ACT's Company Blog.

Study in The Lancet Shows No Safety Concerns and Improved Vision in Patients with Macular Degeneration

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — Jan. 23, 2012 – Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (“ACT”; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that Phase 1/2 clinical data published in The Lancet as an early online publication demonstrate the safety of ACT’s human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells for the treatment of Stargardt’s macular dystrophy (SMD) and dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD). Results were reported for two patients, the first in each of the Phase 1/2 clinical trials. In addition to showing no adverse safety issues, structural evidence confirmed that the hESC-derived cells survived and continued to persist during the study period reported. Both patients had measurable improvements in their vision that persisted for more than four months.

At four months following treatment, no hyperproliferation, tumorigenicity, ectopic tissue formation, or apparent rejection were observed in either patient at any time. Detailed clinical and diagnostic laboratory assessments were performed at multiple post-transplantation evaluations. Abnormal growth (or tumor formation) would be considered a significant safety concern for stem-cell based therapies, in particular those derived from hESCs due to their pluripotency; it is therefore critical to control the differentiation of hESCs. Results reported indicate that stem cell differentiation was well controlled in these patients. No adverse safety signals were detected.

Anatomic evidence of successful stem cell derived RPE transplantation was observed clinically and with high resolution imaging technology in the patient with SMD. This evidence included increasing pigmentation at the level of RPE, within the area of the transplant, beginning one week after transplantation and throughout the follow-up period. Transplanted stem cell derived RPE appeared to engraft in the proper location and assume normal RPE morphology. Engraftment and increasing pigmentation were not detected in the dry AMD patient. However, both patients showed some visual improvement at the four month follow-up period.

Measuring visual improvement in patients with very low vision is difficult, and no regulatory consensus exists regarding on how best to measure visual changes in these patients. As reported in The Lancet, the visual acuity of the Stargardt’s patient improved from hand motions only to 20/800 vision. Before treatment, the patient was unable to read any letter on the ETDRS visual acuity chart. However, by two weeks post-transplantation, she was able to start reading letters, which improved to five letters at one to three months in the treated eye.

“It has been over a decade since the discovery of human embryonic stem cells,” said Robert Lanza, M.D., chief scientific officer of ACT, and co-senior author of the paper. “This is the first report of hESC-derived cells transplanted into patients, and the safety and engraftment data to date look very encouraging. Although several new drugs are available for the treatment of the wet type of AMD, no proven treatments currently exist for either dry AMD or Stargardt’s disease. Despite the progressive nature of these conditions, the vision of both patients appears to have improved after transplantation of the cells, even at the lowest dosage. This is particularly important, since the ultimate goal of this therapy will be to treat patients earlier in the course of the disease where more significant results might potentially be expected. We would like to thank the patients for their willingness to participate in these safety studies. It has provided the scientific community with important data and experience that will help advance efforts in the regenerative medicine field.”

Human embryonic stem cells can provide a superior source of replacement tissue by producing an unlimited number of healthy “young” cells with potentially reduced immunogenicity. The eye is an immune privileged site due to the protection of the subretinal space by a blood-ocular barrier, and as a result only low and transient doses of immunosuppression were used. No signs of rejection or inflammation were observed in either patient, and doctors will continue to monitor both patients.

“We are extremely pleased with these first clinical results from our ongoing studies to determine the safety and tolerability of subretinal transplantation of hESC-derived RPE cells,” said Gary Rabin, chairman and CEO of ACT. “This represents an important milestone not only for ACT and UCLA”s Jules Stein Eye Institute but also for the field of regenerative medicine. The publication of these data in The Lancet demonstrates their quality and importance. We would like to thank the team, patients and principal investigator for their contributions to this study which have resulted in this outstanding publication. The data underscore the potential of stem cell therapies and regenerative medicine to realize the possibility repairing or replacing tissues damaged from disease. We are looking forward to the continuation of our clinical programs and the generation of additional data.”

