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Press Releases
A.I. Software Acquires Patented Stem Cell Expansion Technology That Could
Brighten Future of Bone Marrow Transplants in Adults
PR Newswire -- May 5, 2003
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
A.I. Software, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ASOW), announced today that it has
reached an agreement with the Weitzman Institute of Science and Technion -
Israel Institute of Technology to acquire the exclusive rights of stem cell
expansion technology.
Medical experts say the patented technology currently in its
developmental
stages could be pivotal in enabling cord blood transplants in adults.
Researchers at Israel's top research institutions have developed a
unique
advanced technology in its early stages that expands stem cells from
umbilical
cord blood without differentiation, possibly allowing better results in cord
blood transplants in adults.
As part of the agreement, A.I. will have the licensing rights to a
stromal
cell bioreactor-a unique process and protein that assists in restoring the
bone marrow in adults suffering from leukemia, lymphomas, autoimmune disease
and other blood-related disorders.
A.I. is acquiring the rights to the stem cell expansion technology for
cash and future royalties. The company plans to provide cell expansion
services to cord blood banks and transplant centers throughout the United
States and Europe as well as selectively licensing the technology to
industry
partners.
"Cord blood transplants increasingly have become a viable option for
patients whose bone marrow cells have been ravaged by disease and who lack
matched donors for a bone marrow transplant," said Dr. Shai Meretzki, the
main
inventor at the Technion who developed the stem cell expansion process.
"Stem
cells found in cord blood have high tolerance levels. This adds to the fact
that cord blood is readily available and easily attained. Cord blood stem
cells facilitate an optimal transplant solution."
Currently, success in cord blood transplants has been limited to
babies
and young children because of the small number of stem cells collected from
umbilical cord blood.
"The patented technology acquired by A.I. could expand stem cells in
cord
blood that would be ample enough to treat adults who need bone marrow
transplants," Meretzki said.
Since 1989, cord blood has been used to restore the bone marrow of
leukemia patients and cancer patients whose natural bone marrow was
destroyed
by radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Restoring bone marrow using cord
blood transplant has been performed more than 3,000 times worldwide.
Safe Harbor Statement:
Statements in this document that are not purely historical are
forward-
looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans,
expectations or intentions regarding the future. Forward-looking statements
in
this release include statements regarding: the Corporation developing stem
cell technology into a useful product for bone marrow transplants and
providing cell expansion services to cord blood banks and transplant centers
in the United States and Europe. It is important to note that actual
outcomes
and the Corporation's actual results could differ materially from those in
such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially include risks and uncertainties such as the inability to
complete its obligations under the agreement, inability to finance the
planned
development of the technology and unforeseen technical difficulties in
developing the stem cell technology, which could among other things, delay
product release and impede the planned development of the technology.
Further,
there may be failure of a sufficient market to develop for the planned
products and processes of the Corporation.
CONTACT: Angel Streeter,
+1-561-750-9800, ext. 21, or AStreeter@transmediagroup.com
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