTime wholly owned subsidiary ES Cell International (ESI), one of the earliest pioneers of human embryonic stem cell technology

BioTime President and CEO, Michael D. West, Ph.D., commented on the announcement. “As researchers work towards developing therapeutics for use in hard-to-treat diseases, we believe that our clinical grade hES cell lines will enable them to easily translate scientific progress into commercially successful therapeutic products.”

BioTime has supplied research grade versions of the lines to dozens of researchers throughout California, and has agreed to provide the complete genome sequence to the public by this fall to facilitate the development of associated products. Research projects that use human embryonic stem cell lines are eligible for federal funding only if the lines are listed in the NIH Registry. A large pharmaceutical house is already evaluating one of the lines for possible used in its product development program.

BioTime’s broad platform of stem cell technologies is developed through subsidiaries focused on specific application areas. The company develops and markets research products such as ACTCellerate™ cell lines, culture media, and differentiation kits. BioTime’s lead product, Hextend®, is a blood plasma volume expander manufactured and distributed in the U.S. by Hospira, Inc., and in South Korea by CJ CheilJedang Corp. under exclusive licensing agreements. In addition to ESI, BioTime subsidiaries are ReCyte Therapeutics, Cell Cure, OrthoCyte, OncoCyte, BioTime Asia, LifeMap Sciences.

For additional information, visit the company’s website at www.BioTimeInc.com