The hESC-derived RPE cells underwent extensive safety studies prior to transplantation. The cells were confirmed to be free of animal and human pathogens, and a high sensitivity assay was performed to rule out the presence of any undifferentiated hESCs in the final product, a risk factor for tumor formation. Controlled hESC differentiation resulted in near-100 percent pure RPE. A central feature of hESCs is that the stage of in vitro differentiation can be controlled to maximize survival and functionality. The data here show that the extent of RPE maturity and pigmentation may dramatically impact subsequent attachment and growth of the cells after transplantation.

“It is an honor to initiate the translational research process as we begin to take stem cell biology out of the laboratory and into the operating room,” said Steven Schwartz, M.D., Ahmanson Professor of Ophthalmology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and retina division chief at UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute, principal investigator of the study and author of the publication. “The scientific and regulatory teams, as well as the leadership at ACT have been exemplary. Recognizing that we are reporting positive preliminary safety data, and a functional signal that there may be a biological benefit to patients in terms of visual increase, makes this is an exciting time for ophthalmology and regenerative medicine.”

Both trials are prospective, open-label studies designed to determine the safety and tolerability of hESC-derived RPE cells following sub-retinal transplantation into patients with SMD and dry AMD at 12 months, the studies’ primary endpoint. Each trial will enroll 12 patients each, with cohorts of three patients each in an ascending dosage format. Both the SMD and dry AMD patient had subretinal transplantation of the smallest dose (50,000 cells) of fully-differentiated RPE cells derived from hESCs. In addition to the two clinical trials in the U.S., the company has obtained clearance from the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to begin treating patients as part of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for SMD. Patient enrollment has begun and the first patient was treated at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London last Friday.

The paper’s other authors are Jean-Pierre Hubschman, Gad Heilwell, Valentina Franco-Cardenas, Carolyn K. Pan, and Rosaleen M Ostrick at UCLA and the Jules Stein Institute; and Edmund Mickunas, Roger Gay, and Irina Klimanskaya at ACT.

About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit www.advancedcell.com.

About Jules Stein Eye Institute
The Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA is focused on teaching, research and patient care. For more information, visit http://www.jsei.org/.

Forward-Looking Statements
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 report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. 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. 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. There can be no assurance that the Company’s clinical trials will be successful.

Contact:

Investors:
CEOcast, Inc., James Young, 212-732-4300

Press:
Russo Partners, Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D.,martina.schwarzkopf@russopartnersllc.com,
212-845-4292 or 347-591-8785
Russo Partners, Tony Russo, Ph.D.,tony.russo@russopartnersllc.com,
212-845-4251
ACT Corporate Communications, Bill Douglass, 646-450-3615

Business Development:
Advanced Cell Technology, Matthew Vincent, Ph.D., mvincent@advancedcell.com
508-756-1212 x324

World-renowned scientist and youngest member ever elected to all three U.S. National Academies; Also named One of the 100 Most Important People in America by Time Magazine and CNN

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — October 5, 2011 – Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (“ACT”; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that Robert S. Langer, David H. Koch Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has been appointed to the company’s Board of Directors, and will also serve as the Chair of the Board’s Science Advisory Committee.

Dr. Langer is a world-renowned scientist and entrepreneur with a wide range of experience in the healthcare, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries.  The author of more than 1,100 journal articles, Dr. Langer is a pioneer in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine-related inventions, with more than 800 issued and pending patents.  Dr. Langer’s patents have been licensed or sublicensed to over 220 pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology, and medical device companies.  He is the most cited engineer in history.  Time magazine and CNN named Dr. Langer as one of the 100 most important people in America and one of the 18 top people in science or medicine in America (America’s Best).  Parade magazine selected Dr. Langer as one of six “Heroes whose research may save your life” and he is the 2011 winner of the Economist magazine Innovation award for Bioscience.

“I am delighted to welcome Dr.  Langer to our Board of Directors,” said Gary Rabin, chairman and CEO of ACT.  “With such a diverse background and successful track record, Bob’s experience in guiding life science companies through different stages of growth will be a great asset as we advance our mission to develop cutting-edge regenerative medicine therapies.  His expertise in cross-disciplinary research and product development efforts and professional collaborations will be invaluable to us, and we all look forward to his joining us for the strategic discussions that will shape the future of ACT.”

