NeoStem, Inc. and AllCells, LLC to collaborate with Mount Sinai as part of $8.8 million Grant to Further Stem Cell Research

April 16, 2015 – Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISSMM) will be able to further develop new blood treatments for chemotherapy-resistant blood cancer and other genetic blood disorders thanks to an $8.8 million grant from the New York State Stem Cell Science Program (NYSTEM). The grant will advance on-going development of a process to increase the number of stem cells collected in cord blood collections. The funding will also enhance collaborations with biotechnology firms NeoStem, Inc. and AllCells, LLC, leaders in cellular therapy.

Blood stem cell transplantation has proven to be the only potential therapy available for most patients with blood cancers. To obtain blood stem cells for transplant, doctors use cord blood collections which contain only limited numbers of stem cells. Mount Sinai researchers have developed a method to increase the number of collected stem cells 35-fold. The grant will move this research ahead to clinical trials.

Renowned hematologist Ronald Hoffman, MD, Albert A. and Vera G. List Professor of Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Profession of Gene and Cell Medicine, and Director of the Myeloproliferative Disorders Research Program, ISSMM, will head this research project. Dr. Hoffman has been a transformative figure in stem cell research and his earlier observation of myeloproliferative neoplasms and the biology of human hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells have led to therapeutic trials to improve therapy of this disease.

“We are grateful to NYSTEM for providing a unique opportunity to move our discoveries in the laboratory to clinical setting,” said Dr. Hoffman. “We are able to build upon 30 years of work to develop new treatment options for our patients.”

“This award creates a synergistic environment between academic centers and biotechnology firms. And ensures promising research continues to keep progressing,” said Dr. Hoffman. “Our partners NeoStem and AllCells are vital contributors in this next phase of research. We are very excited about the journey ahead.”

“AllCells is eager to contribute its hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) manufacturing expertise towards advancing commercialization of this exciting technology under Dr. Ron Hoffman’s leadership, in collaboration with Neostem. Our company direction and vision includes leveraging domain knowledge AllCells has gained during the past 17 years to support the development of clinical applications,” commented Jay Tong, MD, Chief Executive at AllCells .

About Mount Sinai Health System
The Mount Sinai Health System is an integrated health system committed to providing distinguished care, conducting transformative research and advancing biomedical education. Structured around seven member hospital campuses and a single medical school, the Health system has an extensive ambulatory network and a range of inpatient and outpatient services – from community-based facilities to tertiary and quaternary care. The System includes approximately 6,600 primary and specialty care physicians, 12-minority-owned free-standing ambulatory surgery centers, over 45 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, as well as 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the top 20 medical schools both in National Institutes of Health funding and by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visithttps://www.mountsinai.org, or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

About AllCells, LLC
AllCells (www.AllCells.com) is a biotechnology company founded in 1998 to provide global researchers with a reliable supply of biologically relevant, consistent quality primary cells (healthy & diseased) which enable the advancement of scientific research in the areas of cell biology, oncology, virology, hematology, infectious disease and stem cell research. Unlike cell lines, which are typically mutated, transformed or immortalized, primary cells retain their original phenotypes hence better reflect in vivo morphology, metabolism and growth characteristics. These attributes are especially important for in vitro research applications in which in vivo-like models are critically important. By partnering with AllCells, investigators can dramatically reduce the time needed to isolate cells with guaranteed consistency, thereby improving the efficiency, accuracy and relevance of their research studies. AllCells is fully certified in accordance with local, state and federal requirements.

AllCells, LLC, media contact info.
Wayne Vaz
VP, Corporate & Business Development
1301 Harbor Bay Parkway, Ste 200
Alameda, CA 94502
P (510) 521 2600 x124

About NeoStem, Inc.
NeoStem is a biopharmaceutical company pursuing the preservation and enhancement of human health globally through the development of novel cell based personalized medicine therapeutics that prevent, treat or cure disease by repairing and replacing damaged or aged tissue, cells and organs and restoring their normal function. The combination of a rich therapeutics pipeline and externally recognized in-house manufacturing expertise has created an organization with unique capabilities for cost effective and accelerated product development. For more information, visit https://www.neostem.com.

Mount Sinai Media Contact:
Lucia Lee, Mount Sinai Health System
(212) 241-7445 / lucia.lee@mountsinai.org