NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (NasdaqCM:PSTI) (DAX:PJT), a bio-therapeutics company dedicated to the commercialization of non-personalized (allogeneic) cell therapy products for a variety of degenerative, ischemic and autoimmune indications, announced today that the Company’s product, PLX-BMT, is featured in the August issue of the peer-reviewed Journal Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy1. PLX-BMT utilizes the Company’s proprietary PLacental eXpanded (PLX) cells as an alternative to bone marrow transplantation (BMT). PLX cells are mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) obtained from human placenta and expanded using Pluristem’s proprietary 3D PluriX™ technology.

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The nine page article entitled “Placental-derived and expanded mesenchymal stromal cells (PLX-I) to enhance the engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood” and authored by William R Prather RPh MD, Amir Toren PhD & Moran Meiron PhD of Pluristem contains the following abstract:

“For the past 40 years, bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has become standard therapy to re-establish marrow function in patients with damaged or defective bone marrow. A human leukocyte antigen-matched sibling is the donor of choice for patients needing transplantation of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). As most patients do not have an acceptable matched, related donor, the National Marrow Donor Program has been established to match volunteer bone marrow donors with potential recipients who require BMT. Although transplantation of HSCs from an unrelated donor can be an effective therapy for a variety of malignant and non-malignant diseases, it remains complicated because of treatment-related morbidity and mortality, which has led to the investigation of alternative sources of HSCs such as umbilical cord blood (UCB). This review highlights the advantages and disadvantages of UCB and recent developments that address its disadvantages. This includes the use of a placenta-expanded mesenchymal stromal cell product (PLX-I) being developed by Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. and our opinion about the potential of this product.”

PLX-I is currently named PLX-BMT.

Zami Aberman, Pluristem’s President and CEO, said: “We are pleased that our PLX-BMT product has been chosen to be showcased in this prestigious peer-reviewed journal. Pluristem believes the acceptance of this article by the scientific and medical communities lends tremendous credibility to our technology of transforming the miracle of birth into therapeutics for all and its potential to benefit thousands of patients annually.”

About the Journal Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy

Published by Informa Healthcare (publisher of Scrip, Biotechniques and the Taylor & Francis journals), the Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy is an essential source of peer-reviewed articles focusing on emerging biotherapeutic drugs and technologies.

Through systematic review and evaluation, Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy covers all aspects of biological therapy, from therapeutic peptides and proteins to gene transfer technologies and drug delivery systems, placing new advances in the context of current therapeutic practice and providing an expert opinion on the scope for future development.

About Pluristem

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a bio-therapeutics company dedicated to the commercialization of non-personalized (allogeneic) cell therapy products for the treatment of several severe degenerative, ischemic and autoimmune disorders. The Company is developing a pipeline of products, stored ready-to-use, that are derived from human placenta, a non-controversial, non-embryonic, adult stem cell source.

These placental mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are expanded in the Company's proprietary PluriXTM 3D bioreactor, which imitates the natural microstructure of bone marrow and does not require supplemental growth factors or other exogenous materials. Pluristem believes that the resultant PLX (PLacental eXpanded) cells are multi-potent and able to differentiate into a variety of cell types. Recent evidence also suggests their efficacy may be related to the secretion of cytokines or other potent immune modulators. Furthermore, PLX cells are immune privileged and have immunomodulatory properties, thus protecting the recipient from immunological reactions that often accompany transplantations.

Pluristem's first product in development, PLX-PAD, is intended to improve the quality of life of millions of people suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD). The Company's products in development also include PLX-BMT, targeting the global shortfall of matched tissue for bone marrow transplantation (BMT) by improving the engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) contained in umbilical cord blood; PLX-STROKE, targeting ischemic stroke; PLX-MS, targeting Multiple Sclerosis; and PLX-IBD, targeting Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Pluristem has offices in the USA with research and manufacturing facilities in Israel.

See our product animation on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFhWX...

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and federal securities laws. For example, when we say that Pluristem believes the acceptance of this article by the scientific and medical communities lends tremendous credibility to our technology of transforming the miracle of birth into therapeutics for all and its potential to benefit thousands of patients annually, we are using forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Pluristem only, and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; our technology may not be validated as we progress further and our methods may not be accepted by the scientific community; we may be unable to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of our products; unforeseen scientific difficulties may develop with our process; results in the laboratory may not translate to equally good results in real surgical settings; our patents may not be sufficient; our products may harm recipients; changes in legislation; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition, which could cause the actual results or performance of Pluristem to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, Pluristem undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a more detailed description of the risk and uncertainties affecting Pluristem, reference is made to Pluristem's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information visit our website at www.pluristem.com, the content of which is not part of this press release.

1 William R Prather RPh MD, Amir Toren PhD & Moran Meiron PhD. Placental-derived and expanded mesenchymal stromal cells (PLX-I) to enhance the engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2008 Aug;8(8):1241-50

Pluristem
William Prather RPh, MD, 303-883-4954
Sr. VP Corporate Development
bill@pluristem.com