“I’m excited to join the company’s Board of Directors at this dynamic and strategically determinative time,” commented Dr.  Langer.  “ACT is poised to make a substantial contribution to the progression of regenerative medicine, with a potential to have a significant impact on the treatment of diseases, especially ones for which current medicines and treatments are not adequate.  To be able to participate at this pivotal juncture in stem cell therapy history appeals to the scientist in me.”

Dr. Langer served as a member of the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Science Board, the FDA’s highest advisory board, from 1995 to 2002 and as its chairman from 1999 to 2002.  Dr. Langer has received over 200 major awards including the Gairdner Foundation International Award (78 recipients have subsequently received a Nobel Prize) and the Lemelson-MIT prize, the world’s largest prize for invention, for being “one of history’s most prolific inventors in medicine.”   Among numerous other awards, Langer has received the U.S. National Medal of Science, the Charles Stark Draper Prize (the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for engineers), the 2008 Millennium Prize (the world’s largest technology prize), and the 2012 Priestley Medal.  In 1989 Dr. Langer was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, and in 1992 he was elected to both the National Academy of Engineering and to the National Academy of Sciences.  He is one of very few people ever elected to all three United States National Academies and the youngest to ever receive this distinction.

“Bob is one of the most accomplished scientists in the world,” said Robert Lanza, M.D., chief scientific officer of ACT.  “I have had the honor of working with him over the years, including co-editing three editions of Principles of Tissue Engineering.  Bob’s experience and leadership in successfully guiding biomedical development programs from the research stage through commercialization will bring an invaluable perspective to our Board of Directors.  He has had significant experience providing advice and guidance to some of the industry’s leading life science companies.  I believe that Bob’s experience relating to our areas of clinical focus in regenerative medicine and stem cell-derived therapies will enable him to make significant contributions as a member of our Board.  ACT stands to benefit greatly from his deep understanding and commitment to translating cutting edge science to therapies making real differences in the lives of patients.”

Dr. Langer has received honorary doctorates from Harvard University, Yale University, the ETH (Switzerland), the Technion (Israel), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel), the Universite Catholique de Louvain (Belgium), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Willamette University, the University of Liverpool (England), Bates College, the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, the University of Nottingham (England), Albany Medical College, Pennsylvania State University, Northwestern University, and Uppsala University (Sweden), among others.  He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Cornell University in 1970 and his Sc.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1974, both in Chemical Engineering.

About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit www.advancedcell.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

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 report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. 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. 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. There can be no assurance that the Company’s clinical trials will be successful.

Contact:

Investors:
CEOcast, Inc., James Young, 212-732-4300

Press:
ACT Corporate Communications, Bill Douglass, 646-450-3615
or:
Russo Partners, Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D., 212-845-4292

The company issued the following announcement this morning.

ACT and Roslin Cells Announce Collaboration for Storage and Distribution of Embryonic Stem Cells Using ACT’s Blastomere Technology

Embryonic Stem Cells Made Using ACT’s Patented Technique Soon To Be Available for Researchers and Companies Worldwide

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.– June 21, 2011 — Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (“ACT”; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that it has entered into a definitive collaborative agreement with Roslin Cells LTD (“Roslin Cells”) of Scotland. The two companies will work together to establish a bank of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-grade human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines using ACT’s patented, proprietary “single-cell blastomere” technique for deriving hESC lines without destroying embryos.  Stem cell lines from the resulting bank will be made available for both research and commercial purposes.

