NEW RESEARCH: 72-page Report on International Stem Cell Corp. (ISCO)

Posted by Colleen Koski

August 6, 2013 at 11:00 AM

Yesterday, Crystal Research Associates initiated coverage on International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO-OTC) with the release of a 72-page Executive Informational Overview® (What is an EIO?). The full report is available for download here.

International Stem Cell Corporation (“ISCO” or “the Company”) is a biotechnology company focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) to treat diseases of the brain, liver, and the eye, as well as on the development and commercialization of cell-based research and cosmetic products.

ISCO’s Novel Stem Cell Technology 

ISCO is pioneering the development of a new class of stem cells—known as human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs). The Company believes that these therapeutic stem cells avoid the safety, economic, and ethical concerns inherent with existing stem cell technologies. 

ISCO’s core proprietary technology, parthenogenesis, refers to a form of asexual reproduction in which an egg develops without being fertilized by a male gamete. The creation of hpSCs involves the stimulation of a human oocyte (egg) to start the cell division process without actual fertilization. Since the eggs are not fertilized, no viable human embryo is created nor destroyed for the generation of ISCO’s hpSC lines. In addition, according to the Company, the histocompatibility profile of hpSCs makes this the only stem cell platform capable of generating stem cell lines that can immune-match millions of people. The main medical, economic, and ethical benefits of hpSCs are summarized in the Figure below.

The Company’s therapeutic efforts for its hpSCs are concentrated in three markets where cell therapy has been clinically proven, but where there is a shortage of safe cells or tissue:

  1. Parkinson’s disease;

  2. inherited metabolic liver disease; and

  3. corneal blindness.

ISCO believes these markets could have a combined revenue potential of over $5 billion. ISCO is also employing its proprietary stem cell technology to develop an stem cell bank, UniStemCell™, which already contains enough histocompatible stem cell lines to immune-match over 75 million people.

Revenue-Generating Therapeutic Programs

The Company produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology (www.lifelinecelltech.com) and SC-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (www.lifelineskincare.com). During 2012, these companies generated approximately $4.6 million in sales. 

Lifeline Cell Technology  is a B2B research products company that specializes in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of purified primary human cells, media, and reagents for cell culture and therapeutic research. Lifeline Cell Technology's line of biomedical products includes over 130 products in four categories: (1) human cells; (2) human tissues; (3) cell culture media; and (4) additional products such as reagents and SC differentiation kits. The products are used primarily for application in the field of regenerative medicine, safety and toxicology testing, and basic cell biology.  In 2012, Lifeline Cell Technology  generated $2.4 million in sales—a 35% growth rate over 2010.

Moreover, the Lifeline Skin Care subsidiary  develops, manufactures, and markets advanced anti-aging skin care products based on growth factors and peptides extracted from hpSCs. During development of its technology for therapeutic programs, ISCO scientists discovered that extracts from some stem cells had a beneficial effect on the health of skin cells. After additional experiments and collaborations with skin care experts in order to optimize the SC extract and formulation, the Lifeline Skin Care products were introduced in November 2010. Lifeline Skin Care products generated sales of $2.2 million in 2012.

Business Model and Growth Strategy

ISCO uses its proprietary platform technology to operate under a novel business model for the biotechnology industry (see ISCO'S Business Model below). Specifically, the revenue-generating commercial operations of its subsidiary businesses (Lifeline Cell Technology and Lifeline Skin Care) support the development of the Company’s therapeutic programs and licensing opportunities. This model not only provides practical, short-term applications of the Company’s core technologies, but also generates financial resources to support further scientific research and development of ISCO’s therapeutic programs in Parkinson’s disease, metabolic liver disease, and corneal blindness. In addition, ISCO’s plans include the creation of an SC bank and, once it has proven the technology platform by developing the therapeutic treatments, the licensing of its technologies to third parties for the development of third-party treatments. 

 

Learn More About International Stem Cell Corporation

Crystal Research has published a 72-page Executive Information Overview® on International Stem Cell Corporation, which overviews the Company's products and technologies, as well as its growth strategy, intellectual property, management, competition, among other relevant information. A free copy of the report can be downloaded via ISCO's Corporate Profile

Follow Crystal Research on LinkedIn, Twitter (@CrystalResearch) or Facebook to be among the first to hear about new published research on ISCO as well as for updates on International Stem Cell Corporation's latest developments.  

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Topics: ISCO, New Research

NEW RESEARCH: 52-page Report on Convoy Therapeutics, Inc.

Posted by Laura Swartz

June 17, 2013 at 5:46 PM

This afternoon we released our first Executive Informational Overview on Convoy Therapeutics, Inc., a closely held, late-stage biotechnology company developing a next-generation drug delivery technology. The report details Convoy's business, product development and R&D efforts, growth strategies and important milestones, management backgrounds, potential competition, and market opportunities, among many other factors that investors and stakeholders may find relevant.

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Topics: New Research, Convoy Therapeutics

NEW RESEARCH: Quarterly Update on AtheroNova Inc.

