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Affiliate to Develop Stem Cell-Based Eye Care Therapeutics for India and Produce
Research Products for Asia
IBVI is an experienced biomedical business developer that facilitated the earliest cell therapy guidelines
with the regulatory agencies in India and is well connected with Indian research and clinical centers,
corporations and government. IBVI has now partnered with MARG Group (www.marggroup.com), one
of India's fastest-growing infrastructure developers with interest in ports, airports, power plants,
commercial spaces, special export zones and other integrated infrastructures, to form 'Insight-MARG
Biofund' (Biofund). The MARG Group is the lead facilitator of Biofund, the largest of its nature in India so
far and with great possibility for being complemented by Indian government grants.
ISCO is a public US biopharmaceutical company that has pioneered the creation of a new class of stem
cells, 'human parthenogenetic stem cells', with broad therapeutic application potential and ability to
form non-rejected, immune matched therapeutic cells for millions of people. Two ISCO therapeutic
programs from this platform are CytoCor and CytoRet that offer first-in-class opportunities to treat
diseases in the front and the back of the eye where surgery and traditional small molecule and protein
therapeutics are not options. ISCO also markets and sells cell culture research products through its
Lifeline affiliate and international distributors, including in Asia. Lifeline is interested in leveraging its
expertise to develop live human cell systems for drug screening in India.
G.R.K. Reddy, MARG Group's founder and chairman, says, 'MARG Group and IBVI have formed Biofund
to leverage our resources and network of cutting-edge research and clinical institutes, corporate entities
and government agencies in India. We believe ISCO India's unique combination of novel therapeutics to
address large unmet medical needs and current and near-term research product businesses will be a
first successful Biofund investment and set the stage for subsequent ventures.'
The agreed financial and structural terms will enable formation of ISCO India as a majority-owned Indian
affiliate of ISCO, initially with laboratories in India's first clinical research facility (CRF) for stem cells and
regenerative medicine in Hyderabad with the intent to relocate to India's first platinum-rated research
center, MARG Science Park (www.margsciencepark.com), in Chennai. The park is a member of
International Association of Sciences Parks (IASP) and has established networking and alliances with
renowned institutes and organizations. The affiliate will be managed jointly by a team of experienced
managers in India and ISCO executives.
ISCO expects that manufacturing of Lifeline media products and shipping of cell products from this
central Indian base will be established to supply the growing network of Lifeline's Asian distributors with
access to leading eye care researchers, patients and regulatory agencies in India and advance the
CytoCor and CytoRet cellular ophthalmology programs towards the clinic and through safety-efficacy
trials.
Central to the operation will be continued collaboration with the ophthalmology scientists and clinicians
at Sankara Nethralaya (www.sankaranethralaya.org) in Chennai established last spring. ISCO India will
also collaborate with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB, www.ccmb.res.in) in
Hyderabad that was instrumental in the establishment of the CRF and will be a joint CRF tenant with
ISCO India. Both institutions are respected worldwide for their research in cellular science and therapy.
According to Dr. Jayaraman Packirisamy, Executive Director of IBVI, 'As we launch Biofund, ISCO India
will provide an opportunity to address large unmet medical needs while establishing an ecosystem for
the well-educated work force, world-class research and development facilities and investors in India. By
combining manufacturing of existing and development of new research products with well-defined
therapeutic development, we create an attractive risk-reward profile that is rarely seen in our industry.'
Brian Lundstrom, ISCO's President, adds 'ISCO wishes to collaborate with leading research and clinical
groups like CCMB and Sankara Nethralaya for our cellular ophthalmology programs. Moreover, we have
to manufacture our Lifeline media in Asia and ship those with our primary human cells from an Asian
location in order to supply that fast-growing market with the highest possible quality products in a cost-
efficient manner. The combination of well-proven Indian research and clinical institutes, world-class
facilities, and funding from the Insight-MARG Biofund provides ISCO with a unique way to advance our
programs and businesses without additional US capital investment or issuance of equity shares.'
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, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or 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, cornea, retina, research products, biotechnology, India