The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (USAMRMC-TATRC) recently awarded NeoStem (NYSE Amex: NBS) the contract for the purpose of evaluating the use of topically applied bone marrow-derived adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for rapid wound healing.

Over the last several years NeoStem has been partnering and collaborating with researchers throughout the U.S. to investigate the use of stem cell therapies in wound healing. In 2007, NeoStem acquired an exclusive license to the VSEL™ (very small embryonic-like stem cells) technology developed by researchers from the University of Louisville. Earlier this year, the co-inventor of the VSEL™ technology, Dr. Mariusz Ratajczak of the University of Louisville, was appointed to NeoStem's Scientific Advisory Board. In the 2008 publication on the new technology the researchers commented; "We hypothesize that VSELs are deposited during gastrulation and organogenesis in developing organs/tissues of mammals as a population of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) that give rise to tissue committed monopotent small stem cells and that their number decreases with age. Therefore VSELs could play a pivotal role in normal rejuvenation of adult tissues as well as involvement in regeneration of damaged organs."

In April 2009, NeoStem® entered into a License Agreement with Vincent Falanga, M.D., Professor, Boston University School of Medicine and Chairman and Program Director at Roger Williams Medical Center, pursuant to which the Company acquired a world-wide, exclusive license to a U.S. provisional patent application and corresponding PCT application and know-how relating to the use of autologous mesenchymal stem cells to treat wounds.

Dr. Falanga commented on this new government contract, "Adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and very small embryonic-like (VSEL) stem cells can be harvested with relative ease from individuals. Our studies indicate that an individual's own (autologous) stem cells can be highly successful in healing wounded tissues and in regenerative processes. Together with the wound delivery methods we have developed, these stem cells could bring about a quantum step forward in the way we treat non-healing chronic wounds and many types of injuries, both in the civilian and military population."

In January 2010, NeoStem also received a $108,746 Grand Opportunities (GO) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the Small Business Innovative Research Program (SBIR) to fund research at the University of Michigan to evaluate bone defect repair using adult stem cells. NeoStem® entered into a one-year sponsored research agreement (SRA) with the University of Michigan to study the potential of very small embryonic-like stem cells to form bone in an animal model and regenerate a critical sized bone defect using NeoStem's proprietary VSEL™ technology. This research effort is being led by principal investigator Dr. Russell Taichman, Professor of Dentistry, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. NeoStem will have the first option to license discoveries stemming from the project.

Robin Smith, M.D., Chairman of the Board and CEO of NeoStem commented on the recent Army contract; "NeoStem is thrilled to have the United States Government's support to advance our technology and is honored to become part of TATRC's regenerative medicine portfolio. It is our goal with this important project to leverage adult stem cell technology to help our soldiers avoid amputations and immobilization from injuries that they may sustain while fighting for our country. We understand the urgent need to improve regenerative medicine capabilities and reach ultimate medical solutions. Wound healing could represent just the beginning of more collaborative projects involving other clinical indications, such as spinal cord injuries and retinal damage, both of which affect American warriors who serve our country in the global war on terrorism.

These federal monies will allow us to intensify our efforts to expand the potential impact of adult stem cells, including very small embryonic-like stem cells for which we have an exclusive license, in wound healing and other areas of regenerative medicine in general in an effort to improve tissue repair and decrease overall medical costs," she continued.

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