Pluristem Announces Initial Results from PluriX Bioreactor

Initial Indications of 100-1,000 Fold Higher Density of Stromal Cells Implanted

Pluristem Announces Initial Results from PluriX Bioreactor
Monday September 22, 4:01 pm ET
Initial Indications of 100-1,000 Fold Higher Density of Stromal Cells Implanted

HAIFA, Israel (PRWEB)September 24 2003--Pluristem Life Sciences, Inc. (OTC BB:PLRS), a biotechnology company dedicated to the expansion of stem cells to address a myriad of fatal illnesses, today announced that the Company's PluriX(TM) Plug Flow Bioreactor has yielded initial results of 100-1000 fold higher density of stromal cells implanted within 40 days.

Pluristem scientists, using the PluriX(TM) system, seeded stromal cells (support cells found within bone marrow) on porrosive carriers made of non-woven poleyster fabric matrix enabling growth and prolonged maintenance of stromal cells 3-D culture. The researchers have demonstrated that large numbers of cells can be expanded and maintained in a relatively small volume of space.

Unique to the PluriX(TM) is the its ability to create a 3-D stromalcell culture that closely resembles the 3-D bone marrow microenvironment within the human body. To date, most research dealing with stem cell expansion utilizes 2-D or suspension cultures, which are unlike the physiological structure within the bone marrow environment.

When the stromal cells were seeded on to the carriers within the PluriX(TM), the density reached one that is very close to the stromal cell density found in human bone marrow.

Irit Arbel, CEO, commented, "We are optimistic that these preliminary results indicate that our PluriX(TM) system can support the growth and reproduction of stromal cells to allow the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells from Cord Blood. The PluriX bioreactor system creates a 3-D artificial physiological environment in which the stem cells can be expanded to quantities large enough for several adult transplants."

About Pluristem

Pluristem is a biotechnology company dedicated to the development of stem cell expansion technology. The Company is concentrating on the expansion of cord blood hematopoietic stem cells and may provide, upon successful development and regulatory approval, critical cell expansion services to blood banks and transplants centers in the U.S. and Europe.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this document that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding: our developing stem cell technology into a useful product that could address fatal illnesses, that our system can support the growth and reproduction of stroma cells to allow the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells from Cord Blood and that the PluriX bioreactor system creates a 3-D artificial physiological environment in which the stem cells can be expanded to quantities large enough for several adult transplants. Actual outcomes and our actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties such as the inability to complete its obligations under the stem cell license agreement, inability to finance the planned development of the technology, inability to obtain regulatory approval for commercial use of our products and unforeseen technical difficulties in developing the stem cell technology, which could among other things, delay or prevent product release. For further risk factors see our 8-K filed with the SEC June 25, 2003.

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