International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO), www.internationalstemcell.com,
and a new firm to be formed by John Mauldin announced today the
formation of a new joint marketing venture to launch a line of skin care
products developed by ISCO's wholly owned subsidiary, Lifeline Skin
Care, Inc. ('LSC'). Mauldin, a significant marketing talent, is
president of Millennium Wave Investments and author of an economic
letter that goes to over 1.5 million readers.
Lifeline Skin Care's products have been in active development for well
over a year and involve a unique high-technology, patent pending
formulation for skin rejuvenation crèmes, developed using ISCO's
proprietary 'parthenogenetic' stem cells that do not require the use of
fertilized embryos. The product was discovered during ISCO's therapeutic
stem cell research that revealed the stem cell's potential applications
in skin cell rejuvenation. Part of the discovery included developing a
way to surround the proteins from the stem cells with a nanovesicle
allowing for extended shelf life and enhanced delivery of the product to
the skin. Independent third party testing indicates that the crèmes (one
for day and one for nighttime application) have significant positive
effects on the look and feel of the skin.
'This represents an amazing leap forward in the combination of a variety
of cutting edge technologies to yield products that have the potential
to find significant consumer acceptance. The anti-aging market is
extremely large, and Lifeline Skin Care is offering something completely
new and different. We are excited about the prospects,' said Kenneth
Aldrich, Chairman of ISCO.
Because the LSC products involve a unique extract from living
parthenogenetic stem cells, rather than 'off the shelf' ingredients used
by most skin care products, it takes additional time to manufacture the
products. Building inventory in advance of demand is critical to avoid
disappointing customers.
ISCO and LSC believe the collaboration with Mauldin will provide a much
broader potential customer base and a much lower market cost per
customer than the alternative marketing programs previously considered.
As a result, LSC has revised its previously announced marketing launch
plans to be certain that it will have adequate product on hand to meet
initial demand.
The initial product offering will be to ISCO's own database of investors
and followers, originally set to launch October and now scheduled for
November to coordinate with Mauldin's timetable. That will be followed
with an offering to Mauldin's extensive subscription base and to a
select market of other potential purchasers.
Only after these initial offerings have been completed, involving a
total of over 1.5 million potential customers, will more broad scale
product offerings be made. 'This will enable us to measure probable
future demand, assure our loyal investors and Mauldin's subscribers and
affiliates that they will be able to purchase all the products they
require while allowing LSC to build an inventory of the unique stem cell
extract that is at the heart of this new product,' said Dr. Ruslan
Semechkin, CEO of Lifeline Skin Care.
'We are extraordinarily excited to be able to offer LSC's products to
our loyal client base in a way that assures they will be able to obtain
the product they want, plus monthly refills as required, in spite of the
fact that LSC's products are unique and require time and care by many
people to bring to market,' said John Mauldin, founder and Chairman of
Millennium. 'This is a truly revolutionary approach to skin care. Early
test results are very promising and I am excited to be associated with a
company of the scientific reputation of International Stem Cell
Corporation and their world-renowned staff.'
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STEM CELL CORPORATION (ISCO.OB)
International Stem Cell Corporation is a California-based biotechnology
company focused on therapeutic and research products. ISCO's core
technology, parthenogenesis, results in creation of pluripotent human
stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs). These proprietary cells
avoid ethical issues associated with use or destruction of viable human
embryos and, unlike most other major stem cell types, can be immune
matched and be a source of therapeutic cells with minimal rejection
after transplantation into hundreds of millions of individuals of
differing racial groups. ISCO also produces and markets specialized
cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its
subsidiary, Lifeline Cell Technology, and is developing a line of
cosmeceutical products via its subsidiary, Lifeline Skin Care. ISCO is
advancing novel human stem cell-based therapies where cells have been
proven to be efficacious but traditional small molecule and protein
therapeutics have not. More information is available on ISCO's website, www.internationalstemcell.com.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements pertaining to anticipated developments and therapeutic
applications, the potential benefits of collaborations, affiliations,
and other opportunities for the company and its subsidiaries, along with
other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans,
or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking
statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but
not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes,"
"plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates,") should also be
considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks
inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential
products and the management of collaborations, regulatory approvals,
need and ability to obtain future capital, application of capital
resources among competing uses, and maintenance of intellectual property
rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results
anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be
evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the company's
business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements
found in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The
company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking
statements.
Key Words: Stem cells, parthenogenesis, biotechnology, skin care
International Stem Cell Corporation
Kenneth C. Aldrich, Chairman
1-760-940-6383
kaldrich@intlstemcell.com
or
Lifeine
Skin Care, Inc.
Ruslan Semechkin, Ph.D., President & CEO
Vice
President, ISCO
ras@intlstemcell.com |
