Cellerant Therapeutics Awarded NIH Grant to Develop Human Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells for Biodefense Applications.

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Cellerant Therapeutics, Inc. today announced it has been awarded a two-year, $800,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the project titled, "Expansion of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells for Rescue in Biodefense Applications." This is Cellerant's second NIH grant related to the use of adult hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem and progenitor cells for the rescue of individuals exposed to lethal doses of radiation.

"We are encouraged by the enthusiasm that has been generated by Cellerant's response to the threat of nuclear terrorism. We look forward to the continued interest of the NIH and other government agencies in applying our products to the treatment of radiation victims," said George B. Rathmann, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board of Cellerant and co-founder of Amgen.

Exposure to radiation from a nuclear attack can cause destruction of the bone marrow, which produces blood and immune cells. This destruction leaves victims open to life-threatening bleeding and infection. Cellerant's highly purified hematopoietic stem cell (HP-HSC) product can provide a life-saving transplant to victims whose bone marrow is irreparably damaged. Cellerant's common myeloid progenitor (CMP) product can be used to provide protection from bleeding and infection in victims whose bone marrow would recover in 30-60 days but who without treatment face life-threatening complications. The development of both products for a national response to nuclear terrorism will directly benefit from this grant-sponsored research into stem cell expansion, since a successful expansion method will increase the number of therapeutic doses produced from each unit of starting material.

"Cellerant is focused on developing life-saving therapies based on the HP-HSC and CMP products to treat autoimmune and blood disorders and neutropenia. This grant will allow Cellerant to advance research into the expansion of these cell products, which will have a significant benefit to their application to our country's biodefense efforts. The grant will also support the advancement of our commercial progress toward treating diseases that affect millions of people," said Bruce Cohen, President and CEO of Cellerant.

About Cellerant Therapeutics

Cellerant Therapeutics Inc. (www.cellerant.com) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing and commercializing the use of hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cell-based products and therapies for the treatment of autoimmune and blood disorders, infectious disease and cancer. The company's extensive portfolio of intellectual property and clinical assets are licensed from Novartis and Stanford University. Cellerant has exclusive rights to the HP-HSC cell population and process, the subject of several issued U.S. and foreign patents, and the CMP cell population and process, the subject of two issued U.S. patents and several pending U.S. and foreign patents.