International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) Leads Roundtable With Major US Payors, Healthcare Providers and Industry to Initiate a Collaboration to Address Cell Therapy Product Reimbursement

Vancouver (ots/PRNewswire) -

The interest of many insured US citizens was represented by
participation of payor organizations including Anthem Blue Cross Blue
Shield, LifeTrac and OptumHealth.

In keeping with its mission to drive the commercialization of
cell therapy products and advance global patient access, ISCT hosted
its second event this year in its Commercial Development Series, this
time focusing on the timely issue of reimbursement for cell therapy
and regenerative medicine products in the US market.

Despite the accelerating pace of clinical trials in the field,
the path for reimbursement for these innovative applications is
progressing slowly in many key markets. Reimbursement and physician
acceptance are the ultimate determination for moving new therapies
into standard of care. Until strategies and reimbursement paths are
more defined, the availability of the world's most promising
therapies could be limited in the United States.

ISCT has taken the first steps in addressing this roadblock to
commercialization with its inaugural Reimbursement Roundtable aiming
to educate stakeholders on the scope and complexity of the issues for
cell therapy and regenerative medicine product reimbursement in the
USA. By facilitating a dialogue on the issues and implications in a
collaborative approach ISCT aims to catalyze a multidisciplinary
effort to create a sustainable model for adequate cell therapy
reimbursement for US patients.

Attendance at this first Reimbursement Roundtable held in
Minneapolis, MN, USA, September 14 2011, included leadership from the
major healthcare payor organizations, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield,
LifeTrac, and OptumHealth as well as US Bioservices. Athersys Inc,
Aastrom Biosciences, Inc., Baxter International, Inc, Aesculap
Implant Systems, LLC, and Pluristem Therapeutics Inc, all biotech and
healthcare companies on the verge of bringing cell therapy products
to patients with their late stage clinical trials also participated.
The perspectives of healthcare providers, research funders and
advocacy organizations were represented with participation from
leading clinicians, the California Institute for Regenerative
Medicine (CIRM), America's Blood Centers (ABC), and ISCT's event
partner the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP).

"The promise of regenerative medicine is huge, but there remains
significant obstacles to overcome, of which reimbursement is
critical. Even after a new therapy is approved by a regulatory
agency, if the reimbursement system is not in place, patients may
lack or have limited access to these new treatments," said Richard
Maziarz, MD, Medical Director, Adult Stem Cell Transplantation
Program & Center for Hematologic Malignancies, Oregon Health &
Science University Knight Cancer Institute.

"We commend ISCT for its initiative in bringing together a
dynamic and influential group of industry leaders to address Cell
Therapy product reimbursement," said Michael Boo, chief strategy
officer, NMDP. "Our direct experience and countless clinical studies
demonstrate that unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplants are a
life-saving therapy. Increasing access to this therapy will save
countless lives and do more to reduce health care costs than denying
care."

Ed Horwitz, M.D. PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics,
Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and President of ISCT
agreed "this latest initiative reinforces ISCT's strategic commitment
to build the necessary alignment with academia, industry and other
stakeholders to expedite the development and maturation of the field
and ultimately bring cell therapy treatments to patients faster."

Visit http://www.celltherapyfocusgroups.com for further
information on the Reimbursement Roundtable agenda and participants.
A summary report on the event will be published in Cytotherapy, the
official journal of ISCT in early 2012.

The ISCT Reimbursement Roundtable launch follows the first
successful event in its Commercial Development Series on Clinical
Trial Design for Peripheral Vascular Disease and the launch of the
ISCT Industry Community in August 2010. See:
http://www.celltherapysociety.org/index.php/about-us/media

ISCT is a global association driving the translation of
scientific research to deliver innovative cellular therapies and
advancing global patient access. Established in 1992, its membership
and leadership comprises world-class scientists, clinicians,
technologists, biotech/pharma and regulatory professionals from
around the world focused on pre-clinical and translational aspects of
developing cell therapy products.

(c) 2011 International Society for Cellular Therapy. All rights
reserved. ISCT, International Society for Cellular Therapy, and the
ISCT logo are registered service marks of The International Society
for Cellular Therapy. The BEACON and lighthouse logo is a service
mark of The International Society for Cellular Therapy.

For further information:
Contact:
Richard Maziarz
Co-Chair, ISCT Commercialization Committee
Medical Director, Adult Stem Cell Transplantation Program
& Center for Hematologic Malignancies,
Oregon Health & Sciences University
Knight Cancer Institute
+1-503-494-6345
maziarzr@ohsu.edu
Jane Arthurs
ISCT Executive Director
+1-604-630-5495
Jane@celltherapysociety.org

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