ACT Interim Chairman and CEO Gary Rabin to Present at World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress in London

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., May 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. ("ACT"; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that interim chairman and CEO Gary Rabin will be presenting at the World Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Congress, May 9-11, in London.

Mr. Rabin's presentation, titled "Using ESC-Derived RPE Cells for Dry AMD and Stargardt's Disease," will be given on Monday, May 9.  In it, he will provide an update on ACT's forthcoming human clinical trials for Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD) and Stargardt's disease.

ACT recently announced Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval of its Phase 1/2 clinical trials for the treatment of macular degeneration with human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to be conducted at UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute.

About SMD, Dry AMD and Degenerative Diseases of the Retina

Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy (SMD) is one of the most common forms of macular degeneration in the world.  SMD causes progressive vision loss, usually starting in children between 10 to 20 years of age.  Eventually, blindness results from photoreceptor loss associated with degeneration in the pigmented layer of the retina, called the retinal pigment epithelium or RPE cell layer.

Degenerative diseases of the retina are among the most common causes of untreatable blindness in the world.  As many as thirty million people in the United States and Europe suffer from macular degeneration, which represents a $25-30 billion worldwide market that has yet to be effectively addressed.  Approximately 10% of people ages 66 to 74 will have symptoms of macular degeneration, the vast majority the "dry" form of AMD – which is currently untreatable. The prevalence increases to 30% in patients 75 to 85 years of age.  

About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit http://www.advancedcell.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release regarding future financial and operating results, future growth in research and development programs, potential applications of our technology, opportunities for the company and any other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates," and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including: limited operating history, need for future capital, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, protection of our intellectual property, and economic conditions generally. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the company's periodic reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.  Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the company's management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the company's management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change. There can be no assurance that the Company's clinical trials will be successful.

Contact:

Investors:
CEOcast, Inc., James Young, 212-732-4300

Press:
ACT Corporate Communications, Bill Douglass, 646-450-3615
or:
Russo Partners, Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D., 212-845-4292

SOURCE Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.

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