CARLSBAD, CA--(Marketwired - Oct 16, 2013) - International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCQB: ISCO) (www.internationalstemcell.com) a California-based biotechnology company developing novel stem cell based therapies announced the latest results from its Parkinson's disease program at the American Neurological Association's 2013 Annual Meeting.

Neural stem cell (NSC) potentially provide therapeutic benefit through multiple mechanisms of action including migration to the site of injury, secretion of neurotrophic factors, immunomodulation, cell replacement, and finally recovery of the endogenous neurons. The new data obtained as part of ISCO's collaboration with the Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute, includes:

• Results showing that the NSC migrate a significant distance from the site of implantation in the striatum to the substantia nigra where the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons primarily occurs in Parkinson's patients. Additionally no evidence of migration outside the brain was observed.
• The stem cell-derived NSC elicited a lower immunogenic response compared with other cell types included in the study, an important safety consideration for allogeneic cell transplantation.
• The study conclusively showed that the NSC differentiated post injection in the brain into the specific type of neurons lost in the disease. These new cells replace the neurons destroyed by the disease and produce the neurotransmitter, dopamine, required to alleviate the symptoms.

According to ISCO's, Chief Scientific Officer Dr. R. Semechkin, "These results are important because they establish a solid foundation for the clinical use of neural stem cells for the treatment of Parkinson's diseases. This also potentially opens up a number of other neurological indications, for example Alzheimer's disease, with this cellular product."

About ISCO's Parkinson's disease program

ISCO's program uses human parthenogenetic neural stem cells (hPNSC), a novel therapeutic cellular product derived from the company's proprietary histocompatible human pluripotent stem cells. The hPNSC are self-renewing multipotent cells that are precursors for the major cells of the central nervous system. The ability of hPNSC to (1) differentiate into dopaminergic neurons and (2) express neurotrophic factors such as glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to protect the nigrostriatal system, offers a new and revolutionary opportunity for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, especially in cases where current dopamine-replacement approaches fail to adequately control the symptoms.

About International Stem Cell Corporation

International Stem Cell Corporation is focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) and the development and commercialization of cell-based research and cosmetic products. ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs) hence avoiding ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenetic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells for hundreds of millions of individuals of differing genders, ages and racial background with minimal immune rejection after transplantation. hpSCs offer the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell™. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology (www.lifelinecelltech.com), and stem cell-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (www.lifelineskincare.com). More information is available at www.internationalstemcell.com.

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