PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 23, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StemCells, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEM) announced today that Martin McGlynn, President and CEO, and Stephen Huhn, M.D., Vice President and Head of CNS Program, have each been invited to speak at the 6th Annual New York Stem Cell Summit to be held March 1 at Bridgewaters in New York City. This year's Summit will feature a panel discussion on stem cell approaches to spinal cord injury, including the Company's recently authorized Phase I/II clinical trial of its HuCNS-SC® cells (purified human neural stem cells) in chronic spinal cord injury, which will be conducted in Switzerland.
Mr. McGlynn will present a corporate overview at 2:35 p.m. Eastern Time. Immediately following, Dr. Huhn will participate in the spinal cord injury panel, scheduled from 2:47 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, during which he will present the preclinical basis for the use of HuCNS-SC cells in patients living with paralysis along with the innovative design of the Company's Phase I/II trial, which will progressively enroll patients based upon the severity of injury. This trial is the first to evaluate neural stem cell transplantation as a potential treatment for spinal cord injury, and is expected to begin accruing patients next month.
The New York Stem Cell Summit brings together stem cell company executives, scientists, investors and physicians to explore investment opportunities in the stem cell marketplace, groundbreaking stem cell products, and the growing market potential for the industry. The one-day event is organized by RRY Publications, and features presentations by leaders in stem cell research, innovation and industry. More information on the event can be found at http://www.stemcellsummit.com.
About StemCells, Inc.
StemCells, Inc. is engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of cell-based therapeutics and tools for use in stem cell-based research and drug discovery. In its therapeutic product development programs, StemCells is targeting disorders of the central nervous system and the liver. StemCells' lead product candidate, HuCNS-SC cells (purified human neural stem cells), is currently in clinical development for spinal cord injury and two fatal neurodegenerative disorders in children, and in preclinical development for retinal disorders such as age-related macular degeneration. StemCells also markets stem cell research products, including media and reagents, under the SC Proven® brand, and is developing stem cell-based assay platforms for use in pharmaceutical research, drug discovery and drug development. Further information about StemCells is available at http://www.stemcellsinc.com.
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Apart from statements of historical fact, the text of this press release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. securities laws, and is subject to the safe harbors created therein. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the clinical development of the Company's HuCNS-SC cells; the potential of its HuCNS-SC cells to treat spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders; the timing associated with patient accrual in its spinal cord injury trial; the Company's ability to commercialize drug discovery and drug development tools; and the future business operations of the Company. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. Such statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain assumptions that may or may not ultimately prove valid. The Company's actual results may vary materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties to which the Company is subject, including uncertainty as to whether the results of the Company's preclinical studies in spinal cord injury will be replicated in humans; uncertainties regarding the ability of preclinical research, including research in animal models, to accurately predict success or failure in clinical trials; uncertainties regarding the Company's ability to recruit the patients required to conduct its spinal cord injury trial or to obtain meaningful results; and other factors that are described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.