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NeoStem, Inc. to Enter the Regenerative Medicine Market in Asia |
NeoStem, Inc. to Enter the Regenerative Medicine Market in Asia
From: "This Week in Medical Travel Today - Volume 2, Issue 28
NEW YORK, Nov 03, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- NeoStem, Inc., which is pioneering the pre-disease collection, processing, and long-term storage of adult stem cells for future medical need, announced today that it has agreed to acquire a Hong Kong corporation, whose wholly-owned subsidiary, Beijing HuaMeiTai Bio-technology Limited Liability Company, has a series of contracts with Shandong New Medicine Research Institute of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine LLC that establish control over Shandong's business, personnel, and finance as though it were a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Shandong New Medicine Research Institute currently administers a multitude of treatments and is a leading provider of regenerative medical therapies in China, which strategically fits into both NeoStem's existing business and intellectual property platform. Through the acquisition, NeoStem will align itself with Dr. Wang Taihua, founder of Shandong New Medicine Research Institute and a leading provider of regenerative therapies in China.
"We look forward to working with NeoStem in the support of both our efforts in providing new and innovative cell regenerative therapies and also bringing to China enhanced technologies of collection and cryopreservation of regenerative cells," said Dr. Wang Taihua. "We are also particularly excited at the prospect of collaborating with NeoStem to vet new technologies and bring VSEL (Very Small Embryoninc-like) technology to the large population base of China."
Robin Smith, M.D., CEO of NeoStem said, "NeoStem is very excited at the idea of bringing our expertise in cell extraction and preservation protocols, as well as advances in research and development and clinical trial know-how to roll out in China through Shandong New Medicine Research Institute, and believe the strong strategic fit of the two companies will result in an acceleration of the business model of both companies."
NeoStem also looks forward to assisting Dr. Wang in creating a destination site for individuals looking to receive care outside of their place of residency. The objectives of such individuals, according to The McKinsey Quarterly (May 2008), is to obtain advanced technologies, better medical care than they could find in their home country, quicker access to medically necessary procedures, lower costs for medically necessary procedures, and discretionary procedures. NeoStem believes it could benefit from medical tourism.
"We have already begun to see international interest," stated Dr. Smith, as reflected in the recent Deloitte 2008 Survey of Health Care Consumers, which indicates that medical tourism is set to explode in growth over the next 3 to 5 years for people going outside of the United States to seek medical care. According to Deloitte, whereas in 2007, 750,000 Americans traveled abroad for medical care, it is anticipated that by 2010 this number will grow to 6,000,000. Dr. Smith further commented, "NeoStem believes that individuals in increasing numbers will seek safe and effective regenerative medicine therapies abroad that are not yet approved in the United States, and many important clinical advances will be in hospitals and clinics outside the United States. We believe that we could gain value from this by including medical tourism in the company's future business strategy in collaboration with Dr Wang."
The consideration to be paid by NeoStem to effect the acquisition is 5,000,000 shares of common stock. This acquisition is subject to the approval of the shareholders of NeoStem, Inc., regulatory approvals, as well as the satisfaction of other customary conditions, and is expected to close in the first calendar quarter of 2009. The acquisition will be more fully described in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within four business days of the signing of the definitive agreement.
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