HAIFA, Israel, Jan. 8, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pluristem Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:PSTI) (TASE:PLTR), a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapies, today announced it has been granted a new patent in Australia. Patent #2008300185, titled "Methods for Cell Expansion and Uses of Cells and Conditioned Media Produced thereby for Therapy," covers the use of adherent placental cells for the treatment of ischemia, which is a restriction of blood supply to tissues, and for treatments of conditions requiring connective tissue repair or regeneration.
This is the 27th patent granted to Pluristem and it adds to other countries in which the company has patent protection. This patent directly addresses indications that Pluristem is currently developing for cardiovascular diseases including Intermittent Claudication, Critical Limb Ischemia and Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI); orthopedic conditions including tendon injuries; and central nervous system conditions including Ischemic Stroke.
"This patent provides us broad protection in the use of placental cells to potentially treat specific conditions in connective tissue and ischemia, addressing very large treatment markets for which we are now conducting multiple clinical trials," stated Zami Aberman, Chairman and CEO of Pluristem.
About Pluristem Therapeutics
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapies. The Company's patented PLX (PLacental eXpanded) cells are a drug delivery platform that releases a cocktail of therapeutic proteins in response to a host of local and systemic inflammatory and ischemic 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 prior to administration.
Pluristem has a strong intellectual property position, 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.
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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, when we discuss having a broad patent protection for the use of placental cells to potentially treat specific conditions in connective tissue and ischemia, addressing very large treatment markets, we are using forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements and their implications 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 and/or successfully completing our clinical trials; our products may not be approved by regulatory agencies, 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; results of preclinical studies may not correlate with the results of human clinical trials; 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.