Cryo-Cell International, Inc. Announces Material Transfer Agreement with Stanford University
CRYO-CELL INTERNATIONAL, INC. ANNOUNCES MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT WITH STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Collaboration will evaluate menstrual stem cells for future potential diabetes therapy
OLDSMAR, Fla. – February 6, 2012 – Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (OTC:QB Markets Group Symbol: CCEL) and Stanford University announced signing a material transfer agreement to test the efficacy of mesenchymal-like stem cells derived from menstrual blood (MenSCs) in a model of pancreatic islet transplantation for type 1 diabetes treatment. Specifically, the menstrual blood stem cells provided by Cryo-Cell will be tested in vitro and in vivo to enhance pancreatic islet viability, regeneration, and function during the peritransplantation period.
Dr. Magali J Fontaine MD PhD., the principal investigator, stated “We are looking forward to this collaborative effort to contribute to the field of Type I Diabetes research”. Dr. Fontaine is an Assistant Professor of Pathology at Stanford Medical School. Dr. Fontaine is a highly trained basic scientist and pathologist specializing in Transfusion Medicine with a strong interest in cellular therapy.
Dr. Julie G. Allickson, PhD., the co-investigator, added “We are very pleased to partner with Dr. Fontaine to explore further functional capabilities of menstrual blood stem cells in a model for Type I Diabetes. We have demonstrated that MenSCs are highly proliferative mesenchymal-like stem cells with capability to differentiate to several different cell lineages.” Dr. Allickson is Vice President Laboratory Operations, Research & Development for Cryo-Cell International, Inc. Dr. Allickson’s expertise in Cell Therapy includes adult stem cell processing and banking along with research on adult stem cells for regenerative medicine.
About Cryo-Cell International, Inc.
Based in Oldsmar Florida, Cryo-Cell is the oldest and one of the largest family cord blood banks with over 240,000 clients worldwide. ISO 9001:2008 certified and accredited by the AABB, Cryo-Cell operates in a state-of-the-art Good Manufacturing Practice and Good Tissue Practice (cGMP/cGTP)-compliant facility. Cryo-Cell is a publicly traded company and trades under the symbol CCEL. Expectant parents or healthcare professionals may call 1-800-STOR-CELL (1-800-786-7235) or visit www.cryo-cell.com.
About Cryo-Cell’s Menstrual Stem Cell Service
Cryo-Cell’s Menstrual Stem Cell service was introduced in November 2007 as the first and only service that empowers women to collect and cryopreserve menstrual flow containing undifferentiated adult stem cells for future utilization by the donor or possibly their first-degree relatives in a manner similar to umbilical cord blood stem cells. For more information, visit www.cryo-cell.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
Statements wherein the terms "believes", "intends", "projects", "anticipates", "expects", and similar expressions as used are intended to reflect "forward-looking statements" of the Company. The information contained herein is subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in such forward-looking statements or paragraphs, many of which are outside the control of the Company. These uncertainties and other factors include the success of the Company's global expansion initiatives and product diversification, the Company's actual future ownership stake in future therapies emerging from its collaborative research partnerships, the success related to its IP portfolio, the Company's future competitive position in stem cell innovation, future success of its core business and the competitive impact of public cord blood banking on the Company's business, the Company's ability to minimize future costs to the Company related to R&D initiatives and collaborations and the success of such initiatives and collaborations, the success and enforceability of the Company's Menstrual Stem Cell technology license agreements and Cord Blood Stem Cell Service license agreements and their ability to provide the Company with royalty fees, the ability of Cryology RTS to generate new revenues for the Company, and those risks and uncertainties contained in risk factors described in documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by the Company. The Company disclaims any obligations to subsequently revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.