“This is a significant milestone in fulfilling our commitment to provide stem cells for clinical trials designed to help patients who are suffering from medical conditions for which there are no other options,” said Gary Rabin, ACT’s interim chairman and chief executive officer.  “Embryonic stem cell research offers real promise for the treatment of a variety of currently incurable diseases and conditions.  With the commencement of several clinical trials using hESC-based therapies, including the two for which ACT has been approved, the excitement on the part of both researchers and patients continues to grow.  Our agreement with Roslin Cells is intended to address a number of practical and ethical issues facing the field, and should make it easier for researchers to explore the enormous potential of this exciting science for the future benefit of patients.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the hESC lines will be created and banked in compliance with the regulations of both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).  Roslin Cells will be responsible for maintaining the banked hESC lines, and it is anticipated that the banked hESC lines can be ushered expeditiously from laboratory settings directly into clinical programs, thereby speeding translational research.  Roslin Cells will promote access to the hESC lines to both academic and commercial entities, and will establish a straightforward license which should enable third parties to have a predictable path to commercialization, at the time they choose to use the cells for discovery and preclinical research.  ACT will continue to control any licenses to commercialization of products for the eye.  ACT and Roslin Cells will share proceeds from these licenses, including milestone and royalty payments.

“Our aim is to provide researchers with access to hESC lines, which address many of the concerns which currently relate to research involving human embryonic stem cells,” commented Aidan Courtney, chief executive officer of Roslin Cells. “However, what is more exciting to us is the potential these hESCs hold with respect to their characteristics.  Being derived from a point of earlier developmental potential, we anticipate that these single blastomere-derived ES cells will have broad plasticity and be ideally suited for use in the development and commercialization of regenerative medicine therapies. The collaboration with ACT will also accelerate our engagement with leading researchers in the US.”

ACT’s single-cell blastomere technique involves the isolation of a single cell from a 4-to-8 cell embryo, utilizing a one-cell biopsy approach similar to that used in pre-implantation genetic diagnostics (PGD).  This single-cell biopsy is performed routinely around the world, and between one and two thousand children are born every year in the United States and Europe after being conceived by in vitro fertilization using this technique.  ACT’s “blastomere” technique has been documented in Nature magazine, Cell Stem Cell, and elsewhere.

“There is considerable interest in using stem cell lines generated using our single-cell blastomere technique,” commented Robert Lanza, MD, ACT’s Chief Scientific Officer.  “We are eagerly anticipating providing our cells to a variety of institutions through this arrangement with Rosin Cells.”

About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit www.advancedcell.com.

About Roslin Cells
Roslin Cells Ltd was established in 2006 by the Roslin Institute with the support of the University of Edinburgh, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and Scottish Enterprise. The company’s core mission is to provide ethically sourced, pluripotent human cells manufactured to the highest quality available according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP standards). Roslin Cells Quality Management System has been independently verified according to rigorous standards and successfully attained ISO 9001:2008 certification in February 2009 (Certificate Number: FS 544151). Since then, the company has continued to demonstrate their meticulous standards, with successful annual renewals of their Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) licenses. Roslin Cells is headquartered in Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland, and is a not for profit organization. Further information can be found at www.roslincells.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
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 report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.  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. 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. There can be no assurance that the Company’s clinical trials will be successful.

Contact:

Investors:
CEOcast, Inc., James Young, 212-732-4300

Press:
Bill Douglass, ACT Corporate Communications, 646-450-3615
or
Russo Partners, Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D., 212-845-4292

The company issued the following release today.

ACT Announces Oregon Health & Science University As Clinical Trial Site for its Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial Using hESC-Derived RPE Cells for Macular Degeneration

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approves Phase 1/2 Trial for Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy (SMD)

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — May 16, 2011 – Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (“ACT”; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that the Casey Eye Institute (CEI) at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Ore., has received institutional review board (IRB) approval to be a site for its Phase 1/2 human clinical trial for Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy (SMD) using retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The Phase 1/2 trial will be prospective, open-label study designed to determine the safety and tolerability of the RPE cells following sub-retinal transplantation into patients with SMD.

“We are pleased that OHSU’s Casey Eye Institute has agreed to participate as a site for this study that should help us better understand the role that RPE cells can play in the treatment of SMD,” said Gary Rabin, interim chairman and CEO of ACT. “This agreement marks another milestone in our history of successful collaboration with CEI on our RPE program. The promising data from the collaboration, begun in 2007, helped pave the way for this trial, and we look forward to starting it in the coming weeks.”

