STC Sinetech Limited

Stem Cell Sciences plc (SCS) (AIM:STEM) (ASX:STC), the global biotechnology company focused on the commercialisation of stem cells and stem cell technologies, is pleased to announce the exclusive in-licensing of a breakthrough technology. This is expected to significantly accelerate the application of human embryonic stem (ES) cells in both research and cell-based therapies. This discovery overcomes the key challenge in the effective scale-up of stem cell technologies � cell death. When separated from one another, during transfer from one growth vessel to another in routine laboratory processes such as scale-up and genetic modification, human ES cells commonly undergo cell death. The use of a selective ROCK inhibitor to increase the robustness of the cells will allow for the large-scale automated production that is needed for industrial research and clinical application. SCS has secured exclusive rights to the discovery in all global territories except Japan where the company holds non-exclusive rights. Financial terms were not disclosed. The discovery, made by Professor Yoshiki Sasai�s team at The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research of the RIKEN Centre for Developmental Biology (Kobe, Japan), uses a class of compounds known as ROCK (Rho-associated kinase) inhibitors to block the onset of stem cell death when the clusters of growing cells are dissociated for transfer and scale-up. This discovery, published on 27th May in Volume 25 of the prestigious journal Nature Biotechnology, (a), was effective on all human ES cell lines tested. The discovery represents a world first in terms of stem cell technology. Dr Peter Mountford, Chief Executive Officer of SCS said: �We anticipate that this discovery will have a very positive impact across the human ES cell field. The RIKEN discovery will not only transform human ES cell production but will also enhance our ability to engineer human ES cell lines needed by the pharmaceutical industry for specific drug discovery assays. In commercial terms, it will build revenues for SCS through new and improved human ES cell culture media and cell-based drug discovery products, as well as further strengthening our longer term position in cell based therapies.� David Dodd, Chairman of SCS said: �Our business is to provide products, tools and services that advance the life-enhancing value capable of being achieved from stem cell biology. It is our goal to continue to source leading edge technologies to constantly improve and diversify the products that researchers need to deliver maximum clinical benefit in the shortest possible time frames. We�re delighted to have concluded this agreement with the RIKEN Centre for Developmental Biology and are now preparing for the rapid dissemination of this valuable technology throughout the medical research community.� References: (a) A ROCK inhibitor permits survival of dissociated human embryonic stem cells Kiichi Watanabe, Morio Ueno, Daisuke Kamiya, Ayaka Nishiyama, Michiru Matsumura, Takafumi Wataya, Jun B Takahashi, Satomi Nishikawa, Shin-ichi Nishikawa, Keiko Muguruma, Yoshiki Sasai, Nature Biotechnology 25, 681 - 686 (2007), advance online publication, DOI:10.1038/nbt1310 RIKEN Centre for Developmental Biology http://www.cdb.riken.jp/en/index.html http://www.cdb.riken.jp/en/04_news/articles/070528_rockhes.html Notes to Editors Stem Cell Sciences plc (SCS) (AIM:STEM) (ASX:STC) is a global biotechnology company providing the biological infrastructure of cells and cell culture media to the burgeoning stem cell research market. Stem Cell Sciences� core objective is to develop safe and effective cell-based therapies for currently incurable diseases. SCS retains all rights to its technology for therapeutic use and is targeting cell-based therapies for neurodegenerative disease and injury. Revenues from Stem Cell Sciences� research business are delivered via an integrated network of business teams and regional offices in Edinburgh and Cambridge (UK), Kobe (Japan), Melbourne (Australia) and San Francisco (USA). This global reach provides the Company with the direct access to markets through experienced personnel and local business networks needed to drive SCS business growth in each region. The key challenge for the successful application of stem cells in both research and clinical applications is the reproducible supply of pure, fully characterized stem cells and stem cell-derived specialised cells such as nerves and muscle. This represents a significant technological challenge that will require access to multiple technologies and a globally integrated stem cell initiative. To access cutting edge technologies on a rapid and on-going basis, Stem Cell Sciences has built an exceptional network of highly interactive collaborations with academic centres of excellence in the stem cell field. These collaborations have been the source of our founding technologies and continue to provide an expanding pipeline of products and intellectual property that are central to the Company�s strategy and success. To facilitate research and technology transfer with its major collaborating academic institutions, Stem Cell Sciences� business and scientific teams are usually co-located on site or adjacent to the centre of excellence in independent company facilities. The Company�s key collaborating institutes include the Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research (University of Cambridge), the Institute of Stem Cell Research (University of Edinburgh), RIKEN Centre for Developmental Biology (Kobe) and the Australian Stem Cell Centre (Melbourne). Academic and commercial use of stem cells in basic research and drug discovery provides the Company with immediate and growing revenue streams and offsets the cost of technology development for full scale cell production of SCS cell-based therapeutics. For further information on the company please visit: www.stemcellsciences.com