Pluristem Acquires Patents and Technology for the Three Dimensional Expansion of Human Cells

Pluristem Life Systems, Inc. (OTCBB:PLRS - News; DAX:PJT), a bio-therapeutics Company dedicated to the commercialization of products for a variety of malignant, degenerative and auto-immune indications, announced today it has purchased patents for its innovative stem cell production technology from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) and the Weizmann Institute of Science (Weizmann) for approximately $2 million. The purchased patents replace a previous license agreement with Technion and Weizmann where Pluristem had exclusive rights to the technology in exchange for royalties.

Pluristem Chairman and CEO, Mr. Zami Aberman commented, "By owning these patents exclusively, the Company not only gains full access to its IP portfolio, but also enables substantially more future financial returns as we have the sole right to sub-license our technology without the obligation to pay up to a 25% royalty fee. We believe that our revenues will be substantial in the coming years and this purchase will improve our margins as well as increase value for our shareholders. We intend to develop this technology platform into a functional stem cell production system for the treatment of a variety of indications; the first being a safe, effective and efficient alternative to bone marrow transplantation."

The technology covered under the agreement pertains to a three dimensional (3-D) bioreactor system known as PluriX(TM). This bioreactor creates an environment similar to natural bone marrow and enhances the expansion of mesenchymal stem cells that are obtained from the placenta, termed Placental eXpanded (PLX) cells. These resulting stromal cells are allogeneic and will not require HLA matching when used in transplant therapies. Using PluriX(TM), Pluristem estimates they can produce up to 1,000 patient doses per placenta at a significantly lower cost than current methods.

About Pluristem

Pluristem Life Systems, Inc. is a Company dedicated to the commercialization of non-personalized (allogeneic) stem cell therapy products for the treatment of numerous severe degenerative, malignant and autoimmune disorders. The Company's first planned product, PLX-I, targets a $2 billion market and is intended to resolve the global shortfall of matched tissue for bone marrow transplantation (BMT) by improving the engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) contained in umbilical cord blood (CB).

Pluristem's products are derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from the placenta and expanded in the Company's proprietary PluriX(TM) 3D bioreactor that imitates the natural microstructure of bone marrow and does not require supplemental growth factors, cytokines or other exogenous materials. Pluristem believes the resultant expanded cells, termed PLX cells, are multipotent and able to differentiate into a variety of cell types as well as being immune-privileged to protect the recipient from immunological reactions that often accompanies transplantation. Pluristem believes their future products will participate in the approximate $30 billion therapeutic and regenerative cellular market.

Pluristem has offices and is incorporated in the USA with research and manufacturing facilities in Israel.