Fourth Annual Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa Partnering

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Sep 9, 2014) - The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), the international organization representing the interests of the advanced therapies and regenerative medicine sector, today announced the companies chosen to present at its upcoming Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa (SCMOM) Partnering Forum. The meeting will feature presentations by 50 leading companies in the fields of cell therapy, gene therapy and tissue engineering, including recent newsmakers Avalanche Biotechnologies ( NASDAQ : AAVL ), Cardio3 BioSciences ( EURONEXT BRUSSELS : CARD ) ( EURONEXT PARIS : CARD ) and ViaCyte. The Partnering Forum will take place October 7 and 8, 2014 at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa in La Jolla, California as part of the full SCMOM conference, which also features a Scientific Symposium on October 9.

Collectively, the presenting companies are conducting 100+ clinical trials with an additional 135+ studies currently in the pre-clinical phase and 25+ products on the market. Altogether these companies are working on 185+ unique products with an extensive range of possible therapeutic applications. Over the past 12 months these companies have formed 46 partnerships including government grants and co-development and licensing deals.

2014 Presenting Companies and Institutions: Aastrom Biosciences, AGTC, Athersys, Avalanche Biotechnologies, Avita Medical, Bell Biosystems, BioLife Solutions, bluebird bio, Capricor, Cardio3 BioSciences, Cedars Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute, Celladon, Cellular Dynamics, Cesca Therapeutics, Cyfuse, Cytomedix, Cytori, DiscGenics, Fibrocell Science, Histogen, InVivo Therapeutics, ISTO Technologies, jCyte, Juventas Therapeutics, Kite Pharma, MaxCyte, Medipost, Mesoblast, MiMedx, NeoStem, Organovo, Osiris Therapeutics, Oxford BioMedica, Promethera Biosciences, Regeneus, ReNeuron, RepliCel, RhinoCyte, Sangamo BioSciences, Stanford University, StemCells, Inc., TC BioPharm, Terumo BCT, TiGenix, UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, ViaCyte and Voyager Therapeutics.

The following three companies will provide updates on recent clinical and financial achievements, providing further validation and support for the advanced therapies and regenerative medicine field:

Avalanche Biotechnologies, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel gene therapies to transform the lives of patients with sight-threatening ophthalmic diseases, raised net proceeds of approximately $106 million in its initial public offering (IPO) in August 2014. Concurrent with the completion of the IPO, Avalanche completed a $10.0 million private placement of common stock to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Regeneron). The Company recently formed a collaboration with Regeneron worth up to $640 million upon achievement of certain development and regulatory milestones, and secured a $55 million Series B financing earlier this year .

Cardio3 BioSciences (C3BS) is a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative regenerative, protective and reconstructive therapies for the treatment of cardiac diseases such as heart failure (HF) and myocardial infarct (AMI). C-Cure®, the lead product of Cardio3 BioSciences, is currently in a Phase III clinical trial in Europe and Israel. The trial, called CHART-1, represents the world's first Phase III trial for a pre-programmed cellular therapy targeting heart failure. CHART-1 patient enrollment is expected to be completed end of 2014. In addition, C3BS has received FDA approval to start another Phase III clinical trial (CHART-2) in the U.S and enrollment is expected to be initiated end of 2014. Clinical, academic and market recognition highlight Cardio3 BioSciences' technology and leadership in bringing new therapeutic options to patients, and for the first time in the history of medicine potentially delivering a therapy that will revert heart failure caused by the loss of myocardial tissue.

ViaCyte, a privately-held regenerative medicine company focused on developing a novel cell therapy for the treatment of diabetes, recently received $20 million from Janssen and Johnson & Johnson Research & Development Corporation in exchange for a future right to evaluate a transaction related to VC-01™ and a note convertible into equity at a later date. VC-01 is designed to serve as a replacement endocrine pancreas by combining pancreatic progenitor cells with a proprietary encapsulation device. In August, the Company received FDA acceptance to initiate a Phase 1/2 trial, which it believes to be the first ever clinical evaluation of a stem cell-derived islet replacement therapy for the treatment of patients with type 1 diabetes.

In addition to presentations by the field's top companies, the Partnering Forum will showcase two plenary sessions, one focused on cell therapy and the other on gene therapy, as well as interactive panels addressing critical commercial, financial, scientific, regulatory and reimbursement issues. The meeting, developed in 2011, has grown more than 70% over the past three years, with a key feature being the ability for participants to schedule one-on-one partnering meetings using a state-of-the-art software system. Further, the number of one-on-meetings scheduled has grown more than 165% since 2011.

Also occurring on October 8 as part of the program is a free, Public Forum by Carl H. June, M.D., professor of immunotherapy at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. This talk, held at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, will feature June's groundbreaking advancements in gene therapy aimed at treating HIV and cancer, specifically chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Immediately following the Partnering Forum and June's talk will be SCMOM's ninth Annual Scientific Symposium on October 9, 2014 at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Combined, the full three-day conference will attract 800+ attendees from around the globe, highlighting the promise and progress of this rapidly evolving, interdisciplinary field.

To learn more or to register for the 2014 Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa please visit www.stemcellmeetingonthemesa.com . Registration is complimentary for investors and credentialed members of the media, however, RSVP is required. Investors and media should contact Laura Parsons or Michelle Linn for more information.

About The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) is a Washington, DC-based multi-stakeholder advocacy organization that promotes legislative, regulatory and reimbursement initiatives necessary to facilitate access to life-giving advances in regenerative medicine worldwide. ARM also works to increase public understanding of the field and its potential to transform human healthcare, providing business development and investor outreach services to support the growth of its member companies and research organizations. Prior to the formation of ARM in 2009, there was no advocacy organization operating in Washington, DC to specifically represent the interests of the companies, research institutions, investors and patient groups that comprise the entire regenerative medicine community. Today, ARM has more than 175 members and is the leading global advocacy organization in this field. To learn more about ARM or to become a member, visit www.alliancerm.org .