The Impact of Very Small Embryonic-Like Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine is Highlighted by Five Posters and Two Oral Presentations at the 2009 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting Dec 21 2009

NEW YORK, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE Amex: NBS), which is a leading provider of pre-disease adult stem cell collection, processing and long-term storage services, and holds the exclusive, worldwide license to VSEL™ technology that uses very small embryonic-like stem cells isolated from peripheral blood, announced today that five posters and two oral presentations at the prestigious American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in New Orleans in early December demonstrated the basic cellular mechanisms of very small embryonic-like stem cells.

Very small embryonic-like stem cells are a population of heterogeneous stem cells found in the bone marrow that have properties similar to those of an embryonic stem cell and provide the promise of achieving the positive benefits associated with embryonic stem cells without the ethical or moral dilemmas or certain of the potential negative effects associated with embryonic stem cells.  Important aspects of the basic understanding of why very small embryonic-like stem cells appear to be effective in clinical situations were demonstrated by the multiple presentations at the recent ASH meeting given by Dr. Mariusz Ratajczak's team of researchers from the Stem Cell Institute at the James Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville.  These reports, among other things, addressed the epigenetic and genetic mechanisms that control and modify the functions of very small embryonic-like stem cells; the role of growth factors in the regulation of proliferation of very small embryonic-like stem cells; and the maintenance of very small embryonic-like stem cells in a quiescent state from the embryogenesis through adulthood, when they contribute to the steady-state conditions of tissue rejuvenation and to the regeneration of damaged organs during emergencies. It is anticipated that these seminal studies of the fundamental mechanisms by which these stem cells play their pivotal role in  tissue regeneration will significantly contribute to the efficiency and efficacy of future clinical applications of very small embryonic-like stem cells.

Clinical reports on very small embryonic-like stem cells published in peer-reviewed journals during 2009 include those addressing:

Retinal diseases: A potential application of very small embryonic-like stem cells for retinal diseases as described by Dr. Anna Machalinska and colleagues from the Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland in a paper published in September in the journal Current Eye Research.

Cardiac Disease: The application of very small embryonic-like stem cells for cardiac disease as described by Drs. Dawn Tiwari, Roberto Bolli and others from the Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine who published their findings in June in the journal Stem Cells on the ability of very small embryonic-like stem cells to reduce the damage to the heart caused by acute myocardial infarction. In addition, very small embryonic-like stem cells were shown to increase in the circulation of patients who have suffered an acute myocardial infarction as published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology in January by Dr. Wojciech Wojakowski and colleagues from the Medical College of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. Very small embryonic-like stem cells have been shown to be mobilized by the body in response to disease suggesting that these cells have a central role in cardiac tissue repair.

Cerebral Vascular Disease:  The increase in circulating very small embryonic-like stem cells in patients following a stroke was published in the journal Stroke in April by Edyta Paczkowska and her colleagues from the Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland. Further evidence of the importance of very small embryonic-like stem cells in aging is provided by a paper from the Stem Cell Institute at the James Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville authored by the group led by Dr. Mariusz Ratajczak.  This paper  suggests that these cells may decelerate the aging process through rejuvenation of adult tissue and was published in the journal Mechanisms of Aging and Development,  January-February issue. These two papers strongly support a role of very small embryonic-like stem cells in tissue regeneration.

Dr. Robin Smith, M.D., MBA, NeoStem's Chief Executive Officer, said, "The medical literature increasingly supports the potential of very small embryonic-like stem cells as therapy in regenerative medicine. NeoStem will continue to support basic cell biology studies elucidating the unique properties of very small embryonic-like stem cells and exploring the therapeutic use of VSEL™ technology for the treatment of a wide range of diseases and conditions."  Dr. Smith further added, "We believe that access to  a continuous source of stem cells  through our stem cell collection and banking program  will allow us to implement  our own regenerative medicine  applications on an ongoing basis  that could eventually  result in a fundamental shift in the  way healthcare is administered."

About NeoStem, Inc.

NeoStem, Inc. is engaged in the development of stem cell-based therapies, pursuit of anti-aging initiatives and building of a network of adult stem cell collection centers in the U.S. and China that are focused on enabling people to donate and store their own (autologous) stem cells for their personal use in times of future medical need. The Company is also the licensee of various stem cell technologies, including a worldwide exclusive license to VSEL(TM) technology which uses very small embryonic-like stem cells, shown to have several physical characteristics that are generally found in embryonic stem cells, and is pursuing the licensing of other technologies for therapeutic use. NeoStem's majority-controlled Chinese pharmaceutical operation, Suzhou Erye, manufactures and distributes generic antibiotics in China. For more information, please visit: http://www.neostem.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations, as of the date of this press release, and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements include statements herein with respect to the application of VSEL(TM) technology and success of developing stem cell therapeutics and diagnostics for regenerative diseases, about which no assurances can be given. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Factors that could cause future results to materially differ from the recent results or those projected in forward-looking statements include the "Risk Factors" described in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on as well as periodic filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's further development is highly dependent on future medical and research developments and market acceptance, which is outside its control.