BrainStorm Awarded $1.5 Million Non-Dilutive Grant for 2020 by the Israel Innovation Authority

NEW YORK and PETACH TIKVAH, Israel, April 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: BCLI), a leading developer of adult stem cell technologies for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Ltd., has been awarded a new grant of approximately $1.5 million by the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA).  The grant enables Brainstorm to continue development of advanced cellular manufacturing capabilities, furthers development of MSC-derived exosomes as a novel therapeutic platform, and will ultimately enable Brainstorm to expand the therapeutic pipeline in neurodegenerative disorders.

BrainStorm's CEO Chaim Lebovits, commented, "The Israel Innovation Authority's support of our programs provides further validation for the potential of our treatments to help patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders. The continued financial support for our research and development will further our ability to execute our strategic objectives, as we finalize our Phase 3 pivotal trial with NurOwn in ALS patients and advance our cellular technology pipeline."

The IIA has supported BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Ltd. since 2007, providing grants totaling approximately 11.4 million USD in support of the development of NurOwn and other projects. BrainStorm will be required to pay mid-single digit royalties to the IIA based on sales of the products, up to a total of the cumulative amount of IIA grants received plus accumulated interest.

About NurOwn
NurOwn (autologous MSC-NTF cells) represent a promising investigational approach to targeting disease pathways important in neurodegenerative disorders. MSC-NTF cells are produced from autologous, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have been expanded and differentiated ex vivo. MSCs are converted into MSC-NTF cells by growing them under patented conditions that induce the cells to secrete high levels of neurotrophic factors. Autologous MSC-NTF cells can effectively deliver multiple NTFs and immunomodulatory cytokines directly to the site of damage to elicit a desired biological effect and ultimately slow or stabilize disease progression. NurOwn is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 ALS randomized placebo-controlled trial and in a Phase 2 open-label multicenter trial in Progressive MS.