HAIFA, Israel, June 19, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pluristem Therapeutics Inc . (Nasdaq: PSTI ) (TASE: PLTR ), a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapies, today announced that Russia's Federal Service for Intellectual Property has granted to Pluristem Patent No. 2515156 titled, "Methods of Treating Inflammatory Colon Diseases". The patent covers methods for treating ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease using placenta-derived cells. This patent has already been issued to Pluristem in South Africa and is currently pending in several other jurisdictions.
"Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that PLX cells are potentially effective in treating inflammatory bowel disease, and we may consider advancing into clinical trials with this indication in future," stated Pluristem CEO Zami Aberman. "This patent issued in Russia is the latest in a series of patents we've been granted across the globe for the use of placenta-derived cell therapies in a variety of different indications."
About Pluristem Therapeutics
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapies. The Company's patented PLX (PLacental eXpanded) cells are a protein delivery platform that releases a cocktail of therapeutic proteins in response to a host of local and systemic inflammatory and ischemic conditions. PLX cells are grown using the Company's proprietary 3D micro-environmental technology and are an "off-the-shelf" product that requires no tissue matching prior to administration.
Pluristem has a strong intellectual property position, Company-owned GMP certified manufacturing and research facilities, strategic relationships with major research institutions and a seasoned management team. For more information visit www.pluristem.com , the content of which is not part of this press release.
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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, we are using forward-looking statements, when we discuss that PLX cells are potentially effective in treating inflammatory bowel disease and that we may consider advancing inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn's disease indications into clinical trials in future. These forward-looking statements and their implications 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; we may encounter delays or obstacles in launching and/or successfully completing our clinical trials; our products may not be approved by regulatory agencies, 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; our products may wind up being more expensive than we anticipate; results in the laboratory may not translate to equally good results in real surgical settings; results of preclinical studies may not correlate with the results of human clinical trials; 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 risks and uncertainties affecting Pluristem, reference is made to Pluristem's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Pluristem Therapeutics Karine Kleinhaus, MD, MPH Divisional VP, North America 1-914-512-4109
