Stem Cell Therapies Focus on Causes of Chronic Disease at Neostem

In a recent video, “RedChip Money Report,” President and CEO of RedChip Dave Gentry interviews Dr. Robin Smith, chairman and CEO of NeoStem.

NeoStem is a biopharmaceutical company that is developing and manufacturing stem cell therapies in order to capitalize on the current paradigm shift. It is a New York Stock Exchange company that was ranked No. 7 nationally in Deloitte’s 2012 Technology Fast 500. Smith has been the CEO of NeoStem for at least six years.

In the video, she says that the company creates “novel cell therapy products to treat chronic diseases.” It also has a contract manufacturing business that helps other countries to develop their cell therapy products. Smith says that stem cell treatments started with bone marrow transplants, and that many blood disorders and cancer treatments incorporate cell therapy. Cell therapy focuses more on the causes of disease in order to prolong the quality of life.

She explains:

“We realized these cells of our body are a way to naturally repair itself. And we realized that we can take these cells from the different parts of our body and create therapies or vaccines to help treat differnet patients with chronic diseases.”

NeoStem received grants from the National Institute of Health and the Department of Defense. Smith says that in addition to cardiovascular therapy, the company is developing therapies in autoimmune disorders and regenerative medicine.

She says:

“Our Vsels, these very small embryonic-like stem cells, we believe have regenerative properties. Using the Department of Defense funding and through different grants, we’re looking to developing therapies for things like wounds—closing wounds more quickly; bones—through osteoporosis or through damage; vision—through retinal disease or macro degeneration. It’s a way to restore damaged tissue.”

Smith states that the Department of Defense is very focused on helping companies with exciting technologies, to develop them and get them into the clinic. This is so cell therapies that are safe, cost effective, and can treat damaged tissue and underlying disease to get into clinics as soon as possible.

RedChip is an international small-cap research firm and an Inc. 5000 company. "The RedChip Money Report" airs on Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. on Fox Business News and discusses small-cap investing, interviews with Wall Street analysts and executives of public companies, and provides financial book reviews. Dave Gentry is a leading authority on small-cap stocks, has been a consultant to hundreds of public companies, and has made multiple guest appearances on both CNBC and Fox Business News.

Watch the full video here.

Coronado Biosciences Added to Russell 3000(R) Index

Coronado Biosciences, Inc., (CNDO), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel immunotherapy agents for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer, announced today the Company has been added to the Russell Global, Russell 3000(R) and Russell Microcap(R) Indexes following the reconstitution of the Russell's U.S. and global equity indexes.

"We are excited to be included in the Russell 3000(R) Index," said Dr. Bobby W. Sandage, Jr., Coronado's President and CEO. "We believe that our addition to the Index will increase the visibility of our Company to a broader range of potential investors."

Annual reconstitution of Russell's U.S. indexes captures the 4,000 largest U.S. stocks as of the end of May, ranking them by total market capitalization to create the Russell 3000(R) Index and Russell Microcap Index. Membership in the Russell 3000, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the large-cap Russell 1000(R) Index or small-cap Russell 2000(R) Index as well as the appropriate growth and value style indexes. The Russell 3000 also serves as the U.S. component to the Russell Global Index, which Russell launched in 2007. Russell determines membership for its equity indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes.

Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for both passive and active investment strategies. In the institutional marketplace, an industry-leading $3.9 trillion in assets currently are benchmarked to them. Russell calculates more than 80,000 benchmarks daily covering approximately 98 percent of the investable market globally, 83 countries and more than 10,000 securities. These investment tools originated from Russell's multi-manager investment business in the early 1980s when the company saw the need for a more objective, market-driven set of benchmarks in order to evaluate outside investment managers.

About Coronado Biosciences

Coronado Biosciences is engaged in the development of novel immunotherapy biologic agents. The company's two principal pharmaceutical product candidates in clinical development are: TSO (Trichuris suis ova or CNDO-201), a biologic for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis; and CNDO-109, a biologic that activates natural killer (NK) cells, for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and solid tumors.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to the company's product development programs and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated risks relating to the results of research and development activities, uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing, financing and strategic agreements and relationships, the early stage of products under development, our need for substantial additional funds, government regulation, patent and intellectual property matters; our dependence on third party suppliers and competition, as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Contact:

Investor Relations
Lucy Lu, MD, Executive Vice President
& Chief Financial Officer
Coronado Biosciences, Inc.
781-238-6619; ir@coronadobio.com
Marcy Nanus, Vice President
The Trout Group, LLC.
646-378-2927; mnanus@troutgroup.com
Media Relations
Dennis S. Dobson Jr., CEO
Dobson Media Group
203-258-0159; dobsonpr@erols.com

