0001157523-11-004035.txt : 20110719 0001157523-11-004035.hdr.sgml : 20110719 20110719092258 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001157523-11-004035 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20110719 ITEM INFORMATION: Other Events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20110719 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20110719 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: BIOTIME INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000876343 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836] IRS NUMBER: 943127919 STATE OF INCORPORATION: CA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-12830 FILM NUMBER: 11973984 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1301 HARBOR BAY PARKWAY CITY: ALAMEDA STATE: CA ZIP: 94502 BUSINESS PHONE: 5105213390 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1301 HARBOR BAY PARKWAY CITY: ALAMEDA STATE: CA ZIP: 94502 8-K 1 a6798062.htm BIOTIME, INC. 8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K


CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): July 19, 2011



BioTime, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

California

1-12830

94-3127919

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

1301 Harbor Bay Parkway
Alameda, California 94502
(Address of principal executive offices)

(510) 521-3390
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Statements made in this Report that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed.  Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to those discussed in this report and in BioTime's other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Words such as “expects,” “may,” “will,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

Additional information about the products under development discussed in this report can be found in other reports filed by BioTime with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Section 8 – Other Events

Item 8.01 – Other Events.

United States patent number 7,981,871 covering certain aspects of the composition of Glycosan™ hydrogels has been issued. The patent and related patent family members, assigned to the University of Utah, are licensed to our subsidiary OrthoCyte Corporation for the manufacture of research products and for therapeutic uses when combined with human cells by us or our subsidiaries. The patent is of strategic value to the BioTime family of companies as it provides protection for formulations of a number of adult and embryonic stem cell-based cellular therapies that may be developed using the Glycosan hydrogels, as well as for a stand-alone medical device designated HyStem®-Rx that we are currently developing.

The new patent protects compositions of a component of the hydrogels designated HyStem and Extracel, both products being cross-linked scaffolds of the common molecules collagen and hyaluronic acid. Together with the previously issued United States Patent 7,928,069, which protects the compositions of thiol modifications of extracellular matrix proteins and gelatin, the complete composition of the HyStem®-Rx products are covered. The allowed claims include 3-D cell culture as well as pharmaceutical compositions that include the products with human cells of all types. Related patent applications also are pending outside of the United States in the European Union, Canada, Japan, and Australia. In addition, due to delays in prosecution of this patent at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a patent term extension has been awarded extending the expiration date to August of 2027.

2

HyStem®-Rx is a biocompatible hydrogel that mimics the extracellular matrix in which cells reside.  As an injectable product, HyStem®-Rx may address an immediate need in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery and other procedures by improving the process of transplanting adipose (fat) cells or other adult stem cells. Adult stem cell types such as adipose stem cells obtained from a patient through liposuction can be transplanted back into the same patient in another location in the body, without the risk of rejection associated with the transplant of donor tissues. However, the transplantation of cells without the molecular matrix in which cells normally reside often leads to widespread cell death or the failure of the transplanted cells to remain at the transplant site. The transplant of cells in HyStem®-Rx may resolve these hurdles by localizing the transplanted cells in the intended location, and providing a three-dimensional form for the cells to rebuild normal tissue.  HyStem®-Rx may have use in other emerging cell and tissue transplant therapies, such as those derived from human embryonic stem and induced pluripotent stem cells, and applications in a number of conditions including osteoarthritis, brain tumors, stroke, bone fractures, and wounds.  The use of HyStem-Rx as an implantable cell delivery matrix in humans will require approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration and comparable regulatory agencies in foreign countries, which has not yet been obtained. 

On July 19, 2011, BioTime issued a press release disclosing the issuance of the patent.  A copy of the press release is filed as an Exhibit to this Report.

Section 9-Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit Number

Description

99.1 Press release dated July 19, 2011



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

BIOTIME, INC.

 

Date:

July 19, 2011

By:

/s/

Robert W. Peabody

Senior Vice President,

Chief Operating Officer, and

Chief Financial Officer


Exhibit Number

Description

99.1

Press release dated July 19, 2011




3

EX-99.1 2 a6798062_ex99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

Exhibit 99.1

BioTime Announces the Issuance of a Second U.S. Glycosan Hydrogel Patent

Patent for compositions useful in the formulation of stem cell therapies

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 2011--BioTime, Inc. (NYSE Amex: BTX) announced today the issuance of United States patent number 7,981,871 titled “Modified Macromolecules and Associated Methods of Synthesis and Use,” covering aspects of the composition of Glycosan hydrogels. The patent and related patent family members, assigned to the University of Utah, are licensed to BioTime’s subsidiary OrthoCyte Corporation for the manufacture of research products and for therapeutic uses when combined with human cells by BioTime or its subsidiaries. The patent is of strategic value to the BioTime family of companies, as it provides protection for the formulation of a number of adult and embryonic stem cell-based cellular therapies that may be developed using Glycosan hydrogels, as well as for a stand-alone medical device, HyStem®-Rx, that is currently under development by BioTime.