“We are honored to have been designated as a site for this groundbreaking clinical trial,” said Peter J. Francis, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Co-Director of the Oregon Retinal Degeneration Center at the Casey Eye Institute. “Our prior collaborative projects with ACT on its RPE program have generated promising results, and we are pleased to be a part of this trial for an exciting potential new treatment for SMD, using hESC-derived RPE cells.”

Additional details on this study, for which the Jules Stein Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles has also received IRB approval, can be found on http://clinicaltrials.gov/; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01345006.

About macular degeneration and SMD

Degenerative diseases of the retina are among the most common causes of untreatable blindness in the world. As many as thirty million people in the United States and Europe suffer from macular degeneration, which represents a $25-30 billion worldwide market that has yet to be effectively addressed.

Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy (SMD) is one of the most common forms of macular degeneration in the world. SMD causes progressive vision loss, usually starting in children between 10 to 20 years of age. Eventually, blindness results from photoreceptor loss associated with degeneration in the pigmented layer of the retina, called the retinal pigment epithelium or RPE cell layer.

About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit http://www.advancedcell.com.

About Casey Eye Institute
As part of Oregon Health & Science University, the Casey Eye Institute is an academic regional eye center. It is named after James and George Casey, founders of United Parcel Service. The Casey Eye Institute is also one of only seven regional eye research centers in the nation sponsored by Research to Prevent Blindness, the world’s leading voluntary organization in support of eye research. The Casey Eye Institute has operated the Elks Children’s Eye Clinic since 1949, thanks to the generous support of the Oregon State Elks Association. www.ohsu.edu

Forward-Looking Statements
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 report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. 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. 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. There can be no assurance that the Company’s clinical trials will be successful.

Contact:

Investors:
CEOcast, Inc.
James Young, 212-732-4300

Press::
ACT Corporate Communications
Bill Douglass, 646-450-3615
or:
Russo Partners
Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D., 212-845-4292

The company issued the following release today.

Advanced Cell Technology Announces 2011 First Quarter Results

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — May 9, 2011 – Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (“ACT”; OTCBB: ACTC), a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today first quarter financial results for the period ended March 31, 2011. The Company reported a loss from operations of $(4.8) million compared to a loss from operations of $(15.0) million in the 2010 first quarter. ACT reported a net loss of $(3.3) million or $(0.00) per share, compared to a loss in the same period in 2010 of $(17.8) million, or $(0.03) per share.

Net cash used in operations for the 2011 first quarter was $3.4 million, compared to net cash used in operations of $2.9 million in the same period in 2010. The Company ended the 2011 first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $13.7 million, compared to $15.9 million as of December 31, 2010.

“During the first quarter of this year, ACT made significant progress in securing sites to conduct our Phase 1/2 clinical trials for Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy (SMD) and Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD), as reflected by our recent announcement that the Jules Stein Eye Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has received institutional review board (IRB) approval to be a site for both the SMD and AMD trials using retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs),” said Gary Rabin, interim Chairman and CEO of ACT. “We also recently filed a clinical trial application with the European Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seeking clearance to initiate a similar SMD trial in Europe. We believe that these trials represent excellent opportunities to evaluate the potential for RPE cells to repair and regenerate the retina.”

“While we are excited about the scientific potential for our RPE platform, we also believe that our strong balance sheet and access to capital positions us well to negotiate strategic partnerships or licensing agreements,” continued Mr. Rabin. “With the Company’s existing cash on hand as well as access to capital, ACT has the financial strength to complete the Phase 1/2 trials, which could represent important value-creation opportunities for the Company.”

The Company plans to conduct a webcast of the informal portion of its Annual Shareholder’s Meeting in June. Additional details will be provided as the event approaches.

About Advanced Cell Technology, Inc.
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. is a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine. For more information, visit http://www.advancedcell.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
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 report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. 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. 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. There can be no assurance that the Company’s clinical trials will be successful.

Contact:

Investors:
CEOcast, Inc.
James Young, 212-732-4300

Press::
ACT Corporate Communications
Bill Douglass, 646-450-3615
or:
Russo Partners
Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D., 212-845-4292