SanBio Announces First Patient Treated at Stanford With Novel Cell Therapy, SB623, in Clinical Trial of Stable Stroke Patients

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SanBio, Inc. has announced that a patient at Stanford University Medical Center has become the first to be treated with SB623, a novel cell therapy for patients with disability resulting from ischemic stroke.

Stanford, in Stanford, CA, is one of two study sites where the Phase 1/2a clinical trial is taking place. The other trial site is at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

"We are pleased to have successfully administered treatment to the first patient in this important new study for patients suffering from persistent stroke disability," said Dr. Gary Steinberg, Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery, Director of the Stanford Institute for Neuro-Innovation and Translational Neurosciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine, and Principal Investigator of the Stanford portion of the study. "We look forward to exploring new ways of treating stroke disability in patients who currently have very limited options."

SB623 has been shown to improve neurological behavior in preclinical models of stroke disability. In this clinical study, safety and efficacy parameters will be evaluated, including improvements in motor function and cognitive status. The clinical trial will evaluate 18 patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke within the past six to 24 months and have a motor neurological deficit. Patients will be monitored for two years.

"SanBio has worked diligently for more than ten years to achieve this important milestone of treating its first patient with SB623," said Keita Mori, Co-CEO of SanBio. "We now hope to accelerate development of SB623 and bring this therapy to stroke patients in need as quickly as possible."

For more information on the SB623 trial, please visit www.strokeclinicaltrial.org. For patients interested in site-specific information about the study, please contact Maria Coburn at Stanford (650-736-9551 or [email protected]), or Julia Billingham at the University of Pittsburgh (412-605-3959 or [email protected]).

About SB623

SB623 is a proprietary regenerative cell therapy consisting of cells derived from genetically engineered bone marrow stromal cells obtained from healthy adult donors.

SB623 functions by producing proteins that aid the healing process of stroke patients.

About SanBio

SanBio is a leader in the discovery and development of new regenerative cell therapy products. The company's first product, SB623, is currently in a Phase 1/2a clinical trial for stable stroke patients. In addition to SB623, SanBio is using its proprietary technology to develop treatments for Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. For more information, please visit www.san-bio.com.

SOURCE SanBio, Inc.