The new patent protects compositions related to the products HyStem and Extracel, both of which are cross-linked scaffolds of two molecules crucial to connective tissues, collagen and hyaluronic acid. Together with the previously issued United States patent 7,928,069, which protects the composition of certain chemical modifications of the extracellular matrix proteins and gelatin, this patent covers the complete composition of HyStem®-Rx products. The allowed claims include 3-D cell culture, as well as pharmaceutical compositions that combine the products with human cells of all types.

“This patent represents the second U.S. patent issued that covers Glycosan hydrogels, and its claims cover, among other things, HyStem®-Rx, a product slated for near-term development as a medical device for the delivery of cells,” said Michael D. West, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of BioTime. “Our subsidiary OrthoCyte Corporation is already utilizing HyStem® hydrogels in the development of stem cell-based products for the treatment of osteoarthritis.”

HyStem®-Rx is a biocompatible hydrogel that mimics the extracellular matrix in which cells reside. As an injectable product, HyStem®-Rx may address an immediate need in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery and other procedures by improving the process of transplanting adipose (fat) cells or other adult stem cells. Adult stem cell types such as adipose stem cells obtained from a patient through liposuction can be transplanted back into the same patient at another location in the body, without the risk of rejection associated with the transplant of donor tissues. However, the transplantation of cells without the molecular matrix in which cells normally reside often leads to widespread cell death or the failure of the transplanted cells to remain at the transplant site. The transfer of cells in HyStem®-Rx may resolve these issues by localizing the transplanted cells at the intended location and by providing a three-dimensional form upon which cells can rebuild normal tissue. HyStem®-Rx may support other emerging cell and tissue transplant therapies such as those derived from human embryonic stem and induced pluripotent stem cells, in addition to its potential application in the treatment of a number of conditions such as osteoarthritis, brain tumors, stroke, bone fracture, and wounds.


The use of HyStem®-Rx as an implantable cell delivery matrix in humans will require approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration and comparable regulatory agencies in foreign countries, which has not yet been obtained. Related patent applications are pending outside of the United States in the European Union, Canada, Japan, and Australia. Due to delays in prosecution of this patent at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a patent term extension has been awarded, extending the expiration date to August of 2027.

For more information on OrthoCyte, please visit our website at www.orthocyte.com, and for more information on the Glycosan product line please see www.glycosan.com.

About BioTime, Inc.

BioTime, headquartered in Alameda, California, is a biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine and blood plasma volume expanders. Its broad platform of stem cell technologies is developed through subsidiaries focused on specific fields of applications. BioTime develops and markets research products in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, including a wide array of proprietary ACTCellerate™ cell lines, culture media, and differentiation kits. BioTime's wholly owned subsidiary ES Cell International Pte. Ltd. has produced clinical-grade human embryonic stem cell lines that were derived following principles of Good Manufacturing Practice and currently offers them for use in research. BioTime's therapeutic product development strategy is pursued through subsidiaries that focus on specific organ systems and related diseases for which there is a high unmet medical need. BioTime's majority owned subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences, Ltd. is developing therapeutic products derived from stem cells for the treatment of retinal and neural degenerative diseases. Cell Cure's minority shareholder Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has an option to clinically develop and commercialize Cell Cure's OpRegen™ retinal cell product for use in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. BioTime's subsidiary OrthoCyte Corporation is developing therapeutic applications of stem cells to treat orthopedic diseases and injuries. Another subsidiary, OncoCyte Corporation, focuses on the therapeutic applications of stem cell technology in cancer, including using vascular progenitor cells engineered to destroy malignant tumors. ReCyte Therapeutics, Inc. is developing applications of BioTime's proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell technology to reverse the developmental aging of human cells to treat cardiovascular and blood cell diseases. BioTime’s newest subsidiary, LifeMap Sciences, Inc., is developing an online database of the complex cell lineages arising from stem cells to guide basic research and to market BioTime’s research products. In addition to its stem cell products, BioTime develops blood plasma volume expanders, blood replacement solutions for hypothermic (low temperature) surgery, and technology for use in surgery, emergency trauma treatment and other applications. BioTime's lead product, Hextend®, is a blood plasma volume expander manufactured and distributed in the U.S. by Hospira, Inc. and in South Korea by CJ CheilJedang Corp. under exclusive licensing agreements. Additional information about BioTime, ReCyte Therapeutics, Cell Cure, OrthoCyte, OncoCyte, BioTime Asia, LifeMap Sciences, and ESI can be found on the web at www.biotimeinc.com.


Forward-Looking Statements

Statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development, and potential opportunities for the company and its subsidiaries, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates") should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the company's business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

To receive ongoing BioTime corporate communications, please click on the following link to join our email alert list: http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1152&to=ea&s=0

CONTACT:
BioTime, Inc.
Barbara JL Domingo, 510-521-3390 ext. 313
Judith Segall, 510-521-3390 ext. 301