Cellular Dynamics: Awarded U.S. patent covering automated production of all human pluripotent stem cells

Patent Strengthens CDI’s Position as Leading Manufacturer of Human Cells for Research and Clinical Applications

MADISON, Wis., Aug. 28, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) (Nasdaq:ICEL) today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) awarded the company Patent No. 8,815,585 on the automated production of human pluripotent stem cells, including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). CDI’s products and services are based on iPSC technology. This patent has broad-reaching effects, covering research, cellular therapy development and stem cell banking.

Key points:

— U.S. Patent No. 8,815,585 covers the automated production of human pluripotent stem cells, including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

— Large-scale applications, such as cellular therapeutic development as well as stem cell banking, require automation for parallel processing of samples from many donors. In addition, the patent broadly covers automated iPSC culturing without the use of feeder cells or the addition of serum to culture media, factors important to cellular therapy development in a cGMP environment.

— This patent joins an IP portfolio of over 800 patents awarded to, pending or in-licensed by CDI, thus providing additional confidence to customers and investors that CDI is amassing important IP and strengthening its IP portfolio.

— CDI manufactures human iPSCs and differentiated cells at industrial scale and to tight specifications. Current iCell(R) offerings include cardiomyocytes, cardiac progenitor cells, neurons, dopaminergic neurons, astrocytes, hepatocytes, endothelial cells, hematopoietic progenitor cells and skeletal myoblasts. MyCell(R) offerings include iPSCs reprogrammed from a customer-sourced sample, genetically engineered iPSCs and iCell products under development made from MyCell iPSCs.

— The patent positions CDI as the leading supplier of choice for researchers needing a reliable and high quality supply of human cells for research, cellular therapy and stem cell banking.

Quotes:

Bob Palay, chief executive officer of CDI, said, “CDI has distinguished itself as the leader of human cell manufacturing based on our industrialized process of manufacturing iPSCs and differentiated cells. This patent is further evidence of our continued leadership in the field. We believe that automation is critical to both large-scale manufacture of human stem cells and differentiated cell types, and their application, especially in cellular therapeutics. The issuance of this patent helps assure our customers that CDI will be able to provide them access to manufactured human cells in the quantity, quality, purity and diversity that meets their drug discovery, stem cell banking and cell therapy research and development needs.”

Chris Parker, chief commercial officer of CDI, said, “CDI is using automated production to execute on the more than 3,000 patient samples associated with our CIRM grant and Coriell subcontract. This patent uniquely enables CDI to process multiple cell lines simultaneously as needed to create new stem cell banks or to expand existing ones. It also facilitates making disease cell lines available to researchers within a relatively short timeframe.”

About Cellular Dynamics International, Inc.

Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (CDI) is a leading developer and manufacturer of fully functioning human cells in industrial quantities to precise specifications. CDI’s proprietary iCell Operating System (iCell O/S) includes true human cells in multiple cell types (iCell products), human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and custom iPSCs and iCell products (MyCell Products). CDI’s iCell O/S products provide standardized, easy-to-use, cost-effective access to the human cell, the smallest fully functioning operating unit of human biology. Customers use our iCell O/S products, among other purposes, for drug discovery and screening; to test the safety and efficacy of their small molecule and biologic drug candidates; for stem cell banking; and in the research and development of cellular therapeutics. CDI was founded in 2004 by Dr. James Thomson, a pioneer in human pluripotent stem cell research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. CDI’s facilities are located in Madison, Wisconsin, with a second facility in Novato, California. See http://www.cellulardynamics.com.

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Forward-looking Statements

To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Cellular Dynamics International, Inc., including the impact of the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 8,815,585 on the automated culturing of iPSCs, they are forward?looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our product development efforts, actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Cellular Dynamics undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the Company in general, see Cellular Dynamic’s annual report on Form 10?K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2014, and as may be described from time to time in Cellular Dynamics’ subsequent SEC filings.

CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACTS:
Joleen Rau
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Cellular Dynamics International, Inc.
(608) 310-5142
jrau@cellulardynamics.com

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Russo Partners LLC
212-845-4226
robert.flamm@russopartnersllc.com

Investor Relations
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