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PharmaStem Patents Umbilical Cord Stem Cells (Biogenesis)

PharmaStem Patents Umbilical Cord Stem Cells
Two Additional Patents on Umbilical Cord and Placental Blood Stem Cells Are Issued to PharmaStem

WAYNE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 2003--The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued two additional patents related to cryopreserved stem cells and progenitor cells to PharmaStem Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held corporation. Patents Nos. 6,569,427 and 6,605,275 relate to the therapeutic use of fetal and neonatal stem cells for hemapoietic or immune reconstitution and hematopoietic reconstitution in gene therapy.

According to Nicholas V. Didier, Chief Executive Officer of PharmaStem Therapeutics, "The issuance of these new patents is a further validation of the significance of PharmaStem's contributions to the therapeutic use of umbilical cord and placental blood. The transplantation of cord blood stem cell compositions is a rapidly growing field as an alternative to bone marrow transplants. This blood and its derivatives are useful for the reconstitution of the blood and the immune systems, among others, for the treatment of anemia, leukemia and other disorders. PharmaStem's patent portfolio comprising now five patents will enable us to further enhance the protection of our intellectual property rights and its licensees."

The newly issued patents build on the pioneering and fundamental inventions in U.S. Patents Nos. 5,004,681, issued on April 2, 1991, and 5,192,553, issued on March 9, 1993. The '681 and '553 patents have been asserted by PharmaStem in a lawsuit for patent infringement, filed on February 22, 2002, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Named as defendants are ViaCell, Inc., Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (CCEL.OB), CorCell, Inc., StemCyte, Inc., NuStem Technologies, Inc., CBR Systems, Inc. (also known as Cord Blood Registry, Inc.), Bio-Cell Inc., and Birthcells Technology, Inc. The '681 patent was re-examined by the USPTO after Cryo-Cell International, Inc., (CCEL.OB) one of the defendants, filed such a request on grounds of invalidity. Following re-examination, the USPTO issued a re-examination certificate on April 11, 2000, reaffirming the novel contributions of PharmaStem's patent. Since the filing of the lawsuit, PharmaStem has entered into licensing agreements pertaining to the patent portfolio with a number of entities which otherwise would be infringing the patents.

PharmaStem is the pioneer in the development and implementation of cord blood preservation and its therapeutic use. Umbilical cord and placental blood are rich in stem cells that can reconstitute human blood and immune systems. The Company provided the roadmap for the creation of today's rapidly growing field of cord blood storage.

PharmaStem Therapeutics' licensing program is developed and managed by IP Finance LLC, a patent and technology licensing company, while the law firm of Perkins Coie handles the litigation.

CONTACT:

PharmaStem Therapeutics, Inc.

Nicholas V. Didier, 914-833-9227

ndidier@pharmastem.com

SOURCE: PharmaStem Therapeutics, Inc.

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