WASHINGTON, April 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- At the first annual Regen Med Investor Day, Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. ("ACT"; OTCBB: ACTC), Cytomedix, Inc. (OTCQX: CMXI) and Mesoblast Limited will be just three of the 16 leading regenerative medicine companies providing updates on recent corporate and clinical milestones. The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine also announced today that the final panelists have been determined for the three disease sessions which will focus on cardiovascular disease, wound healing and tissue engineering and CNS diseases. The Regen Med Investor Day is the first investor event organized specifically for the regenerative medicine sector and will take place next Wednesday, April 17 at the Harmonie Club, 4 East 60th Street, New York, NY.
Presentation Highlights
In addition to the three companies featured below, the program will include presentations by: Aastrom, Asterias, Athersys, Cytori, Juventas, MiMedx, NeoStem, Organogenesis, Organovo, Pluristem, Sangamo, StemCells, Inc. and Tigenix.
ACT is currently conducting three human embryonic stem cell-based clinical trials for forms of macular degeneration: two in the U.S. and one in Europe. The company recently announced initiation of treatment of the third patient cohort in the two U.S. trials.
Cytomedix recently announced the achievement of several key milestones in their commercialization efforts for autologous regenerative technologies: (i) on March 8, 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued coding and reimbursement claim instructions for autologous PRP in non-healing chronic wounds; (ii) on March 1, 2013, CMS granted formal approval of the protocols for AutoloGel under Coverage with Evidence Development (CED); (iii) in December 2012, a European CE Mark was granted for the Angel cPRP System for processing blood and bone marrow aspirate; (iv) the FDA granted clearance for the Angel cPRP System to process bone marrow aspirate; and (v) a Phase 2 clinical study with ALD-301 (Bright Cells) was announced for patients with an intermittent claudication indication associated with peripheral artery disease, in collaboration with the NIH. These approvals have the potential to significantly expand the commercial opportunities for Cytomedix.
Mesoblast Limited recently strengthened its financial position to drive its independent clinical programs to commercial outcomes, particularly in the areas of degenerative disease of the lumbar spine and in the treatment of inflammatory and immune-mediated conditions. In the largest capital raising for a biotech company this year, the adult stem cell company made a targeted private placement of shares raising A$170 million and boosting its cash reserves to A$332 million.
Disease-Focused Sessions
Speakers for the program's three panel discussions have been finalized:
Clinical Outlooks in Cardiovascular Disease
Jason Kolbert, Managing Director, Biotechnology Research, Maxim Group (moderator)
Ronnda Bartel, Ph.D., CSO, Aastrom Biosciences
Christopher Calhoun, CEO, Cytori Therapeutics, Inc.
Silviu Itescu, M.B.B.S., CEO & President, Mesoblast Limited
Linda Marban, Ph.D., Founder & CEO, Capricor
Leslie Miller, M.D., Director, USF Heart Institute; Director, Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine Program, University of South Florida
Regenerative Medicine in Wound Healing & Tissue Engineering
Ted Tenthoff, Managing Director & Senior Biotechnology Analyst, Piper Jaffray (moderator)
Milka Bedikian, Vice President, Global Marketing, Bioactive Wound Healing, Organogenesis Inc.
Pierre Gosselin, Ph.D., Senior Director, Business Development, Shire Regenerative Medicine
Will Li, M.D., President & Medical Director, The Angiogenesis Foundation
Martin Rosendale, CEO, Cytomedix, Inc.
Thomas Serena, M.D., F.A.C.S., CEO & Medical Director, SerenaGroup
Therapeutics for a Broad Range of CNS Diseases
Ren Benjamin, Ph.D., Managing Director & Senior Biotechnology Analyst, Burrill Securities (moderator)
Aileen Anderson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine
Lucian Del Priore, M.D., Ph.D., Pierre G. Jenkins Professor, Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology & Director, Storm Eye Institute
Stephen Huhn, M.D., F.A.C.S., Vice President, Head of the CNS Program, StemCells Inc.
Gary Rabin, Chairman & CEO, Advanced Cell Technology
Sean Savitz, M.D., Professor of Neurology, University of Texas Medical School, UTHealth
Gil Van Bokkelen, Ph.D., Chairman & CEO, Athersys, Inc.
Lawrence Wechsler, M.D., Professor & Chair, Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh
About the Regen Med Investor Day
Co-hosted by leading financial firms Burrill & Company, Maxim Group and Piper Jaffray, this one-day, high-impact program will provide institutional investors and life science analysts with insight from the industry's leading small- and mid-cap companies as well as exclusive access to regenerative medicine's top stakeholders. Full details on the program can be found at http://alliancerm.org/event/regen-med-investor-day.
RSVP is required. Credentialed investors, life science strategic partners and members of the media should contact Laura Parsons at lparsons@alliancerm.org if interested in attending.
About the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine
The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) is a Washington, DC-based non-profit organization that promotes legislative, regulatory, reimbursement, and financing initiatives necessary to facilitate access to life-giving advances in regenerative medicine. ARM also works to increase public understanding of the field and its potential to transform human healthcare, and provides services to support the growth of its member companies and organizations. Prior to the formation of ARM, there was no advocacy organization operating in Washington, DC to specifically represent the interests of regenerative medicine companies, research institutions, investors, and patient groups supporting more rapid adoption of technologies in our field. To learn more about ARM or to become a member, visit www.alliancerm.org.
Media Contact:
Michelle Linn
Linnden Communications
Phone: 508-362-3087
SOURCE Alliance for Regenerative Medicine
