CARLSBAD, Calif., May 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCQB:ISCO) (www.internationalstemcell.com) (“ISCO” or “the Company”), a California-based clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel stem cell-based therapies and biomedical products, announced today that a paper prepared by the Company has been published in Volume 12, Issue 5 of the Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, a prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journal. Due to its scientific relevance, the article has been featured on the cover of the journal’s May 2018 issue.
The article, entitled “Supplementation of Specific Carbohydrates Results in Enhanced Deposition of Chondrogenic-Specific Matrix during Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation,” discusses a new scalable system developed by ISCO that permits the generation of functional human cartilage tissue derived from the patient’s own skin or fat tissue. This process has the capacity to provide greater stability than other tissue that is currently available for the treatment of osteoarthritis, the most common chronic joint condition.
Using this new system, ISCO scientists generated a healthy cartilage‐specific matrix from human mesenchymal stem cells that had significantly higher viability and cartilage specific properties, including: proteoglycan, aggrecan, hyaluronic acid, and collagen II deposition and glycosaminoglycan production. This new cartilage-specific matrix was built in 3D format and is ready for further therapeutic development. 
“While the treatment of Parkinson’s disease has always been at the forefront of our research efforts, we are also pursuing various other therapeutic indications. In one of those other areas,our R&D Team has significantly improved the process by which we can use the patient’s own mesenchymal stem cells to potentially treat osteoarthritis,” commented Russell Kern, PhD, ISCO’s Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. “We are also thrilled to announce that this research gives us a basis to launch program to develop supplements designed to potentially reduce joint pain and improve overall mobility,” he continued.
About Osteoarthritis
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), osteoarthritis is the most common form of degenerative joint disease and affects as many as 27 million Americans.
Characterized by progressive erosion of the articular cartilage, osteoarthritis can damage any joint in the body—most commonly in the hands, knees, hips, and spine. The erosion of articular cartilage leads to joint pain, stiffness, and impaired mobility.
Healthy cartilage permits bones to glide over one another. It also absorbs energy from the initial burst of physical movement. In osteoarthritis, the surface layer of cartilage collapses and wears away. This allows bones under the cartilage to rub against one another, causing pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint.
About International Stem Cell Corporation
International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO) is focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) and the development and commercialization of cell-based research and cosmetic products. ISCO’s core technology, parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs). hpSCs avoid ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenetic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells for hundreds of millions of individuals of differing genders, ages and racial background with minimal immune rejection after transplantation. hpSCs offer the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell™. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology (www.lifelinecelltech.com),and stem cell-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (www.lifelineskincare.com). More information is available at www.internationalstemcell.com.
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International Stem Cell Corporation
Dr. Russell Kern
EVP, Chief Scientific Officer
(760) 940-6383
ir@intlstemcell.com