NeoStem Inc, which is pioneering the pre-disease collection, processing and long-term storage of adult stem cells for future medical need, has signed an exclusive royalty-bearing license agreement for the Asia territory to use an innovative process that rapidly grows a patient's own adult stem cells to treat a variety of musculoskeletal diseases.

The licensed procedure has been developed by Regenerative Sciences, LLC, a Colorado-based company focused on developing a medical procedure for the treatment of chronic orthopedic conditions. Known under the name Regenexx, the innovative outpatient procedure takes stem cells from an individual's bone marrow, isolates mesenchymal stem cells (which can grow into bone, tendon, muscle, ligament and cartilage), cultures them in a solution containing unique elements from the individual's own blood, and generates millions of stem cells over two to three weeks. These cells are then re-injected into the person's joints or bones in an office procedure to assist in tissue healing and restoration of bone and cartilage. The Regenexx Procedure has helped many patients avoid more risky and costly surgical intervention.

Additionally, Regenerative Sciences, through its founder and CEO, Christopher Centeno, will serve as a consultant to NeoStem, Inc in the area of stem cell therapy in orthopedics. Dr Centeno is an international expert in musculoskeletal, spinal and neurological injury. Dr Centeno will continue to assist NeoStem in using mesenchymal stem cell isolation and transplantation methods abroad in the lab and clinical setting. He will also train NeoStem personnel in Colorado in mesenchymal stem cell isolation, preparation and transplantation methods.

"We are very pleased to obtain the exclusive license in Asia to Regenerative Sciences unique technology, and we're delighted to establish this relationship with Dr Centeno," said Robin Smith, CEO of NeoStem. "The minimally invasive Regenexx procedure complements NeoStem's established in-office stem cell collection procedures and expands our expertise into a new area. Restoring joints, bone, muscle and cartilage and combating orthopedic diseases complements our growth in the anti-aging and regenerative medicine arena. Recently, we announced acquisition of an exclusive worldwide license for innovative stem cell technology and applications for cosmetic facial and body procedures and skin rejuvenation. With Dr Centeno's assistance we will be adding his stem cell expansion procedure for orthopedic regeneration to the services we are offering in Asia through prominent medical institutions with which we are partnering that we expect to come to market by the end of this year."

Dr Centeno said, "I look forward to working with Dr. Smith and her team at NeoStem to bring Regenerative Sciences' important stem cell innovations to a worldwide audience of doctors and patients. I'm especially excited about NeoStem's relationships and its expanding presence in China."

NeoStem is developing a network of adult stem cell collection centers that are focused on enabling people to donate and store their own (autologous) stem cells when they are young and healthy for their personal use in times for future medical need.

Regenerative Sciences, under the direction of 15-year Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation veteran Dr Christopher J Centeno, first began performing the Regenexx joint and bone stem cell procedure in 2005.