SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - Mar 4, 2013) - VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. ( OTCQB : VSTA ), a biotechnology company applying stem cell technology for drug rescue, predictive toxicology and drug metabolism assays, and Celsis In Vitro Technologies ("Celsis"), the premier global provider of specialized in vitro products for drug metabolism, drug-drug interaction and toxicity screening, have entered into a new strategic collaboration agreement. The comprehensive goal of the agreement is to characterize and functionally benchmark VistaGen's human liver cell platform, LiverSafe 3D, for studying and predicting human liver drug metabolism. VistaGen will utilize Celsis' experience and expertise in in vitro drug metabolism to help validate VistaGen's human liver cell platform.In this strategic collaboration Celsis will not only validate VistaGen's stem cell-derived liver cells in traditional pharmaceutical metabolism assays, but will also determine genetic variations in VistaGen's pluripotent stem cell lines that are important to drug development.In addition, VistaGen will utilize Celsis' human cadaver-derived liver cells, currently used throughout the pharmaceutical industry for traditional drug metabolism assays, as reference controls with which to monitor and benchmark the functional properties of VistaGen's human liver cell platform. With the assistance of Celsis scientists, VistaGen aims to achieve four key objectives: "As an … Continue reading →

PITTSTON, ME--(Marketwire - Mar 4, 2013) - YaFarm Technologies, Inc. ( PINKSHEETS : YFRM ) (YaFarm, or the Company) is pleased to announce the Integrative Stem Cell Institute (ISCI) has released three proprietary documents for patients seeking stem cell based therapies. These documents concerning stem cell procedures will be available to both new and existing patients. The three articles that the ISCI has published are: The ISCI Vetting Stem Cell Clinics provides a clear and concise overview of areas patients need to investigate prior to seeking stem cell therapy. The article provides information on how to evaluate claims made by the clinic, the importance of independent review of the treatments, as well as an explanation about the importance of long-term follow up. http://iscelli.com/vettingstemcellclinics.php 20 Questions to Ask a Physician provides critical questions patients should ask before seeking treatment. Patients are urged to read the article, which discusses how cells are removed and injected into the patients, as well as how to determine the qualification of the physicians. http://iscelli.com/questionstoask.php Patient Rights details patient rights and includes a thorough discussion on how patients should be treated by clinics and physicians. It also sets expectations of treatment while defining the level of care … Continue reading →

Re "Can stem cell treatment cure Type 1 diabetes?" (Forum, March 3): As someone who has survived for 47 years with Type 1 diabete,s I've seen just about everything go wrong that possibly could including retinopathy, neuropathy and acute hypoglycemic unawareness. I read with great interest the article regarding a potential cure through the device being set for testing by ViaCyte using cloned beta cells to produce insulin normally. I survived as a child in the early 1960s through the efforts of a mother who sacrificed greatly to provide me with an as normal as possible childhood. It wasn't until the birth of my daughter that I realized just how great her level of anxiety must have truly been. Type 1 diabetes is an insidious disease that can wreak havoc on even those who do everything right in caring for themselves. It demands full time vigilance of those who live with it and a cure is a dream of mine. -- James D.Taylor, Elk Grove Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved. Read more articles by What You Should Know About Comments on Sacbee.com Sacbee.com is happy to provide a forum for reader interaction, discussion, feedback and reaction to our … Continue reading →

Newswise Two brothers have been cured of their sickle cell disease at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System using a relatively uncommon type of stem cell transplant that is performed without chemotherapy. Their transplants were possible thanks to a third brother who was a match for both, against long odds. Julius and Desmond Means never imagined life without sickle cell. The brothers, ages 25 and 19, have spent their lives in and out of hospitals, each suffering from different complications of the disease. Growing up, they tired easily and couldn't keep up with their friends. As they grew older, the disease caused bone damage and affected Julius's lungs. Desmond's organs were also being damaged, and he was jaundiced. For either young man to receive a transplant, a healthy sibling who is a compatible donor was needed. An acceptable match requires that at least eight of 10 known human leukocyte antigen (H.L.A.) genes be identical between donor and recipient. Julius and Desmond's healthy older brother Clifford, 27, matched 10 of 10 H.L.A. genes with both of them -- an occurrence of "extremely low" likelihood, according to Dr. Damiano Rondelli, director of stem-cell transplantation at UI Health. The men's … Continue reading →