Cryo-Cell Announces C'elle(SM) Research and Development Collaboration with Cryopraxis Cryobiology Ltd.
27 July 2009 - 10:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Brazilian-Based Global Regenerative Technology Leader to Explore
Potential of Menstrual Blood Stem Cells in Endometriosis and Female
Urinary Incontinence Oldsmar, Fla., July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/
-- Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (OTC:CCEL) (BULLETIN BOARD: CCEL)
, one of the largest and most established leaders in stem cell
innovation today announced a research and development collaboration
agreement with Cryopraxis Cryobiology Ltd., a Brazilian-based
global regenerative technology leader and stem cell research
company. The partnership will allow Cryopraxis to conduct clinical
studies using Cryo-Cell's proprietary C'elle(SM) menstrual stem
technology (MenSCs) to identify potential future diagnostic and
therapeutic uses in endometriosis and stress urinary incontinence
in women. Endometriosis is a painful condition that affects
approximately five million American women. The condition is caused
when the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus,
resulting in scar tissue that causes severe pelvic pain and may
lead to infertility. Endometriosis is commonly diagnosed through
laparoscopic procedures that are painful and invasive.
Additionally, women often face an unusually long delay from the
onset of their symptoms to diagnosis, with an average delay of ten
years. This partnership will support an exciting new area of
research that will investigate potential benefits of a new and
non-invasive way to test for endometriosis. The possible diagnostic
test will be based on analyses of the menstrual blood stem cells,
which will be collected using Cryo-Cell's proprietary C'elle
system. "This research will determine if the stem cells found in
menstrual blood can accurately provide a diagnosis that is highly
precise, and this approach would offer women the added benefit of
being both non-invasive and cost-effective," stated Eduardo Cruz,
founder & CEO of Cryopraxis Cryobiology Ltd. "Additionally,
this new method would potentially allow for earlier diagnosis of
the disease, and subsequently enable women to seek relief from
their symptoms sooner." Cryopraxis will also utilize C'elle stem
cells to develop potential therapies for female stress urinary
incontinence, a condition primarily caused by a deficiency in the
muscles that affect urine flow. Since stem cells isolated from
menstrual fluid have the ability to contract, research will
determine whether injecting the cells into the urethra would
restore the contractility of the muscles and sphincters. "We are
honored to partner with Cryopraxis, a global leader in regenerative
medicine and stem cell R&D, to explore the utilization and
potential commercialization of Cryo-Cell's proprietary C'elle
menstrual stem cell technology in the future development of novel
therapies for two debilitating conditions affecting women
worldwide," said Mercedes A. Walton, Cryo-Cell's Chairman and CEO.
"Millions of women may potentially benefit from the affordable and
non-invasive collection of these valuable stem cells today with
C'elle service, for the future possible treatment of these two
conditions that are painful, pervasive and costly to treat." The
C'elle service is based on Cryo-Cell's expansive IP technology
portfolio and was introduced in November, 2007 as the first and
only service that empowers women to collect and cryopreserve
menstrual flow containing undifferentiated adult stem cells for
future potential utilization by the donor or possibly first-degree
relatives in a manner similar to umbilical cord blood stem cells.
Based on the continued success of MenSCs in the research setting,
Cryo-Cell is actively expanding its portfolio of research
collaborations with world renowned scientists committed to study
this novel stem cell population for a broad range of regenerative
therapeutic development. About Cryopraxis Cryobiology Ltd. Launched
in 2001, Cryopraxis is primarily dedicated to stem cell and tissue
banking. Cryopraxis is a leader in stem cell, bone marrow, cord
blood research and development. Cryopraxis is committed to science,
technology, good laboratory practices and provides high quality
service and care for its customers. Cryopraxis has the largest
cryogenic storage facility in Brazil and one of the largest in the
World. It is the largest umbilical cord blood bank in Brazil. The
umbilical cord blood is a safe source of stem cells. For more
information, visit http://www.cryopraxis.com/. About C'elle The
C'elle(SM) service was introduced in November 2007 as the first and
only service that empowers women to collect and cryopreserve
menstrual flow containing undifferentiated adult stem cells for
future utilization by the donor or possibly their first-degree
relatives in a manner similar to umbilical cord blood stem cells.
For more information, visit http://www.celle.com/. About Cryo-Cell
International, Inc. (OTCBB: CCEL.OB) Based in Oldsmar, Florida,
with nearly 185,000 clients worldwide, Cryo-Cell is one of the
largest and most established family cord blood banks. ISO 9001:2000
certified and accredited by the AABB, Cryo-Cell operates in a
state-of-the-art Good Manufacturing Practice and Good Tissue
Practice (cGMP/cGTP)-compliant facility. Cryo-Cell is a publicly
traded company. OTC Bulletin Board Symbol: CCEL. For more
information, please call 1-800-STOR-CELL (1-800-786-7235) or visit
http://www.cryo-cell.com/. Forward-Looking Statement Statements
wherein the terms "believes", "intends", "projects" or "expects" as
used are intended to reflect "forward-looking statements" of the
Company. The information contained herein is subject to various
risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the results anticipated in such
forward-looking statements or paragraphs, many of which are outside
the control of the Company. These uncertainties and other factors
include the uncertainty of market acceptance of any potential
service offerings relating to types of stem cells other than cord
blood stem cells, including the C'elle service, given that
menstrual stem cells and other new stem cells have not yet been
used in human therapies, and treatment applications using such stem
cells may not be developed and commercialized; or if they are not
likely to be developed or commercialized for many years and are
subject to further research and development; the need for
additional development and testing before determining the ultimate
commercial value of the Company's intellectual property relating to
the menstrual stem cells; the need to complete certain
developments, including completion of clinical validation and
testing, before any new process other than C'elle can be
commercialized, and the Company's development of its final business
and economic model in offering any such service; any adverse effect
or limitations caused by recent increases in government regulation
of stem cell storage facilities; any increased competition in our
business; any decrease or slowdown in the number of people seeking
to store stem cells or decrease in the number of people paying
annual storage fees; any technological breakthrough or medical
breakthrough that would render the Company's business of stem cell
preservation obsolete; and any other risk factors described in our
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The foregoing
list is not exhaustive, and the Company disclaims any obligations
to subsequently revise any forward-looking statements to reflect
events or circumstances after the date of such statements. Readers
should also carefully review the risk factors described in other
documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including the most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-KSB, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB and any Current
Reports on Form 8-K filed by the Company. Contact: General Media
Inquiries Kristin O'Neill 312-233-1295 Financial Media Inquiries:
Cryo-Cell International, Inc. Investor Relations Dianne Will
518-398-6222 DATASOURCE: Cryo-Cell International, Inc. CONTACT:
General Media Inquiries, Kristin O'Neill, +1-312-233-1295, ; or
Financial Media Inquiries, Dianne Will, Investor Relations,
Cryo-Cell International, Inc., +1-518-398-6222, Web Site:
http://www.cryo-cell.com/
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