ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BioTime, Inc. (NYSE MKT: BTX) and its subsidiary LifeMap Sciences have announced the launch of LifeMap BioReagents (http://bioreagents.lifemapsc.com/), a new portal offering researchers access to BioTimes research product lines including PureStem human progenitor cell lines, PureStem packages, clinical and research grade human embryonic stem cell lines (hES), HyStem hydrogels, culture media, and cell differentiation kits. LifeMap Sciences will be the principle marketing and sales arm for BioTimes cell-based products and related reagents for the research community in academia, research hospitals, and biotech and pharma companies. LifeMap Sciences holds the exclusive, worldwide license to market GeneCards (www.genecards.org), with over 12 million page visits per year from hundreds of thousands of unique users worldwide, and MalaCards (www.malacards.org), and plans to launch LifeMap Discovery, its database for biomedical and stem cell research, later this quarter. LifeMap BioReagents is integrated with the GeneCards, MalaCards, and LifeMap Discovery databases, thereby providing a large number of biomedical researchers accessing these databases a means of identifying stem cell reagents that can enhance research and discovery efforts in a variety of fields, including stem cell research, developmental biology, mechanisms of various human diseases, drug discovery and therapeutic discovery and development. There has been growing interest … Continue reading →

San Diego biotechnology and civic leaders threw their support behind stem cell research eight years ago, when the states voters approved Proposition 71, the $3 billion state stem cell initiative. Californians were promised that the research would lead to therapies for diseases and injuries that had no cure, such as spinal paralysis and diabetes. Once scientists had done the research, biotech companies in the field known as regenerative medicine would take over and bring the therapies to market. San Diego research centers banded together to bring in stem cell grants, getting more than $261 million. Local leaders calculated there would be commercial benefits as well, reinforcing San Diegos stature as one of the worlds top biotech centers. Now, that commercialization is starting to take place. Local biotechs are testing stem cell therapies in patients, in the United States, in Europe and in China. Cures for diabetes, heart failure, and even baldness are being developed by San Diego companies; the last two already being tested in patients. While these treatments are still experimental success is far from certain they provide a preliminary indication that regenerative medicine is on the road to becoming a new growth area for the regions large biotechnology … Continue reading →

LINCOLN The results of last week's election pose a new risk for embryonic stem cell research at the University of Nebraska, but the risk does not appear imminent. Five of the eight members of the new board that takes office in January are on record opposing the use of such cells in medical research, but none has disclosed plans to stop it. Opponents say the research is unethical because embryos were destroyed to provide the cells used for study. Proponents say scientists need to study embryonic stem cells as part of their search for life-saving cures. They also note that scientists don't actually use embryos in their research. Rather, they purchase and use cells grown and replicated from an original embryonic sample. Last week's election marked the most significant overhaul of the NU Board of Regents in more than 40 years. Since an expansion of the board to eight members in 1970, no more than two seats have changed hands in any election. This year's three-seat turnover resulted from Regents Jim McClurg of Lincoln, Randy Ferlic of Omaha and Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons not seeking re-election. Their replacements include Jim Pillen, 56, of Columbus, and LaVon Heidemann, 53, of Elk … Continue reading →

MENLO PARK, Calif., November 15, 2012 -- Geron Corporation (GERN) today announced that the company has entered into a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with BioTime, Inc. (BTX) and BioTime`s recently formed subsidiary, BioTime Acquisition Corporation (BAC). The LOI contains broad terms of a potential transaction through which Geron would contribute to BAC its intellectual property and other assets related to Geron`s discontinued human embryonic stem cell programs. BioTime would contribute to BAC $5 million in cash, $30 million of BioTime common shares, warrants to purchase eight (8) million shares of BioTime at a pre-specified price (the "BioTime Warrants"), rights to use certain human embryonic stem cell lines, and minority stakes in two of BioTime`s subsidiaries. Following consummation of the potential transaction, Geron stockholders would receive shares representing 21.4% of the common stock of BAC as well as warrants to purchase eight (8) million shares of BioTime common stock at a pre-specified price. BioTime would own approximately 71.6%, and a private investor would own approximately 7.0% of the outstanding BAC common stock for an additional $5 million investment. BioTime would also receive warrants that would enable it to increase its ownership in BAC by approximately 2%, which would dilute the … Continue reading →