Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp. (TSX VENTURE:SSS)(OTCQX:SCTPF), a biopharmaceutical
company developing cancer stem cell-related therapeutics, today announced that
it has entered into an option agreement to exclusively license worldwide rights
to a series of prostate cancer stem cell assets from the University of York,
United Kingdom. The assets originate from research funded by Yorkshire Cancer
Research (YCR) and conducted in the YCR Cancer Research Unit, University of
York, under the direction of Professor Norman Maitland. Stem Cell Therapeutics
(SCT) intends to work closely with the Maitland group, leveraging its internal
scientific strengths and its existing global network of collaborators.


"This agreement provides Stem Cell Therapeutics with an opportunity to evaluate
several highly promising therapeutic targets, all of which are expressed on
prostate cancer stem cells, as well as on other types of cancers," added Dr. Bob
Uger, SCT's Chief Scientific Officer. "Much of the York group's research is
focused on hypothesis testing using powerful multicellular in vitro models and
xenograft in vivo models of tumour development/metastasis. We will extend this
research into the generation of monoclonal antibodies to these targets, with an
ultimate goal of identifying new therapeutic development candidates."


Dr. Maitland's research group is focused on the development and aetiology of
human prostate cancer. They have compiled gene expression profiles for various
cell types present in prostate tumors and in normal prostate tissue, and have
mined these data for genes and signaling pathways that affect cell fate. This
has demonstrated that heterogeneity within human prostate cancers is due to two
independent events: carcinogenic changes and aberrant differentiation.
Exploiting knowledge of the genetic signature of prostate cancer stem cells, the
Maitland group has identified novel avenues for treatment which could delay, or
even prevent, tumour recurrence. The group has also shown that prostate cancer
stem cells have an active resistance mechanism to many conventional therapies,
such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These latter therapies are directed
against the majority of cells in the tumour (the most differentiated cells), but
do not affect the minority population, which are the cancer stem cells. Thus,
prostate cancer stem cells form a root for post therapy recurrence.


"This commercial partnership should be the ultimate outcome for all
charity-supported cancer research. We plan to exploit more than 10 years of
research into prostate cancer stem cells in York to develop new treatments for
the benefit of patients here and around the world," commented Professor
Maitland. "Our unique approach, supported by Yorkshire Cancer Research, has
studied fragments of real tumors donated by men with prostate cancer, and has
provided new insights into how the rare stem cells work, and more importantly,
how we can kill them. With the collaboration and expertise of Stem Cell
Therapeutics, a company dedicated to cancer stem cell R&D, we can at last
produce the actual drugs and biological agents to achieve our goal."


The execution of the definitive license agreement is subject to final due
diligence and certain conditions being met by SCT over the next 6-9 months. The
license agreement will contain customary terms and provisions for assets at this
stage of development, including an initial license consideration, milestone
payments, royalties on sales and sublicensing terms.


"We consider ourselves fortunate to have secured these assets from such a
preeminent cancer stem cell research group. Dr. Maitland has long been
considered a world-authority in prostate cancer research and we look forward to
working closely with both him and his colleague, Dr. Anne Collins," remarked
SCT's CEO, Dr. Niclas Stiernholm. "This development is a continuation of our
strategy to build individual programs and collaborations around strong
scientific minds with demonstrated global leadership in the cancer stem cell
arena."


About Cancer Stem Cells:

The cancer stem cell (CSC) concept postulates that the growth of tumors is
driven by a rare population of dedicated cells that have stem cell-like
properties, including self-renewal. While the bulk of a tumor consists of
rapidly proliferating cells and differentiated cells, neither of which is
capable of self-renewal, a small population of CSCs provides for long-term
maintenance of the cancer. Although the CSC concept was first postulated in the
1960s, it wasn't until 1994 that proof of their existence was demonstrated, when
Dr. John Dick and colleagues in Toronto isolated CSCs (known as leukemic stem
cells, or LSCs) from bulk acute myeloid leukemia cells. More recently, CSCs have
been identified in many other human malignancies, including solid tumors such as
bladder, brain, breast, colon, ovarian and prostate cancers. There is
accumulating evidence that CSCs are resistant to conventional chemotherapies and
radiation. Thus, CSCs are thought to be responsible for a phenomenon well known
to oncologists: most patients will experience an initial response to
conventional chemotherapies but will ultimately relapse. To cure cancer, CSCs
need to be destroyed, but the current armament of therapies is poorly equipped
to do so.


About Stem Cell Therapeutics:

Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp. (SCT) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to
advancing cancer stem cell discoveries into novel and innovative cancer
therapies. Building on over half a century of leading and groundbreaking
Canadian stem cell research, the company is supported by established links to a
group of Toronto academic research institutes and cancer treatment centers,
representing one of the world's most acclaimed cancer research hubs. The Company
has two premier preclinical programs, SIRPaFc and a CD200 monoclonal antibody
(mAb), which target two key immunoregulatory pathways that tumor cells exploit
to evade the host immune system. SIRPaFc is an antibody-like fusion protein that
blocks the activity of CD47, a molecule that is upregulated on cancer stem cells
in AML and several other tumors. The CD200 mAb is a fully human monoclonal
antibody that blocks the activity of CD200, an immunosuppressive molecule that
is overexpressed by many hematopoietic and solid tumors. SCT's clinical stage
programs include the recently in-licensed program focused on the structure of
tigecycline, which is currently being evaluated in a multi-centre Phase I study
in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as well as TTI-1612, a non-cancer
stem cell asset that recently completed a 28-patient Phase I trial in
interstitial cystitis ("IC") patients. For more information, visit:
www.stemcellthera.com.


Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which reflect SCT's
current expectation regarding future events. These forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events or
developments to be materially different from any future results, events or
developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such
factors include changing market conditions; the successful and timely completion
of pre-clinical and clinical studies; the establishment of corporate alliances;
the impact of competitive products and pricing; new product development risks;
uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process or the ability to
obtain drug product in sufficient quantity or at standards acceptable to health
regulatory authorities to complete clinical trials or to meet commercial demand;
and other risks detailed from time to time in SCT's ongoing quarterly and annual
reporting. Except as required by applicable securities laws, SCT undertakes no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term
is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility
for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: 
Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp.
James Parsons
Chief Financial Officer
+1 416 595 0627
jparsons@stemcellthera.com
www.stemcellthera.com


Investor Contact:
Jeff Ramson/Kirin Smith
ProActive Capital
+1 646-863-6519
jramson@proactivecapital.com
ksmith@proactivecapital.com

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