HAIFA, Israel, April 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:PSTI) (TASE:PLTR) today announced that it has formed a steering committee to assist in advancing PLacental eXpanded (PLX) cell therapies for the treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). The committee is comprised of vascular and immunological specialists from around the world who will offer expertise to Pluristem in furthering cell treatments for Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI), Intermittent Claudication (IC) and Buerger's Disease.
The PAD Steering Committee will guide the company through various stages of clinical trials from the design of the study protocol through processing patient feedback up to the final study report. The committee's vast knowledge of PAD and combined years of experience with clinical trials will help Pluristem in its efforts to develop the best cell therapies for more than 20 million patients suffering from PAD globally. Several committee members also serve as principal investigators (PIs) in Pluristem's clinical studies, allowing them to take a hands-on approach.
"We are extremely honored to have five of the most distinguished doctors in the world treating vascular and immunological diseases join our steering committee," said Zami Aberman, Chairman and CEO of Pluristem. "Our strategy is to provide a comprehensive approach to the PAD market and our collaboration with the committee will help us maximize the results of our therapies in development for CLI, IC and Buerger's Disease. As we gear up for advanced clinical trials in CLI and IC, this committee will be a significant asset to the company."
Peripheral Artery Disease Steering Committee:
Prof. Dr. Sigrid Nikol - Director, Clinical and Interventional Angiology Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany
Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Olin - Director, Vascular Medicine, Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute & Marie-Jose´e and Henry R. Kravis Center for Cardiovascular Health, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY, NY, USA
Dr. Manesh Patel - Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology Duke University, Duke Clinical, Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA
Prof. Dr. Petra Reinke - Head of the Platform Immunology and Cell Therapy, Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité, Berlin, Germany
Prof. Dr. J. André Schmidt-Lucke - Director, Internal Department / Vascular Center, Franziskus-Krankenhaus, Teaching Hospital of Charité, Berlin, Germany
About Pluristem Therapeutics
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:PSTI) (TASE:PLTR) is a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapies. The company's patented PLX (PLacental eXpanded) cells drug delivery platform releases a cocktail of therapeutic proteins in response to a variety of local and systemic inflammatory diseases. PLX cells are grown using the company's proprietary 3D micro-environmental technology and are an off-the-shelf product that requires no tissue matching or immune-suppression treatment prior to administration.
Data from two Phase I clinical trials indicate that Pluristem's first PLX product, PLX-PAD, is safe and potentially effective for the treatment of end stage PAD. Pluristem's pre-clinical animal models have demonstrated PLX cells are also potentially effective in nerve pain and muscle damage when administered locally and in inflammatory bowel disease, MS and stroke when administered systemically.
Pluristem has a strong patent portfolio, company-owned GMP certified manufacturing and research facilities, strategic relationships with major research institutions and a seasoned management team. For more information visit www.pluristem.com, the content of which is not part of this press release. Follow Pluristem on Twitter @Pluristem.
CLICK HERE to watch a video where CLI patients and doctors involved with the clinical trials share their stories.
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Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and federal securities laws. For example, we are using forward looking statements when we discuss our recently formed PAD Steering Committee, its role and how it will assist us, when we discuss the safety and potential effectiveness of PLX-PAD for the treatment of end stage peripheral artery disease, or when we discuss the potential effectiveness of PLX cells in nerve pain and muscle damage, and in inflammatory bowel disease, MS and stroke. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Pluristem only, and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; we may encounter delays or obstacles in launching our clinical trials; our technology may not be validated as we progress further and our methods may not be accepted by the scientific community; we may be unable to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of our products; unforeseen scientific difficulties may develop with our process; our products may wind up being more expensive than we anticipate; results in the laboratory may not translate to equally good results in real surgical settings; our patents may not be sufficient; our products may harm recipients; changes in legislation; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition, which could cause the actual results or performance of Pluristem to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, Pluristem undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Pluristem, reference is made to Pluristem's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.