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Distinguished Scientists Join Advanced Cell Technology's New Scientific Advisory Board
[September 02, 2014]

Distinguished Scientists Join Advanced Cell Technology's New Scientific Advisory Board


MARLBOROUGH, Mass. --(Business Wire)--

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. ("ACT"; OTCBB: ACTCD), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today the addition of five leading scientists to its new Scientific Advisory Board. The Board will be chaired by Robert Langer, ScD, David H. Koch Institute Professor at MIT (News - Alert) and member of ACT's Board of Directors.

"We are honored to welcome such esteemed colleagues to our new Scientific Advisory Board," said Robert Lanza, MD, Chief Scientific Officer at ACT, "The Company will benefit greatly from their new perspectives and diversity of experience and together they bring extensive expertise in cell biology, clinical translation, and the broader field of regenerative medicine. Together with Dr. Langer, the new Board spans the continuum from laboratory and translational research to drugs and biologics development through clinical trials. Dr. Lanza added "ACT is at the forefront of regenerative medicine and plans to initiate phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of Stargardt's macular degeneration (SMD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD (News - Alert)). The Company has made substantial progress in these areas and as advisors, the SAB will be critical in harnessing creativity with scientific rigor to help steer the Company in its pursuit of discovery and development of novel therapies for patients in need."

The members of the Scientific Advisory Board are:

Constance Cepko, PhD, Bullard Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience, Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology, and Co-Director, Leder Human Biology and Translational Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Cepko is an Investigator at the Howard Hughes (News - Alert) Medical Institute and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Her work has earned her honors ranging from induction to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences to the Alfred W. Bressler Prize in Vision Science for her work in retina development.

George Daley, MD, PhD, Samuel E. Lux IV Professor of Hematology/Oncology at Boston Children's Hospital and Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School, and past-President of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). Dr. Daley is an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. He has received numerous awards, including the NIH Director's Pioneer Award, the Judson Daland Prize from the American Philosophical Society, and the E. Donnall Thomas Prize of the American Society for Hematology for advances in human induced pluripotent stem cells.

John Gearhart, PhD, James W. Effron University Professor and the Director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1998, Dr. Gearhart and his team published the first report on the derivation of pluripotent stem cells from human germ cells. Dr. Gearhart serves on numerous advisory boards and committees of foundations, institutes and professional societies involved in stem cell research and policy and science outreach and has served as a consultant for many governmental agencies, in states, at the national leel and to governments of foreign countries.



Robert Langer, ScD, David H. Koch Institute Professor at MIT, is the only person ever to receive both the US National Medal of Science and the United States National Medal of Technology and Innovation as well as being elected to all three United States National Academies, and has served as a member and Chairman of the FDA's Science Board, its highest advisory board. He has received numerous honors and awards, including the Breakthrough Prize, the Wolf Prize in chemistry, the Kyoto Prize, the Millennium Technology Prize, and 22 honorary doctorates.

Michael Longaker, MD, Deane P. and Louise Mitchell Professor, Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery, Director of the Program in Regenerative Medicine, and Co-Director of the Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Stanford University. Dr. Longaker has broad expertise in the areas of developmental biology, tissue engineering, and stem cell biology. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, and recipient of the Flance-Karl Award from the American Surgical Association and the Jacobson Promising Investigation Award from the American College of Surgeons.


Joseph Vacanti, MD, John Homans Professor of Surgery and Director of the Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Organ Fabrication at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Vacanti is a member of Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, and has received numerous awards and honors, including the Thomas G. Sheen Award and the James Bartlett Brown Award from the Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the Clemson Award from the Society for Biomaterials.

"This group represents some of the best minds in stem cell research and regenerative medicine," stated Robert Langer, ScD, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board. "Their knowledge and expertise will help guide the Company's strategic direction and identify the most promising scientific programs ranging from discovering new therapeutic cell types to developing treatments that could significantly improve the lives of those suffering from debilitating diseases. Over the years, ACT's scientists have made important advances in the development and underlying science of stem cell-based therapies. The Board's contribution will play an important role in advancing these scientific programs to the clinic."

About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., (ACT) is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of regenerative medicine and cell therapy technology. The company's most advanced products are in clinical trials for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration, Stargardt's macular degeneration and myopic macular degeneration. ACT's preclinical programs involve cell therapies for the treatment of other ocular disorders and for diseases outside the field of ophthalmology, including autoimmune, inflammatory and wound healing-related disorders. The company's intellectual property portfolio includes pluripotent stem cell platforms - hESC and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) - and other cell therapy research programs. For more information, visit www.advancedcell.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release regarding future financial and operating results, the relevance and applicability of clinical trials in animals to studying the effect of products in humans, future growth in animal and human research and development programs, potential new applications of and expanded indications covering our technology, the effects of donorless sources of stem cells on potency and the risk of communicable diseases in the manufacturing context, the existence and size of potential or existing market opportunities for the company, the effect of the company's products on the medical needs and quality of life of pets, and any other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates," and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including: limited operating history, need for and limited sources of future capital, failures or delays in obtaining regulatory approval of products, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, reliance on new and unproven technology in the development of products, protection of our intellectual property, and economic conditions generally. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the company's periodic reports, including the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the company's management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the company's management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. There can be no assurance that the Company's clinical trials will be successful.


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