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The Company has created a wholly-owned subsidiary, Vantus, Inc., aveterinary stem cell laboratory services company. The Company is in theprocess of completing a research collaboration with the Center for EquineHealth and Stem Cell Regenerative Medicine Group at the University ofCalifornia, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.
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Under the collaboration, the Company's MarrowXpress(TM) System andBioArchive(R) System will be used for the processing and cryogenic storage ofequine stem cells from cell rich sources, including fetal tissue and fluidsduring foaling, and bone marrow from yearlings and adults. The stem cells willbe used in therapeutic treatment of orthopedic injuries in the performanceequine market including Thoroughbreds, American Quarter Horses, and Arabians.The Company is currently refining collection and processing methodologies atlarge breeder farms in California, and expects to be in operation commencingwith the 2009 foaling season, which begins in January of next year.
"The creation of Vantus, Inc. is a major milestone in our regenerativemedicine diversification strategy that we began implementing several monthsago. This program leverages the expertise and world renowned reputation of theUC Davis organization in animal research and our industry leading stem cellprocessing and storage technologies," noted Dr. William Osgood, ChiefExecutive Officer of ThermoGenesis.
"We have the potential to create a new paradigm for the treatment ofinjured performance horses using our unique approach of capturing stem cellswhen the horse is born up through the first year of life. This represents apotentially sizeable market opportunity for the Company in which we believe wecan achieve a meaningful competitive advantage quickly. Equine stem cells arebeing used successfully to treat a number of injuries today, with thepotential for significant and rapid growth given the early clinical efficacyof these treatments and relatively low regulatory hurdles in the veterinarymarket," he added.
"The collaborative support and assistance we will be receiving from Vantusshould allow our scientists to move forward rapidly in the development of newand unique veterinary stem cell applications. We expect that their experiencein the processing and bioarchival storage of stem cells, combined with theexpertise of our research and clinical personnel, will provide compellingsynergy for scientific discovery," said Dr. Gregory Ferraro, of the UC DavisCenter for Equine Health.
Osgood noted, "In addition, the experience we gain in the veterinary stemcell market and the products and services that will come from research andinnovations in harvesting, processing, and therapeutic treatments, willdirectly translate to treatment of human orthopedic injury and disease andspeed our entry into this evolving market."
"Finally, we believe our wound healing technologies will have directapplication in the veterinary market, which we expect will add additionalrevenues to the Company," he added.
To learn more about Vantus please log onto http://www.vantuslabs.com.
About ThermoGenesis Corp.
ThermoGenesis Corp. (http://www.thermogenesis.com) is a leading supplierof innovative products and services that process and store adult stem cellsfor treatment of disease and injury. These products include:
This press release, including statements regarding financial informationfor future periods, contain forward-looking statements, and such statementsare made pursuant to the safe harbour provisions of the Private SecuritiesLitigation Reform Act of 1995. These stateme