Posted by Colleen Koski

February 1, 2013 at 10:51 AM

Crystal Research Associates has released a Quarterly Update on AtheroNova Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the research and development of compounds that safely regress atherosclerotic plaque and improve patients’ lipid profiles. The 12-page report is available here.

Atherosclerotic plaque is a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances. These plaque deposits, which progressively narrow and block the arteries, are the main underlying cause of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease (PAD). 

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Topics: AtheroNova, New Research

NEW REPORT: Quarterly Update on Neonode Inc. (NEON-NASDAQ)

Posted by Colleen Koski

October 9, 2012 at 10:01 AM

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Topics: Neonode Inc., touch technology, zForce, New Research

New Research Available on Local Corporation (LOCM-NASDAQ)

Posted by Colleen Koski

August 29, 2012 at 10:14 AM

Yesterday, we issued an Executive Informational Overview® on Local Corporation (LOCM-NASDAQ), a provider of digital marketing products designed to connect local businesses with online and mobile consumers. 

Local Corporation has expertise in helping small businesses develop and maintain a sophisticated online presence in order to be easily found by consumers, both on their own web properties and on major search engines. Its platform includes rich media ad creative, local business directory and product search technologies, mobile capabilities, search engine optimization (SEO), web hosting, social media services, daily deals, and a loyalty/rewards program, among other products and services.

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Topics: Local Corporation, New Research

QUARTERLY UPDATE: AtheroNova (AHRO-OTC) Receives Key Patent Allowance

Posted by Laura Swartz

July 16, 2012 at 4:27 PM

Novel biotech company AtheroNova Inc. (AHRO-OTC) made a significant news announcement last week when it reported the receipt of a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its main patent. The Notice of Allowance entailed written communication from the USPTO to AtheroNova that the Company’s primary patent was allowable. A Notice of Allowance specifies the amount of issue and/or publication fees that are due within three months in order to avoid abandonment of the applications (Source: USPTO). Accordingly, AtheroNova expects to announce the official patent issuance within the next few months once the registration process is complete.  

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Topics: AtheroNova, Crystal Research Associates, Newsworthy Events, New Research

NEW RESEARCH: AtheroNova (AHRO-OTC) Works to Unclog Your Arteries

Posted by Laura Swartz

June 6, 2012 at 10:25 AM

New research available in our library at www.crystalra.com gives readers a complete description of the business of AtheroNova: its product development, milestones, competitive pressures, market opportunities, risks, and more. A 52-page report is available here, with future Quarterly Updates coming as AtheroNova advances this year.

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Topics: AtheroNova, New Research, biotech

"Beyond Wall Street's Panama Canal" Makes Case for Independent Research

Posted by Laura Swartz

May 21, 2012 at 11:32 AM

Crystal Research Associates' Director of Healthcare, David H. Talbot, discusses research trends in small-cap stocks on Seeking Alpha. Article excerpt below; click here for a link to the full text.

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Topics: Crystal Research Associates, New Research

Neonode (NEON-OTC.BB) is Changing Your Touchscreen

Posted by Laura Swartz

March 8, 2012 at 10:43 AM

Neonode Inc. (NEON.OBis set to report fourth quarter and year-end 2011 financials on Tuesday, March 13, 2012. In anticipation of those results, now is a good time to take a closer look at the Company and its prospects. Crystal Research has initiated coverage on Neonode with the publication of a 52-page Executive Informational Overview® providing a comprehensive discussion of the Company, its technology, markets, and competitors. The report is complimentary to our readers.

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Topics: Crystal Research Associates, Neonode Inc., infrared touchscreen, touch technology, zForce, New Research

Authentidate Holding Corp. (ADAT) Second Quarter FY 2012 Update

Posted by Samy Goldfarb

February 29, 2012 at 2:59 PM

Crystal Research continued its coverage of Authentidate Holding Corp. (ADAT-NASDAQ) with the publication of a 16-page Quarterly Update covering the second quarter FY 2012, available here.

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Topics: Crystal Research Associates, New Research, Authentidate, Inscrybe, ExpressMD, telemedicine

Independent Equity Research Report on T3 Motion, Inc. (TTTM)

Posted by Samy Goldfarb

February 15, 2012 at 1:35 PM

Crystal Research has initiated coverage on T3 Moton, Inc. (TTTM-NYSE Amex) with the publication of a 56-page Executive Informational Overview® available here.

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Topics: Crystal Research Associates, T3 Motion, New Research

Independent Equity Research Report on LRAD Corp. (LRAD-NASDAQ)

Posted by Colleen Koski

February 13, 2012 at 7:54 PM

Crystal Research has initiated coverage on LRAD Corp. (LRAD-NASDAQ) with the publication of a 64-page Executive Informational Overview® available here.

LRAD Corp. (“the Company”) develops and markets long-range acoustic hailing devices (AHDs) that are designed to improve the delivery and intelligibility of audio broadcasts. The Company’s Long Range Acoustic Device® (LRAD®) technology uses advanced sound reproduction technologies and novel acoustic materials to broadcast authoritative and highly intelligible instructions, warnings, alarms, and other sounds over several miles.

