Neuralstem Awarded Adult Stem Cell Patent

Baltimore Business Journal, September 9, 2009

The company Neuralstem has announced today that it has been awarded a patent for its latest proprietary technology for an adult stem cell therapy that can be used in the treatment of neurological diseases.

Entitled "Transplantation of Human Neural Cells for Treatment of Neurodegenerative Conditions", the patent also covers manufacturing methods and procedures for future related products, and will be in effect through July of 2026.

According to founding president and CEO, Richard Garr, J.D., "We are gratified to add this important core technology patent to our portfolio. The transplantation of our neural stem cells to treat degenerative conditions of the nervous system is at the heart of Neuralstem's mission."

Although Neuralstem already holds a number of other patents for embryonic stem cell methods and processes in animal models, the company's human stem cell product does not involve embryonic stem cells but instead is based exclusively upon adult stem cells that are derived from human adult CNS tissue.

With corporate headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, Neuralstem was founded in 1996 by the current president and CEO, Richard Garr, J.D., along with Merrill Solomon. As stated on the company's website, Neuralstem describes itself as "a biotherapeutics company utilizing its patented Human Neural Stem Cell technology", which "allows for the isolation of CNS (central nervous system) stem cells from tissue; the expansion in vitro of each cell up to a billion billion times (60 doublings), and the controlled differentiation of the cells into mature, physiologically relevant human neurons and glia."

(Please see the related news article on this website, entitled, "Adult Stem Cells Approved for ALS Clinical Trial", dated September 21, 2009).