California Stem Cell, Inc., founded by
the UC Irvine researcher made famous eight years ago by showing a once paralyzed rat apparently walking on national television, was
sold this week in a deal reportedly worth at least $124 million in
stock and cash.
NeoStem, a New York city-based firm,
announced the acquisition yesterday in a move that sent its stock to $6.64
this morning, up roughly 6 percent from last Friday. Its 52-week
high is $9.00 and low $5.00.
Gen News reported that the deal “will add a late-stage technology to the acquiring company’s
pipeline. Through the deal, NeoStem will take over development of
CSC’s Melapuldencel-T, an autologous melanoma initiating (stem)
cell immune-based therapy intended to eliminate the tumor cells
capable of causing disease recurrence, beginning with the launch of a
pivotal Phase III trial.”
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| Hans Keirstead UC Irvine photo |
The president of the privately held California Stem Cell, Inc., is Hans Keirstead, who was a key figure in
the 60 Minutes news show on Feb. 23, 2006. CBS reported that “if
paralyzed people are ever going to walk again, it might be because of
the scientist (Keirstead) in this story.”
The piece said he had injected the rats with embryonic stem cells. Keirstead, however, has not taken that
research into a clinical trial for human beings.
NeoStem's interest in the Irvine firm did not
appear to involve a possible spinal therapy.
While the company's stock price jumped
as a result of the acquisition, one view of the future of the NeoStem
was not optimistic. The Street Web site is recommending a “sell”
on the firm's stock. It said yesterday. The Street said,
“This is driven by a few notable weaknesses, which we believe should have a greater impact than any strengths, and could make it more difficult for investors to achieve positive results compared to most of the stocks we cover. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its disappointing return on equity, weak operating cash flow and poor profit margins.”
UC Davis stem cell scientist and blogger Paul Knoepfler, however, called the deal good news for the stem cell field.
