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Michael J. Andrews, MicroIslet's President and Chief Executive Officer,said: "Insulin-producing islet cells hold great promise in the search for acure for Type-1 diabetes, from which 1.4 million Americans suffer. However,islet cells are fragile, and their health and quality are highly dependent onthe preservation media used to store and ship the source organ. We comparedHypoThermosol to several commercially available media as well as a modifiedtwo-layer method. When organs were stored in HypoThermosol there wassignificant improvement in the appearance of the tissues and the yield ofhealthy islet cells."
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Dr. Ingrid Stuiver, Senior Director of Research at MicroIslet, reported toBioLife that with HypoThermosol, quality islets could still be successfullyisolated from the stored organ even after a transport time of 24-27 hours.Isolation efficiency, a measure of the quantity of islet cells available froma given volume of tissue, was higher than all other shipping media tested.Viability of the isolated tissue was one of the most important criteriatested. The recovery of the islets processed after using HypoThermosol as acold storage solution for a duration of 24-27 hours was significantly improvedand consisted of a viability range of 80%-90%, compared to an average of50%-65% viability when pancreata were stored in previously tested solutions.Furthermore, the necrotic and apoptotic cell death profiles of islets frompancreata stored in HypoThermosol were similar to those typically seen forislets from fresh pancreata.
BioLife Chairman and Chief Executive Mike Rice remarked: "We're quitepleased to be supporting MicroIslet's efforts to develop and commercialize acure for diabetes. This is yet another example of how our products improve theviability of cells and tissue throughout the hypothermic storage and thawingprocesses and significantly increase tissue survival rate, or yield. Bysubstantially improving yield of source material and finished products, ourproprietary technology enables greater cost-effectiveness in thecommercialization of new clinical therapies."
About MicroIslet:
MicroIslet is a biotechnology company engaged in the research,development, and commercialization of patented technologies in the field ofcell therapy for patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. MicroIslet haslicensed several technologies from Duke University for isolation, culturing,storage, and microencapsulation of insulin-producing islet cells from porcinesources. The Company believes that these technologies, and other proprietarymethods developed in-house, are significant advances in the field of cellulartherapeutics. MicroIslet is planning human clinical trials in the U.S., andexploring possible trials abroad. MicroIslet's ultimate goal is to offer celltransplantation therapies for diabetic patients worldwide.
The Company's lead product, MicroIslet-PTM, consists of microencapsulatedporcine islets for implantation into the abdominal cavity using a minimallyinvasive procedure. Microencapsulation involves surrounding islet cells withformulations of a highly biocompatible, ultra-pure biopolymer, calledalginate, or other similar biocompatible polymers. The alginate coating allowsinsulin, glucose, oxygen and other nutrients to diffuse freely, while blockingantibodies and reducing the patient's immune response to the implanted isletcells. It is hoped that MicroIslet-PTM will provide physiologic andself-regulating blood glucose control, thus reducing the need for insulininjections or infusions and constant blood glucose monitoring. The long termcomplications associated with type 1 diabetes, such as peripheralneuropathies, heart and kidney disease, and skin disorders, may be mitigatedby the tighter blood glucose control that would result from such a product.Additional information about MicroIslet can be found athttp://www.microislet.com
About BioLife Solutions:
BioLife Solutions develops and markets patented hypothermicstorage/transport and cryopreservation media products for cells, tissues, andorgans. The Company's proprietary HypoThermosol(R) and CryoStor(TM) platformof biopreservation media products are marketed to academic researchinstitutions, hospitals, and commercial companies involved in cell therapy,tissue engineering, cord blood banking, drug discovery, and toxicologytesting. BioLife's fully defined serum-free and protein-free products aremanufactured under current Good Manufacturing Practices and are formulatedusing only USP or highest available grade components to reducepreservation-induced, delayed-onset cell damage and death. BioLife's enablingtechnology provides research and clinical organizations significant yieldimprovement in post-preservation cell and tissue and viability and function.
This news release contains forward-looking statements as that term isdefined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Theseforward-looking statements include any statements that relate to the intent,belief, plans or expectations of the Company or its management, or that arenot a statement of historical fact. Any forward-looking statements in thisnews release are based on current expectations and beliefs and are subject tonumerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differmaterially. Some of the specific factors that could cause BioLife Solutions'actual results to differ materially are discussed in the Company's recentfilings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. BioLife Solutionsdisclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a resultof developments occurring after the date of this press release.Media Relations: Investor Relations: Len Hall Dan Matsui Allen & Caron Inc. Allen & Caron Inc. (949) 474-4300 (949) 474-4300 [email protected] [email protected]
SOURCE BioLife Solutions Inc.