Biotime ($BTX) demonstrates method for the manufacture of cartilage producing cells from human embryonic stem cells

BioTime (NYSE: BTX) and its wholly owned subsidiary OrthoCyte Corporation reported today a means of manufacturing cartilage from human embryonic stem cells that is suited for industrial scale-up of a product for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

• The paper, published online in the peer-reviewed journal Regenerative Medicine, characterizes a progenitor cell line produced from human embryonic stem cells using proprietary ACTCellerate technology.
• The study reports that the cells are capable of regenerating cartilage with long sought-after identification markers.
• The study also shows that the cells can be directly expanded on a scale needed for industrial manufacture, which will be necessary in order to make transplantable cells available in commercial quantities.

BioTime ($BTX) : R&D Day in NYC today

BioTime Investor Day

BioTime, Inc. is pleased to invite you to attend a unique forum featuring in depth presentations from the Company’s key collaborators and subsidiaries. A keynote address will be presented by BioTime and OncoCyte Board member, Andrew von Eschenbach, M.D., former FDA Commissioner and Director of the National Cancer Institute.  

Monday, April 23, 2012
2:00PM – 6:15PM with cocktail reception to follow

Harvard Club of New York City, Biddle Room
27 W.44th Street, New York, NY (between 5th & 6th Avenues)

PRESENTING SUBSIDIARIES:

• Cell Cure NeuroSciences, Ltd. - Leading supplier of therapeutic cells for the treatment of retinal and neural degenerative disease. OpRegen™ cell therapy platform utilizes proprietary technology that drives differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.
• OncoCyte Corporation – Oncology-focused diagnostics company leveraging embryonic stem cell-derived technology in order to provide earlier detection and improve patients’ quality and length of life by specifically removing malignant tumors without affecting nearby normal body tissue.
• OrthoCyte Corporation – Developer of cellular therapeutics for orthopedic disorders. The division’s lead project is the development of human embryonic progenitor (hEP) cell lines for cartilage repair, including osteoarthritis. 
• ReCyte Therapeutics, Inc. – Developer of therapeutics for cardiovascular and blood diseases based on its ReCyte™ iPS technology. This platform reverses the developmental aging of human cells and generates embryonic vascular and blood progenitors from the ReCyte cell lines for therapeutic use in age-related vascular and blood disorders, such as coronary disease and heart failure. 
• LifeMap Sciences, Inc. – Developer of a discovery platform, including a web-based database, to aid R&D efforts in the stem cells field, using embryonic stem cells, progenitor cells, induced pluripotent stem cells and other relevant cell types.
• BioTime Asia, Ltd. – Developer and marketer of BioTime stem cell technology within Asian geographies, with a particular focus within China. The Asian region offers significant developmental advantages, such as dense patient populations, flexible regulation and public acceptance, and abbreviated clinical application timelines.

Mesoblast Intervertebral Disc Repair Phase II Trial Update ($MSB)

Mesoblast Limited (ASX: MSB; OTC ADR: MBLTY) is the world’s leading developer of innovative biological products for the broad field of regenerative medicine.  Mesoblast’s commercial strategy is based on its unique proprietary adult mesenchymal precursor cells.  The company’s lead products will target cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, inflammatory conditions of lungs and joints, eye diseases, bone marrow cancers, bone fractures, cartilage degeneration and musculoskeletal conditions. Mesoblast and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. have established a strategic alliance to commercialize adult stem cell products for degenerative conditions of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. The alliance also extends to products for augmenting bone marrow transplantation in cancer patients.

Mesoblast announced that its Phase 2 clinical trial of allogeneic (off-the-shelf) Mesenchymal Precursor Cells has now enrolled 50% of the total study patients.  This trial will investigate non-surgical treatment of lower back pain due to degenerated intervertebral discs.  The rapid enrollment of this study indicated the Phase 2 trail will reach full capcity for its study by the third quarter.  The pace in which this study has enrolled participants bespeaks of the great need back patients have for non-surgical treatments.   

The Company commented,

"Up to 15 per cent of people in industrialized countries have chronic low back pain lasting more than six months. For those with progressive, severe and debilitating pain due to degenerating intervertebral discs, the only current option is major back surgery involving spinal fusion, artificial disc replacement, or other surgical procedures. Avoidance of surgery and its complications is a major objective of any new treatment for degenerative disease of the spine."

Mesoblast published the results of its previous successful study in the March 2012 issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery. 

