PrimeGen Biotech, LLC and Reproductive Medicine Associates Awarded Prize Paper Candidate at 2009 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Meeting for Work Identifying Human Spermatgonial Stem Cells

    IRVINE, CA, January 13, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- PrimeGen Biotech, LLC, (PrimeGen) in collaboration with Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York (RMA of New York), have successfully characterized human adult spermatagonial stem cells and developed methods to enrich these cell populations for further culture and germ cell differentiation studies. Ultimately, the goal is to optimize culture methods in order to promote the maintenance and self-renewal of human spermatagonial stem cells while maintaining their functionality and genetic integrity. The primary goal of this phase of study was the identification, isolation and expansion of spermatagonial stem cells that, when translated to clinical care, would enhance or renew sperm production.

This discovery opens up a new source of stem cells that may be cultured and transformed into a variety of other tissue types. It is possible to someday foresee autologous germ line stem cell banks that could function similarly to how blood banks currently store and distribute blood products.

This work was presented by Dr. Fari Izadyar, Chief Scientific Officer of PrimeGen, at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's 65th Annual Meeting held in Atlanta, GA on October 19, 2009, and was selected as one of this year's prize paper candidates. According to Fari Izadyar, the Principal Investigator and lead author of the study, "Our findings may expand the potential that spermatagonial stem cells can play a role in the cure or treatment for certain diseases. We at PrimeGen are fortunate to be collaborating with such respected reproductive researchers and clinicians such as Dr. Natan Bar-Chama and Dr. Jason Barritt of RMA of New York."

According to Dr. Natan Bar-Chama, Director of RMA of New York's Center for Male Reproductive Health and Associate Professor of Urology at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, "This important discovery opens many new opportunities for our clinical and scientific teams to explore, including resumption of sperm production for sub-fertile or infertile males. This discovery is another example of our mission to leverage our expertise in reproductive medicine to lead scientific innovation in other forms of medical care."

Jason Barritt, PhD, Scientific Director of RMA of New York noted, "This work demonstrates that spermatagonial stem cells can be identified, isolated, and cultured from human testicular tissue. The potential clinical uses for these cells include assistance with infertility and, in the future, may also be used for the creation of stem cells for regenerative medicine."

About PrimeGen Biotech LLC
PrimeGen Biotech LLC is a privately held regenerative medicine company dedicated to providing the most potent regenerative cells for use in diverse therapeutic applications. PrimeGen's chairman and CEO Thomas C.K. Yuen is renowned for turning technological promise into successful, leading-edge companies - first as co-founder, co-chairman and COO of AST Research, Inc., then as chairman, CEO and president of SRS Labs.

About Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York (RMA of New York):
RMA of New York is the reproductive endocrinology and infertility division of Mount Sinai Medical Center and has been caring for patients at their midtown Manhattan location since 2001, with additional locations in Westchester and Long Island. RMA of New York is a full-service fertility center with international acclaim for its in vitro fertilization (IVF) program that consistently achieves high live birth rates, while maintaining low rates of triplet and higher birth outcomes. Highly individualized patient care is offered through seven reproductive endocrinologists, a urologist, a complementary care team, and highly qualified staff. RMA of New York's clinical and laboratory teams are active researchers with the mission of translating scientific insight into clinical care. For more information, please call 212.756.5777 or visit www.rmany.com

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