NeoStem's New York City Adult Stem Cell Collection Center Has Opened and Begun Collections Dec 4 2008

NEW YORK, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE Alternext US: NBS), which is pioneering the pre-disease collection, processing and long-term storage of adult stem cells for future medical need, today announced that it has reached a major milestone in its current business plan with the opening of the first ever collection center for collection of adult stem cells by the general public for future medical need in New York City and has chosen Bruce Yaffe, M.D., Yaffe, Ruden and Associates (founder and partner), a vibrant Manhattan based medical practice, to perform collections in this important market.

"My wife, Karen, and I jumped on the opportunity to be among the first in New York City to undergo this painless stem cell collection process. We are very excited about having made this important decision, taking out a "bioinsurance" policy to have ready access in the future to different ASC therapies that are developing. This includes the possibility of having a complete bone marrow transplantation if that were ever necessary," stated Dr. Yaffe. "The future possibilities of how this bank of stem cells may be used are potentially endless, especially given the new outlook on adult stem cell research that is expected to occur under the administration of President Elect Obama," Dr. Yaffe added.

Robin Smith, MD MBA, NeoStem's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented, "We are excited to have teamed up with Dr. Bruce Yaffe to provide our adult stem cell collection services in the New York Metropolitan area. This New York center, due to its strategic location in midtown Manhattan, is ideally suited to serve all of New York City as well as the surrounding Tri- State area. We are currently embarking on a Tri-State area public awareness program to inform the general population, including the 1200 patients per week who presently receive medical care services from Yaffe, Ruden and Associates, about the importance of stem cell collection and long term storage.

"We, at NeoStem continue to be encouraged by the success stories occurring around the globe involving adult stem cell therapies, and are confident in our belief that having readily available adult stem cells that are harvested while they are abundant and healthy, is an integral component to successful potential life saving therapies. Evidence of the enormous potential that adult stem cells possess, is evident in the recently reported case involving Claudia Castillo, a Barcelona resident who had recently undergone surgery, and was the first person to receive a new branch of her windpipe, which had been previously destroyed by Tuberculosis, grown in a lab using her own adult stem cells. According to her doctors, without this breakthrough operation this past June, her lung would have had to have been removed. Today, after the operation, Claudia reportedly is able to look after her two children and can continue to lead a normal life." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5183686.ece?prin t=yes&randnum=1228238717140 (Due to the length of the URL, please cut and paste into browser.)

Dr. Yaffe, who is a board-certified internist and a digestive disease subspecialist, further added, "At Yaffe, Ruden and Associates, we work hard to stay ahead of the medical curve and use the latest medical equipment and medical information to help our patients stay healthy and be prepared for the future. We pride ourselves on giving individualized care to the over 1200 patients we treat each week. We use standard of care as well as incorporate new technologies that become available as data emerges on new advancements in medicine. We are pleased and excited to bring the NeoStem process to our patients and give them the opportunity to secure "bio-insurance" for their medical futures. There are over 2000 clinical trials that are using an individuals own stem cells for diseases such as heart disease, Lupus, MS, Crohn's disease and diabetes, just to name a few."

Appointments for stem cell collection can be arranged by calling our toll free number 1.888.783.6226 or by contacting us via our website at www.neostem.com.