LRAD-Navy

LRAD® improves upon traditional speaker systems and megaphones by directing sound only where needed. Similar to a spotlight, which produces an intense beam of targeted light, each LRAD® system delivers a focused, directional audio broadcast. The beam width, frequency range, and maximum continuous output of LRAD® devices can be adjusted to target individuals, small groups, and large crowds at various ranges.

LRAD Corp.’s versatile product portfolio has a broad range of applications, including military, wildlife and asset protection, public safety/law enforcement, and commercial security. 

Military Opportunities

At present, LRAD Corp. believes that its largest market opportunity is with the U.S. military. The Company is working with Kongsberg Gruppen ASA (KOG-OSE)—a global military and defense contractor—to develop Common Remotely Operated Weapon Stations (CROWS) that provide soldiers escalation of force options and the ability to communicate to targets (via LRAD®) from within the safety of their armored vehicles.

Kongsberg currently supplies its PROTECTOR CROWS to the U.S. Army under a five-year framework agreement. As the agreement comes to a close, the Army has disclosed that the upcoming CROWS III contract is valued at $970 million (~3,000 units). LRAD Corp. and Kongsberg are working on a submission for the upcoming CROWS III contract and seek to obtain an initial order for field testing.

As well, the U.S. Army has issued a public Request for Information (RFI) regarding 6,350 AHDs. LRAD Corp. is actively pursuing this opportunity and is hopeful that the process could advance to the formal Request for Proposal (RFP) stage in 2012.

Wildlife and Asset Preservation

LRAD® technology is proving to be effective at preserving both wildlife and critical assets at airports, air bases, harbors, wind farms, tailing ponds, and other facilities. The Company reports that its devices have been installed in multiple mining operations for over two years and have reduced bird deaths from thousands annually to less than 20 per year. LRAD® may also benefit solar farms, nuclear power facilities, agricultural operations, fisheries, and other industries that have wildlife preservation concerns. The video below provides a demonstration of the ability of LRAD to deter wildlife from control zones.

The Company aims to capitalize on successful trials and opening orders to date to further penetrate the wildlife and asset preservation market, particularly airports and clean/alternative energy applications (e.g., wind farms). From 1990 to 2009, bird strikes resulted in nearly 425,000 hours of aircraft downtime and roughly $375 million in monetary losses (Source: the Federal Aviation Administration). The U.S. Air Force has reported that it spends approximately $35 million annually to repair aircraft damage caused by bird strikes. Moreover, wind turbines cause roughly 440,000 bird deaths each year in the U.S. (Source: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

Public Safety/Law Enforcement

In public safety, LRAD® systems can be an effective mass communications tool to quickly issue warnings, instructions, and directions during natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or other emergencies, even in areas where power and communication has been disrupted. In 2010, mass notification system sales in the U.S. alone exceeded $1.2 billion (Source: IMS Research).

Additionally, LRAD® can be a critical part of the layered defense/escalation of force strategy for law enforcement and government agencies trying to control protests, riots, or other large crowd scenarios. LRAD Corp. has received substantial media coverage after its products were used for public safety in widely publicized events such as the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh during 2009 and the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York and Los Angeles in late 2011.

Commercial Security

The Company’s LRAD® products can help secure perimeters and protect infrastructure both on land and at sea. In the maritime setting, LRAD® technology has been used to secure ports and waterfront perimeters as well as to protect personal vessels and cruises ships against pirate attacks and other threats. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) received reports of 439 pirate attacks globally during 2011, with 113 vessels fired upon, 176 ships boarded, 45 vessels hijacked, over 800 crew members taken hostage, and eight people killed. To date, LRAD® products have been used by the U.S. Navy, the South Korean Navy, and luxury cruise liners, among others, to successfully repel pirate attacks.

Follow Crystal Research on Facebook or Twitter to be among the first to receive updates and announcements on LRAD Corp.'s latest development initiatives.

 

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Topics: Crystal Research Associates, LRAD, New Research

New Research Available on Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corp. (ADMP-OTC)

Posted by Laura Swartz

October 25, 2011 at 8:44 AM

Today we published our first report on Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corp. (ADMP-OTCBB), an innovative biopharmaceutical company combining specialty pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create treatment options for the following:

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Topics: New Research

Quarterly Update Available on Document Capture Technologies (DCMT-OTC)

Posted by Laura Swartz

August 24, 2011 at 8:50 AM

After the close of business today, we published our first Quarterly Update on Document Capture Technologies (“DCT”), a growing, innovative company seeking to transform information management.

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Topics: New Research

First Quarter 2011 Financial Summary and Business Update Published on BELLUS Health

Posted by Laura Swartz

July 13, 2011 at 9:01 AM

After the close of business today, we at Crystal Research released an update to our base report on BELLUS Health Inc. (BLU-TSX). The primary report, a 44-page Executive Informational Overview, was published in December 2010. The 12-page update released today summarizes BELLUS Health’s first quarter 2011 financial results and provides an update of the Company’s current business activities. Highlights from the report are included after the jump.

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Topics: New Research

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