Pluristem Announces Breakthrough in Bone Marrow Transplants: Engrafted Cells Increase 2-4 Times in Preclinical Study

Wednesday July 5, 8:24 am ET

The preliminary results suggest that the use of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC), in combination with Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB) derived Hematopoeitic Stem Cells (HSC) can improve the treatment of blood disorders.

The animal studies were performed on immune-deficient NOD SCID mice following systemic myeloablation of their bone marrow to simulate the BMT clinical protocol. This in-vivo model is based on the known ability of human Hematopoietic stem cells to engraft in mouse bone marrow and to enable recovery of the mouse's immune system. This assay is well known and

The results showed that when human UCB samples were transplanted together with PLX 1 into NOD SCID mice, the amount of engrafted cells was from 2-4 times greater than when transplants were carried out with UCB samples lacking PLX 1.

If additional animal studies and human clinical trials prove equally successful, PLX-BMT could lead to wider use of bone marrow transplants in various types of blood cancer. Nearly 100,000 people could benefit from this treatment annually.

Transplants of HSC derived from UCB are a novel alternative to conventional bone marrow transplants and have several unique advantages, in spite of their present quantitative limitations. PLX 1 transplanted together with limited number of HSC from UCB increase the effectiveness of the HSC dose and, if clinically proven, may be used as a replacement of bone marrow transplants in adults, eliminating the frustrated process of matched Bone Marrow donor finding.

In the PLX-1 study, 9 NOD/SCID mice received PLX-BMT with HSC from UCB, 5 of the control group did not. The injections of PLX 1 together with HSC from UCB (selected positive CD34 cells) into the blood system of the mice increased 2-4 times the engraftment after four weeks. The high level of engraftment was evident in the 9 treated NOD SCID mice by the presence of 2- 13 % human CD45 cells. This reflects the reconstruction of the mouse immune system and thus, the success of the procedure and the significant advantage of transplantation in the presence of PLX-1 along with CB derived hematopoietic stem cells

In contrast, the 5 NOD SCID mice in the control group that received UCB without the PLX 1 showed only a 1-3 % presence of human CD45 cells.

This result shows that adding PLX-BMT to the implantation process can improve dramatically the engraftment rate of stem cells.

Mr. Zami Aberman, CEO, stated, "We believe that the advantages in use of umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells, combined with our PLX 1 products could have the potential to change the way bone marrow transplants are conducted in the future."

About Pluristem:

Pluristem Life Systems, Inc. is a cell therapy company dedicated to the commercialization of stem cell therapy products for the treatment of severe blood disorders. Pluristem is discovering and developing cell-based therapeutics utilizing adult stem cells expanded in a proprietary bioreactor that mimics different naturally occurring physiological environments. Pluristem expects its first products to be cell grafts that will provide an efficient and superior alternative to the standard procedure of bone marrow transplantation to treat blood cancer and other blood disorders.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements, which may constitute "forward-looking statements". Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Pluristem Life Systems, Inc., and members of our management as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements that we have had promising initial results of an animal model study; that PLX-1 is intended to offer a breakthrough solution to improved engraftment during bone marrow transplant procedures; that preliminary results show PLX-1 can improve the engraftment rate of HSC and can improve the treatment of blood disorders ; that PLX-BMT could lead to wider use of bone marrow transplants in various types of blood cancer ; that preliminary results of the PLX-1 study can continue in real life settings; that nearly 100,000 people could benefit from this treatment annually; that our process may be used as a replacement of bone marrow transplants in adults; that there is a significant advantage of transplantation in the presence of PLX-1 along with CB derived Hematopoietic stem cells; that adding PLX-BMT to the implantation process can improve dramatically the engraftment rate of human adult stem cells; that our process has the potential to change the way bone marrow transplants are conducted in the future.

and that Pluristem expects its first products to be cell grafts that will provide an efficient and superior alternative to the standard procedure of bone marrow transplantation to treat blood cancer and other blood disorders .. Factors which may significantly change or prevent our forward looking statements from fruition include that we may be unsuccessful in developing any products; that our technology may not be validated as we progress further and our methods may not be accepted by the scientific community; that we are unable to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of our products; that unforeseen scientific difficulties develop with our process; that results in the laboratory do not translate to equally good results in real surgical settings; that our patents are not sufficient to protect essential aspects of our technology; that competitors may invent better technology; that our products may not work as well as hoped or worse, that our products may harm recipients; and that we may not be able raise funds for development or working capital when we require it. As well, our products may never develop into useful products and even if they do, they may not be approved for sale to the public. For further risk factors see the Company's latest 10-KSB filed with the SEC.


For more information visit our website at www.pluristem.com