ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL--(MARKET WIRE)--Nov 20, 2006 -- Reports published earlier this month support the increased diversity of the non-controversial umbilical cord blood stem cell. Researchers based at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom have grown an artificial mini-liver from umbilical cord blood stem cells. In a separate study scientists at the Clinical Cell Therapy Lab at the University of Minnesota report successfully differentiating cord blood cells into a type of lung cell called type II alveolar cells.
The Newcastle University finding in late October is considered a critical breakthrough towards creating a completely artificial liver. The importance of this finding for drug development is significant. Currently pharmaceutical companies use animal or human subjects to test treatments for liver diseases and ailments and in many cases the subjects suffer adverse reactions to the test drugs or therapies. Using cord blood stem cell derived mini-livers, pharmaceutical companies can test more applications and drugs without complications or adverse reactions of the testing subjects. The possibility of regenerating a new liver to replace one that has been damaged or destroyed by disease in now on the horizon.
According to the American Liver Foundation, liver disease is among the ten major causes of death in the United States. They report that one in every ten Americans -- 25 million -- are/or have been afflicted with a liver, billary or gallbladder disease. Chronic liver disease accounts for the death of 20,300 Americans each year and currently there are over 17,000 people awaiting a liver transplant.
Another significant finding came from researchers at the Clinical Cell Therapy Lab at the University of Minnesota, Fairview. Working with BioE Inc., St. Paul, MN, they reported successfully differentiating cord blood cells into a type of lung cell called type II alveolar cells. The research team cultured BioE's unique Multi-Line Progenitor Cell™ (MLPC™) differentiating it into the lung cells. The ability to grow this cell will greatly aid in the study and development of more effective treatments for various lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis.
More than 35 million Americans have an ongoing lung disease like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Combining all types of lung disease together it is the number three killer in the United States causing 1 in 7 deaths each year.
"These two discoveries are important additions to the growing list of uses and applications of non-controversial cord blood stem cells, a resource that is virtually limitless. This is further scientific proof that these cells can differentiate to become other than simply blood cells and opens an entirely new chapter in the umbilical cord blood stem cell story," said Cryobanks International President and CEO Dwight Brunoehler.
Newcastle University and University of Minnesota are leaders in the cord blood stem cell research and development field working on a number of studies and projects. In another project headed by BioE Inc., Cryobanks International, Inc., Newcastle and the University of Minnesota are research partners working to develop a new cord blood processing methodology.
"We are honored to be working with these fine institutions and BioE in a separate project that we believe will also have a significant impact on the developing cord blood banking field," continued Mr. Brunoehler.
About The Company:
Cryobanks International, Inc. is a corporation located in Altamonte Springs, Fl., which is to be acquired by BioStem, Inc. (OTC BB:BTEM.OB - News). The Company is a leader in the collection, processing, and banking of stem cells derived from the umbilical cord immediately after birth. The units of cord blood (CB) are processed and stored by the company for use in unrelated transplants (where the donor is a histocompatible match, but is anonymous and unrelated to the recipient) and for personal storage and use. In recent years, cord blood transplants (CBTs) have become widely recognized as a safe, effective, and in many ways preferable, alternative to bone marrow transplants (BMTs). There is tremendous potential need for CBTs in the United States and worldwide. Cryobanks International, Inc. is well poised to help meet that need, equipped with an inventory of over 9,000 cord blood units. For more information about Cryobanks International, Inc. call 1-800-869-8608 or visit the website at www.cryo-intl.com.
Reasons To Buy This Stock:
1. The U.S. stem cell therapeutic market is expected to reach upwards of $3.6B in 2015.
2. More than 7,000 successful cord blood stem cell transplants have been performed since 1988. Cord blood is increasingly being used in place of bone marrow for transplants to treat more than 70 types of diseases.
3. Cryobanks is one of fifteen National Marrow Donor Program member banks qualified to receive federal funding from the $79M set aside by the National Cord Blood Act to build a 150,000 unit national cord blood bank.
4. Recently enacted stringent FDA regulations and certification requirements provide a significant barrier to entry in the cord blood banking market.
Investment Considerations:
Cryobanks stands to benefit significantly from the recently passed National Cord Blood Act and its $79 million of federal funding allocated for cord blood banking. The legislation underscores the importance of this technology and should create a rapid expansion of a national cord blood inventory. (BOLD)The company is one of 15 NMDP banks in line to receive funding and is uniquely qualified to receive a significant share.
The highly innovative strategy of licensing its FDA-approved banking and processing protocols to aid in the establishment of other cord blood banking facilities worldwide has opened up an entirely new market and revenue stream for Cryobanks. This program is likely to result in a major increase in market penetration as well as financial performance.
Griffen Trading Companybased upon information believed to be reliable herein prepared all material. The information contained herein is not guaranteed by Griffen Trading Company to be accurate, and should not be considered to be all-inclusive. The companies that are discussed in this opinion have not approved the statements made in this opinion. This opinion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. This material is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. Griffen Trading Company is not a licensed broker, broker dealer, market maker, investment banker, investment advisor, analyst or underwriter. Please consult a broker before purchasing or selling any securities viewed on or mentioned herein. Griffen Trading Company has been compensated by third party shareholders or with cash from the company on behalf of one or more of the companies mentioned in this opinion.
Griffen Trading Company has been compensated by third party shareholders or with cash from the company on behalf of BTEM.OB. Griffen Trading Company has been compensated one hundred thoudand dollars on behalf of BTEM.OB for dissemination of this opinion and other professional services.
Griffen Trading Company‘s affiliates, officers, directors and employees may also have bought or may buy the shares discussed in this opinion and may profit in the event of a rise in value. Griffen Trading Company will not advise as to when it decides to sell and does not and will not offer any opinion as to when others should sell; each investor must make that decision based on his or her judgment of the market.
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a companies` annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and Griffen Trading Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements.