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Chairman of Advanced Cell Technology's Ethics Advisory Board Testifies Before U.S. Senate Subcommittee

Posted on: Wednesday, 6 September 2006, 12:00 CDT

Testimony Urges Legislative and Executive Branches of the U.S. Federal Government to Consider Funding Stem Cell Lines Generated by Company's Technique that Maintains Developmental Potential of Embryo

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (OTCBB:ACTC.OB) today announced that Ronald Green, Ph.D., Director of Dartmouth College's Ethics Institute and Chairman of the Advanced Cell Technology's Ethics Advisory Board testified today before the Senate Labor, Health & Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. Dr. Green's testimony focused on the benefits of In Vitro Fertilization and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, and how the method developed by Advanced Cell Technology for generating human embryonic stem cells maintains the developmental potential of the embryo. Additionally, Dr. Green discussed the important roles of both Congress and the President in potentially allowing federal funding for stem cell lines derived using Advanced Cell Technology's method, which was published online (ahead of print) on August 23 in the peer-reviewed journal Nature.

While discussing Advanced Cell Technology's method for deriving human embryonic stem cells, Dr. Green explained, "I believe that the method of stem cell derivation announced by Advanced Cell Technology researchers in their August 24 report in the journal Nature represents a real opportunity to move human embryonic stem cell research forward in this country in a way that respects the ethical sensitivities of the vast majority of our citizens. The overwhelming majority of Americans support both IVF and PGD, as these procedures help infertile couples have children and allow those who carry genetic diseases to have healthy children."

In an effort to have Congress and the President consider funding stem cell lines generated through Advanced Cell Technology's method, Dr. Green stated, "If Congress were to approve legislation that funded research on lines generated by this new method, and if President Bush were to permit such legislation to pass into law, both the members of Congress and the President could honestly turn to the American people and say that no human embryo ever again needs to be harmed or destroyed to produce the stem cell lines we need for federally funded research."

Commenting on the embryos used in Advanced Cell Technology's research that were not allowed to develop, Dr. Green explained, "The embryos used were donated by people who had fully consented to the research and understood, and even required, that the embryos would not be allowed to go on to further development. It is not unique that the initial research needed to develop morally acceptable methods or materials do not meet everyone's approval, but this does not impugn the methods or materials produced as a result of that research."

About Advanced Cell Technology

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. is a biotechnology company engaged in the emerging field of regenerative medicine. The company operates facilities in Alameda, California and Worcester, Massachusetts. For more information about the company, please visit www.advancedcell.com.

Statements in this news release regarding future financial and operating results, future growth in research and development programs, potential applications of our technology, opportunities for the company and any other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "will,""believes,""plans,""anticipates,""expects,""estimates," and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward- looking statements, including: limited operating history, need for future capital, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, protection of our intellectual property, and economic conditions generally. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the company's periodic reports including the quarterly report on Form 10-QSB for the period ending June 30, 2006.

Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions, and expectations of the company's management at the time they are made, and the company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions, expectations, or other circumstances should change.

Source: Business Wire

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