Stelic Announces Research Activities, Business Strategy for the Current Fiscal Year.Tokyo, Japan, Oct 13, 2006 - (JCN JCN Japan Corporate News JCN Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience JCN Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing JCN Journal of Christian Nursing JCN Job Control Number JCN Journal of Child Neurology JCN joint communications network (US DoD) Newswire) - Stelic Institute & Co., a Tokyo-based bioventure company specializing in regenerative re·gen·er·a·tive adj. 1. Of, relating to, or marked by regeneration. 2. Tending to regenerate. re·gen medicine, has carried out groundbreaking research on the dynamics of somatic somatic /so·mat·ic/ (so-mat´ik) 1. pertaining to or characteristic of the soma or body. 2. pertaining to the body wall in contrast to the viscera. so·mat·ic adj. stem cells stem cells, unspecialized human or animal cells that can produce mature specialized body cells and at the same time replicate themselves. Embryonic stem cells are derived from a blastocyst (the blastula typical of placental mammals; see embryo), which is very young in vivo in vivo /in vi·vo/ (ve´vo) [L.] within the living body. in vi·vo adj. Within a living organism. in vivo adv. , filing nine patent applications related to stem cell stem cell In living organisms, an undifferentiated cell that can produce other cells that eventually make up specialized tissues and organs. There are two major types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. research and other areas since the Company's establishment in November 2004. As Stelic enters its third year of business, it is pleased to present the results of its research thus far and its strategy for the current fiscal year. Business Model Stelic's business model is both novel and unique, with medical researchers engaged in consideration of new treatments for disorders from the very earliest stages of drug development. Currently, the development of new drugs is a lengthy process that encompasses identification of an effective candidate substance or 'seed' through preclinical trials Noun 1. preclinical trial - a laboratory test of a new drug or a new invasive medical device on animal subjects; conducted to gather evidence justifying a clinical trial preclinical phase, preclinical test , clinical trials, application for approval, approval and finally marketing. From an empirical perspective, the most important process in drug discovery is the early stage in which candidate substances are identified, generally by way of in vitro in vitro /in vi·tro/ (in ve´tro) [L.] within a glass; observable in a test tube; in an artificial environment. in vi·tro adj. In an artificial environment outside a living organism. experiments or genetic information. However, this does not always coincide with the patient's viewpoint. At Stelic, physicians - qualified medical researchers who have worked with patients and understood their needs - are at the center of research and development. The Company has created a novel business model in which needs revealed in a clinical setting are developed into scientifically reliable 'somatic stem cell therapeutic concepts' on the basis of the Company's proprietary stem cell research, and the results are licensed widely as intellectual property in order to exploit new business areas. This is made possible by the high standards and originality o·rig·i·nal·i·ty n. pl. o·rig·i·nal·i·ties 1. The quality of being original. 2. The capacity to act or think independently. 3. Something original. Noun 1. of Stelic's research. Research Facilities Stelic's research facilities, which form the core of the Company's business, moved in June 2006 from Oji in Tokyo's Kita area to its present location in Higashi Azabu, in the Minato area. In fiscal 2006, the Company made improvements to its facilites and equipment and developed rigorous standards for its laboratory system, enabling world-class stem cell research. The Company's introduction of the latest confocal confocal see confocal microscopy. fluorescence fluorescence (fl  rĕs`əns), luminescence in which light of a visible color is emitted from a substance under stimulation or excitation by light or other forms of electromagnetic laser microscope, capable of distinguishing stem cells by several types
of fluorescence, and of the world's highest-level cell sorter, a
laboratory device for isolating stem cells, have laid a firm foundation
for drug discovery based on intellectual property. The new research
laboratories have provided Stelic with a means of demonstrating that the
Company's patents are in fact therapeutically effective while at
the same time enabling it to obtain further patents related to
individual disorders. As a result, the Company already has a record of