Read the full press release here.  

NeoStem Closes Public Offering for $6,800,000 in Gross Proceeds ($NBS)

NeoStem, Inc. (AMEX: NBS; Stock Twits: $NBS) is engaged in the development and manufacturing of cell-based therapies in the U.S.  Its January 2011 acquisition of Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC ("PCT") is central to the Company's strategic mission of capturing the paradigm shift to cell therapy.  The acquisition of PCT gives NeoStem not only access to a world class contract manufacturing cell therapy company but provides a platform and expertise around the evaluation, development and regulatory requirements to develop autologous, allogeneic, immunomodulatory and vaccine-based therapeutics. NeoStem also holds the worldwide exclusive license to VSEL(TM) Technology, which uses very small embryonic-like stem cells, shown to have several physical characteristics that are generally found in embryonic stem cells, and is pursuing the licensing of other technologies for therapeutic use.

The Company has announced "the closing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of 15,000,000 units and the exercise of the over-allotment option by the underwriter for an additional 2,000,000 units, bringing the total units offered to 17,000,000. The offering was priced at $0.40 per unit. Each unit consists of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase one share of common stock with a per share exercise price of $0.51. Maxim Group LLC acted as sole book-running manager."

Dr. Robin Smith, NeoStem's Chairman & CEO, commented, 

"NeoStem's management remains focused on our key objectives of expanding our stem cell therapeutic contract manufacturing business, enrolling the PreSERVE AMR-001 Phase 2 clinical trial for preserving heart function after a heart attack and monetizing our China pharmaceutical subsidiary through divestiture."

The offering resulted in gross proceeds of $6,800,000, "prior to deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company. These funds will be used for working capital purposes, including research and development of cell therapeutic product candidates, expansion of business units, strategic transactions and other general corporate purposes."

Read the full release at Neostem.com. 

NeoStem Announces Pricing of Public Offering for $6,000,000 in Gross Proceeds (NBS)

NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE Amex:NBS) is engaged in the development and manufacturing of cell-based therapies in the U.S.  Its January 2011 acquisition of Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC ("PCT") is central to the Company's strategic mission of capturing the paradigm shift to cell therapy. 

 

The Company has announced "the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 15,000,000 units at $0.40 per unit. Each unit consists of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase one share of common stock with a per share exercise price of $0.51. Maxim Group LLC acted as sole bookrunner. The Company expects to receive $6,000,000 in gross proceeds, prior to deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company."

These funds will be used for working capital purposes such as the research and development of cell therapeutic product candidates, as well as the expansion of business units, strategic transactions and other general corporate purposes. Neostem "has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,250,000 units to cover over-allotments." 

 

The financing is expected to close on or about April 3, 2012, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Read more at Nasdaq.com. 

Bell Potter Securities on Mesoblast ($MSB): Headed to the sweet spot in diabetes care. Buy, Speculative. Current price $6.45. Target price $16.00

Mesoblast (ASX: MSB) is developing a series of high margin, off-the-shelf adult stem cell products that are obtained from a single donor, commercially expanded and frozen, and subsequently used in potentially thousands of unrelated, or allogeneic, recipients at the time and place of need. Mesoblast listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: MSB) in December 2004. In December 2010, Mesoblast completed its acquisition of United States company, Angioblast Systems Inc. This strategic acquisition enabled Mesoblast to broaden its product pipeline across a wider range of clinical indications including cardiovascular, oncology, eye diseases, and diabetes, in addition to its orthopedic range of products. 

 

Bell Potter Securities has released a report on Mesoblast, giving the company a "speculative" risk rating and a $16 price target. The report states:

"In view of the substantial opportunity of MSB’s cardiovascular and Bone Marrow Transplant franchises and other pipeline opportunities in diabetes, eye diseases & orthopedic becoming more substantial, we re-iterate our positive outlook on MSB. We value Mesoblast at A$10.91 base case and A$21.60 optimistic case. Our target price of A$16.00 sits at the mid-point of our DCF range. We expect significant news flow over the next twelve months as assisting in the stock being re-rated to our target price including a) initiation of the Phase II diabetes trial; b) initiation of a pivotal trial in heart failure; c) completion of the Phase II spinal fusion trials; d) interim data from the EU Phase II trial in Acute Myocardial Infarction; e) receipt of a Special Protocol Assessment by the FDA for the BMT Phase III Trial; f) Interim data from Phase II lumbar disc repair trial and g) potential licensing announcement for the diabetes program."" 

 

Read the full report below.  

Bell Potter Securities Report on Mesoblast 1 31-2012

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