SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology Co. Ltd. ( http://www.beikebiotech.com ), China's leading stem cell research and regenerative medicine company, announced that it has entered into an agreement with Yokohama-based Biomaster Inc. ( http://www.biomaster.jp ) for investment in its advanced technologies. Biomaster specializes in research and commercialization of adipose-based stem cell therapies. Beike, along with two investment companies, has taken a significant share in Biomaster, secured a seat on the board, and is involved in the company's strategic positioning in preparation for an eventual IPO.

Since its inception in 2002, Biomaster has been a leading innovator in the field of adipose-derived stem cell regenerative technology. The company developed its proprietary Cell-Assisted Lipotransfer (CAL) procedure through joint research with the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Medicine. Biomaster's scientists have published ten articles in leading international journals related to stem cell technology.

Beike Biotechnology offers Biomaster a strategic launch pad for its technologies through its extensive clinical and research networks in China, Southeast Asia and Central America.

"This deal has created a powerful partnership that plays to our companies' respective advantages," stated Shoko Murase, Ph.D, president of Biomaster. "Biomaster is uniquely positioned as the only facility allowed by law to offer stem-cell based therapy to the Japanese public. From a healthcare standpoint, our partnership with Beike will extend our services to patients at Beike's affiliated clinical research institutes in China and worldwide. Biomaster's R&D will also benefit from Beike's wide network of research laboratories, international partners and technical resources, enabling our company to accelerate future product development timelines and to utilize the favorable research environment in China."

The increased capital from this investment will enable Biomaster to advance its strategic aims of developing stem cell-based hair growth, spinal repair and organ regeneration therapies. Biomaster will benefit from Beike's extensive clinical research network and broad access to the growing Chinese medical market.

"We have high hopes for our regenerative medicine collaborations with Biomaster," stated Susan Jiang, CTO of Beike Biotechnology. "I have the greatest respect for Dr. Kotaro Yoshimura, co-creator of Biomaster's key technologies. Dr. Yoshimura is a faculty member of the prestigious Department of Plastic Surgery of University of Tokyo."

Dr. Sean Hu, CEO and Chairman of Beike Biotechnology expressed his support for the contract saying, "Biomaster's technologies complement our own work. This is a logical step that will harness both companies' strengths. We look forward to providing technical and financial assistance in bringing their future regenerative technologies to the market. I am confident that Beike's world-class stem cell laboratories and research teams can efficiently scale-up Biomaster's current research efforts, accelerating R&D timelines and get treatment to the patients who need it."

Biomaster is the only company in Japan authorized to offer stem-cell based therapies to the public. The company was granted a license by the Japanese Ministry of Health to operate Cellport Yokohama ( http://www.cellport.jp ) as a private clinic in Yokohama, Kanagawa-ken, Japan. The clinic currently treats patients using CAL, a proprietary technology which allows doctors to use fat extracted from other body areas (such as stomach or thighs) for cosmetic and therapeutic purposes such as breast reconstruction, breast enlargement, facial treatments or buttocks lift with notably higher success rates than conventional lipotransfer cosmetic procedures.

Invented in Japan by plastic surgeon Dr. Kotaro Yoshimura, the CAL soft tissue augmentation technique creates more natural and safer results compared to conventional plastic surgery techniques for breast enhancement -- of which 99% use synthetic implants. The technique involves suctioning excess fat from the patient's stomach or thighs, processing this fat and soft-tissue to enrich the adipose-derived stem cell concentration and then injecting this mix into the breast. The injected mixture, which now contains a high level of stem cells, is transplanted layer by layer into each breast to ensure an even distribution of the adipose mixture. The high concentration of stem cells in the newly injected fat supports healthy tissue growth and an increased blood supply. Over 300 women have undergone the CAL procedure since 2006 for breast reconstruction after breast cancer, replacement of breast implants or breast augmentation.

About Biomaster Inc.

Biomaster Inc. ( http://www.biomaster.jp ) is one of Japan's leading biotechnology companies, and is at the forefront of advanced research and commercialization of adipose-based stem cell therapies, focusing on regenerative medicine, tissue reconstruction and tissue engineering.

Biomaster has a blue-chip pedigree and was founded by far-sighted intellectual leaders in the Japanese venture capital community as well as leading scientists and doctors from Tokyo University, Japan's most prestigious academic institution. The company was formed in 2002, by Trans-Science, a leading venture capital company with a proven track record in the biotech field.

For more information about Biomaster's technologies or individual treatment options please contact: internationalservice@biomaster.jp.

About Beike Biotech

Beike Biotechnology ( http://www.beikebiotech.com ) is China's leading biotechnology company. Its scientists have been focused on the development and commercialization of adult stem cell therapies since 1999. The company currently produces a full line of stem cell products from umbilical cord, cord blood, and bone marrow stem cells. Beike's unique processing technologies prepare the cells for use in treating a variety of serious medical conditions including ataxia, brain injury, cerebral palsy, diabetic foot disease, lower limb ischemia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, and optic nerve damage.

    For more information, please contact:

     T. Gutmann
     Shenzhen Beike Biotech Company, Ltd.
     Shenzhen Hi-Tech Industrial Park
     Tel:   +86-755-8630-9200
     Email: info@beikebiotech.com
     Web:   http://www.beikebiotech.com

SOURCE Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology Co. Ltd.

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.biomaster.jp
http://www.beikebiotech.com
http://www.cellport.jp