Client Stem Cell Lines Available Through Leading Fertility Clinics
StemLifeLine Partners with Clinics in Colorado, Nevada and Idaho
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 31, 2007 – StemLifeLine, a Bay Area-based life sciences company, announced today that under its new partnership agreements, three United States fertility clinics, the Fertility Laboratories of Colorado (FLC), the Nevada Center for Reproductive Medicine (NCRM) and the Idaho Center for Reproductive Medicine (ICRM), will now offer individuals who have undergone in vitro fertilization (IVF) the opportunity to use StemLifeLine’s service to develop personal stem cell lines from their unused, stored embryos. StemLifeLine is the first company to offer this unique service.
“We formed StemLifeLine in response to requests from IVF patients to apply their remaining stored embryos toward therapeutic applications that could one day help their children and family members,” stated Ana Krtolica, Ph.D., cofounder, CEO and chief scientific officer (CSO) of StemLifeLine. “We are pleased that our partner clinics share our vision for the future of healthcare. They are committed to offering new alternatives to patients who have completed their family planning goals.”
Each clinic will provide eligible patients, faced with the decision of what to do with their remaining embryos, with information about StemLifeLine’s service. Prior to the introduction of StemLifeLine’s solutions, patients have had only three options: to donate the embryos to research, to donate the embryos to other couples, or to discard the embryos. StemLifeLine offers IVF patients a fourth option to derive and preserve their own stem cell line for future use as new cell-based therapies become available for the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or diabetes. The company also offers an option to prospective clients to donate a sample of their stem cell line, free-of-charge, to research or to stem cell banks so that their stem cells may benefit others.
“We’re pleased to offer our patients this ground-breaking opportunity to indefinitely retain a personalized genetically matched pool of stem cells, a service that is not available through any other company,” said William B. Schoolcraft, M.D., director of Fertility Laboratories of Colorado. “StemLifeLine’s service offers our patients an opportunity to continue to use their experience with our lab in a way that is beneficial to their families and loved ones.”
The service is offered directly by each fertility clinic unless a client requests personal contact with the company. StemLifeLine and each of its partner clinics have developed joint protocols to streamline the process and optimize each patient’s time and resources. Embryos are first transferred to StemLifeLine for derivation and quality assessment. A personal karyotype, or a genetic picture of the stem cell line, and immunophenotyping results that confirm stem cell markers on every cell, are provided to clients, a service unique to StemLifeLine. The stem cell lines are then cryopreserved and stored indefinitely. StemLifeLine is the first company to have received a license from California’s Department of Health Services for this capability.
Once this process is complete, clients will have access to their own high quality, genetically-matched stem cells, which they may use when personalized therapies become available. In the event that a stem cell line is not derived, up to 85 percent of StemLifeLine’s fee is returned to the client via the fertility clinic.
IVF patients who are interested in this service may visit the company website at http://www.stemlifeline.com/ or contact StemLifeLine directly by phone at (650) 592-STEM or e-mail (info@stemlifeline.com) to make appropriate arrangements to initiate services. For those clients interested in working with one of StemLifeLine’s partner fertility clinics, please contact the clinic directly using the contact information below.
About the Fertility Laboratories of Colorado/Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine
Fertility Laboratories of Colorado (FLC) is the provider of in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures for patients of the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine (CCRM). FLC consists of an IVF laboratory and a clinical laboratory, which is accredited by the Commission on Laboratories Accreditation (COLA). In an effort to best serve its patients, the Fertility Laboratories of Colorado IVF laboratory consistently evaluates the latest technologies and equipment so as to provide high quality care and service.
For more information, please visit http://www.flcolo.com or contact Robyn Curtis at 303-761-0579.
About the Nevada Center for Reproductive Medicine
The Nevada Center for Reproductive Medicine (NCRM) is the only nationally certified reproductive endocrinology center in northern Nevada and is ranked among the best six in vitro fertilization (IVF) centers in the country by Child.com. Dr. Russell Foulk and Dr. Scott Whitten lead the team at NCRM which provides state-of-the-art treatments for infertility. The Center offers a comprehensive diagnostic treatment plan with advanced analysis and evaluation of both male and female causes of infertility.
For more information, please visit http://www.nevadafertility.com/contact.html or contact Dr. Russell Foulk at 775-828-1200.
About the Idaho Center for Reproductive Medicine
The Idaho Center for Reproductive Medicine (ICRM), an affiliate of the Nevada Center for Reproductive Medicine, is the only nationally certified reproductive endocrinology center in Idaho. Drs. Russell Foulk and Cristin Slater oversee the state-of-the-art operations at ICRM. The Center offers a comprehensive diagnostic treatment plan with advanced analysis and evaluation of both male and female causes of infertility. ICRM emphasizes education of its patients about the reproductive system, infertility causes, diagnosis and treatments.
For more information, please visit http://www.idahofertility.com/ or contact Dr. Russell Foulk at 208-342-5900.
About StemLifeLine
StemLifeLine is a San Francisco Bay Area life sciences company that offers individuals who have undergone in vitro fertilization a unique option to develop personal stem cell lines from their remaining stored embryos. In May 2007, StemLifeLine has received a notification of the approval to operate the first personal stem cell tissue bank in the state by the California Department of Health Services.
StemLifeLine was founded in 2005 by a group of internationally recognized experts in the study of human embryonic stem cell derivation and in vitro fertilization and a leading European business angel and entrepreneur.
For additional information, please visit the StemLifeLine website at http://www.stemlifeline.com/.
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