results in terms of independent research and patent development.Patents The linchpin linch·pin or lynch·pin n. 1. A locking pin inserted in the end of a shaft, as in an axle, to prevent a wheel from slipping off. 2. of Stelic's business strategy is the patenting of somatic stem cell therapy stem cell therapy Cell therapy Molecular medicine A technology in which a person's own cells–eg, neuronal stem cells are triggered to revert to their primitive embryonic form, then redifferentiate into mature cells of various organs concepts. Currently, the main stem cell therapies under consideration are divided into two types: those using embryonic stem cells Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) are stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of an early stage embryo known as a blastocyst. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4-5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50-150 cells. ES cells are pluripotent. ('ES cells') and those using somatic stem cells. Although ES cells are currently in vogue, unresolved ethical issues and problems of rejection and canceration remain major hurdles to their clinical use. Somatic stem cells do not face such hurdles and have realistic clinical applications; however, in comparison with ES cells, their proliferation proliferation /pro·lif·er·a·tion/ (pro-lif?er-a´shun) the reproduction or multiplication of similar forms, especially of cells.prolif´erativeprolif´erous pro·lif·er·a·tion n. and differentiation are difficult to regulate. At Stelic, researchers have been able to elucidate e·lu·ci·date v. e·lu·ci·dat·ed, e·lu·ci·dat·ing, e·lu·ci·dates v.tr. To make clear or plain, especially by explanation; clarify. v.intr. To give an explanation that serves to clarify. successfully the properties and dynamic changes of living somatic stem cells, demonstrating the possibility of completely new therapies for incurable incurable /in·cur·a·ble/ (in-kur´ah-b'l) 1. not susceptible of being cured. 2. a person with a disease which cannot be cured. in·cur·a·ble adj. disorders for which no definitive treatments currently exist. Stem cell research is not yet generally underway, and even where it is being carried out it is impossible to establish somatic stem cell therapeutic concepts or to obtain patents without world-class researchers and facilities. Making full use of its in-house resources, Stelic is placing top priority on its strategy of patenting of somatic stem cell therapeutic concepts and expanding the scope of associated patents with the objective of achieving market expansion. The scope of the patents currently filed by Stelic is outlined below. 1. Patents for drug candidate substances ('seeds') Drug candidate substances ('seeds') identified through Stelic's unique theory of somatic stem cell therapeutic concepts, which arose from a clinical setting and have been demonstrated in our laboratories, are covered by patents. 2. Stem cell imaging techniques The existence of stem cells is already known, but until now no means of identifying these cells had been established. Stelic has developed techniques for imaging living somatic stem cells in vivo where they are present within specific organs in the body. These techniques are covered by patents. 3. In vivo biomarkers The human body possesses a wide variety of biological information. Stelic's stem cell research is currently elucidating the types of biological changes that occur in the body when incurable diseases The following is a list of debilitating diseases for which medical science has no cure as of yet. This list is incomplete.
4. Screening techniques (methods of identifying drug candidate substances) The natural world contains an almost infinite number infinite number a number so large as to be uncountable. Represented by 8, frequently obtained by 'dividing' by zero. of substances that are candidates for drugs. Potential drug candidates also include many artificially produced chemical substances that do not exist in nature. 'Screening' refers to the identification of substances that are effective against specific disorders. The application of stem cell research to the process of identifying candidates from among various is covered by patents. Stelic anticipates that business opportunities will expand dramatically in future as a result of both the Company's core strategy of patenting somatic stem cell therapeutic concepts derived from the application of research on the previously unknown dynamics of somatic stem cells, as well as the filing of numerous patent applications in a wide range of related fields. Business Strategy for the Current Fiscal Year This year marks a turning point in Stelic's business expansion. While the Company has in previous years focused on improving research and development capabilities, and will continue to pursue cutting-edge research, it is also increasing emphasis on marketing and sales. Beginning in the current fiscal year, Stelic will disclose its patent applications in order to make use of the high added value Added value in financial analysis of shares is to be distinguished from value added. Used as a measure of shareholder value, calculated using the formula:
Stelic anticipates a continual increase in its number of patents (from filing to publication) as a result of its ongoing achievement in research and development related to individual disorders. Consequently, it has become imperative to enhance the marketing and sales departments, and the Company is working urgently to strengthen these areas, which will be a cornerstone of rapid growth. About Stelic Institute & Co. Established in November 2004, Stelic Institute & Co. is a Tokyo-based bioventure company primarily involved in the commmercialization of stem cell research; research and development of medical supplies and diagnostic drugs; contract research; and licensing of proprietary technologies and clinical, biotechnological R&D consulting. For more infomation, visit www.stelic.com. Source: Stelic Institute & Co. Contact: Ai Katayama PR Coordinator, Marketing Division Stelic Institute & Co. Tel: +81-3-3560-2621 / Fax: +81-3-3560-2620 E-mail: info@stelic.co.jp URL: http://www.stelic.com Copyright [c] 2006 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network K.K. |
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