Ocata Therapeutics Inc fka OCAT

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ACT receives new patent for generating hemangioblast cells


Sep 21, 2011 (Datamonitor via COMTEX) -- Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., or
ACT, a regenerative medicine company, has received new patent for the company's
proprietary method for generating and expanding hemangioblast cells from human
embryonic stem cells, or hESCs.

ACT holds an exclusive license to commercialize the patented technology in North
America through an agreement with Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine
International (SCRMI), a joint venture between ACT and CHA Bio & Diostech Co,
Ltd (CHA Biotech), a South Korean biotechnology company. Hemangioblasts are
precursor cells that can generate a broad spectrum of important blood, immune,
and vascular cell types, including red blood cells, platelets, blood vessels,
and mesenchymal stem cells, which have powerful immune-modulatory effects and
can make bone and cartilage among other replacement tissues.

The hemangioblast cells covered by the new patent are highly expandable and have
been shown to consistently and reproducibly give rise to a multitude of cells of
the hematopoietic (blood) and endothelial (vascular) lineages. A recent
scientific publication shows that hESC-derived hemangioblasts can differentiate
into functional megakaryocytes and platelets on a large scale. The
hESC-platelets displayed features that were indistinguishable from those of
normal blood platelets, and participated in both clot formation and retraction
in vitro.

"This is the first US patent on the commercial production of hemangioblast
cells, and puts another important piece in place for protecting our
hemangioblast program and establishing a firm intellectual property position
around the therapeutic products we are developing," stated Gary Rabin, ACT's
chairman and CEO. "We are steadily moving toward the clinic with several cell
therapy products that are manufactured from hemangioblasts. Having robust patent
protection around our manufacturing process is an integral part of the equation
for securing investment in these programs."



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KEYWORD: Healthcare Patents

SUBJECT CODE: Pharmaceuticals

Healthcare biotechnology