Cellular Biomedicine Group Marks the Launch of Clinical Trial for Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA)

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- This week Cellular Biomedicine Group (OTCQB: CBMG) held a ceremony to mark the launch of their clinical trial for haMPC (Human Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells) therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA). The trial, already in progress, is being conducted by Shanghai's Renji Hospital, which is a tertiary level Class A hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.

The Phase I open label clinical research trial, registered with the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) under number NCT01809769 (click here to view), will test the safety and efficacy of intra-articular injections of autologous (patient's own) haMPC in order to reduce inflammation and regenerate damaged joint tissues.

Cheng Xiang (Chase) Dai, MD, PhD, Vice President and GM of CBMG's Autologous Products Business Unit, commented, "We are pleased to have a highly respected university hospital such as Renji Hospital conduct these trials, and are very optimistic about the potential to soon be able to provide a safe and effective therapy that could bring relief to millions of KOA patients across China."

Knee Osteoarthritis in China
Currently, patients suffering from osteoarthritis in China number approximately 40 million people. Of these, approximately 70% suffer from knee osteoarthritis (KOA). As drug-based methods of management are ineffective, some 1.5 million patients with this disability will degenerate to the point of requiring artificial joint replacement surgery every year.

The clinical trial studies the effects of CBMG's proprietary therapy that consists of a small amount of adipose tissue obtained via liposuction from the patient. The adipose is processed for immediate injection into the knee area, with the remaining tissue to be further processed to purify, expand and bank haMPCs for additional injections 1 and 3 months later.

About Cellular Biomedicine Group
Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. develops proprietary cell therapies for the treatment of certain degenerative diseases and cancers.  Our developmental stem cell, progenitor cell, and immune cell projects are the result of research and development by scientists and doctors from China and the United States. Our flagship GMP facility, consisting of eight independent cell production lines, is designed, certified and managed according to U.S. standards.  To learn more about CBMG, please visit: www.cellbiomedgroup.com

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release relating to plans, strategies, trends, specific activities or investments, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, risk factors inherent in doing business. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as "may," "will," "expects," "plans," "intends," "estimates," "potential," or "continue," or similar terms or the negative of these terms. Although CBMG believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, they cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements will be obtained. CBMG does not have any obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as required by law.

Contact:
Jeff Ramson 
Investor Relations
ProActive Capital Group
+1 646-863-6341

Sarah Kelly 
Director of Corporate Communications, CBMG
+1 650 566 5064
[email protected]

SOURCE Cellular Biomedicine Group