BioTime to Collaborate With the University of Wisconsin and Louvain University in Test of HyStem -Based Hydrogel for Vocal Fold Scarring Investigator-initiated clinical trial may follow preclinical studies ALAMEDA, Calif

to Collaborate With the University of Wisconsin and Louvain University

in Test of HyStem -Based

Hydrogel for Vocal Fold Scarring

Investigator-initiated

clinical trial may follow preclinical studies

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--August 28, 2014--BioTime, Inc. (NYSE

MKT:BTX) today announced that it has entered into a collaboration with

Susan Thibeault, Ph.D., of the University of Wisconsin and Marc Remacle,

M.D. of Louvain University to evaluate BioTime's proprietary HyStem -based

hydrogel for the treatment of vocal fold scarring. Preclinical studies

published by Dr. Thibeault and her colleagues have demonstrated that

localized delivery of HyStem into injured vocal

folds resulted in a significant improvement in function. Under a

sponsored research agreement, Dr. Thibeault's laboratory will evaluate HyStem -based

hydrogels to identify formulations with optimum properties for reducing

scarring. Upon completion of these preclinical studies, an

investigator-initiated clinical trial in patients with vocal fold

scarring due to disease or prior surgical interventions is planned,

under the direction of Dr. Remacle, at the Cliniques Universitaires UCL

Mont-Godinne in Belgium, subject to institutional and regulatory

Scarring of the vocal folds is the most common cause of undesired

changes in the voice (dysphonia) following injury, disease, or surgical

procedures. Current treatments are limited to microsurgical treatments

including scar lysis/excision, medialization laryngoplasty, or

engraftment of tissue flaps/grafts. Since the region of the vocal fold

affected by scarring is rich in hyaluronic acid, nonclinical studies of HyStem -based

hydrogels have been performed which indicate that localized injection of

a HyStem hydrogel during surgical release of the

adhesions provides an environment for improved tissue viscoelasticity

vital for vocal fold function. Because vocal fold scarring remains one

of the most challenging problems for otolaryngologists using the

available technology, continued successful preclinical studies could

lead to investigator-initiated clinical investigations, and efforts for

regulatory approval for this indication.

"If products could be developed that would improve vocal fold healing

with decreased scarring, it could have widespread clinical application

for improved patient outcomes," said Dr. Remacle, at the Cliniques

Universitaires UCL Mont-Godinne in Belgium.

"The expanded application of HyStem hydrogels

in the field of vocal fold disorders, is just one example of the breadth

of potential applications of the technology," said Dr. William Tew,

BioTime's Chief Commercial Officer. "Our numerous academic

collaborations play an important role in advancing these novel

applications in medicine. For example, we are seeing numerous scientific

publications utilizing HyStem technology in stem

cell transplantation in the central nervous system, heart, liver, skin,

orthopedic, and other tissues. We plan additional collaborations to

further expand the breadth of uses of HyStem technology

as part of our strategy to aggressively commercialize this platform."

BioTime's HyStem family of hydrogels are

unique biomaterials that are designed as matrices and scaffolds in

medical device, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine

applications. HyStem hydrogels are distributed

and sold worldwide by BioTime and its distributors for pre-clinical

research. Renevia is an injectable HyStem

hydrogel, for which clinical studies in Europe are scheduled for the

purpose of evaluating Renevia as a delivery matrix for

autologous adipose cells to treat the facial lipoatrophy associated with

HIV. Premvia is a recently FDA-cleared medical device

indicated for the management of wounds. Clinical grade hydrogels are

also available to support translational research and investigator

initiated clinical studies. BioTime's HyStem

technology is covered by two issued US patents with applications pending

in the EU, Canada, Japan, and Australia.

BioTime is a biotechnology company engaged in research and product

development in the field of regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine

refers to therapies based on stem cell technology that are designed to

rebuild cell and tissue function lost due to degenerative disease or

injury. BioTime's focus is on pluripotent stem cell technology based on

human embryonic stem ("hES") cells and induced pluripotent stem ("iPS")

cells. hES and iPS cells provide a means of manufacturing every cell

type in the human body and therefore show considerable promise for the

development of a number of new therapeutic products. BioTime's

therapeutic and research products include a wide array of proprietary PureStem

progenitors, HyStem hydrogels, culture media,

and differentiation kits. BioTime is developing Renevia (a HyStem

product) as a biocompatible, implantable hyaluronan and collagen-based

matrix for cell delivery in human clinical applications, and is planning

to initiate a pivotal clinical trial around Renevia , in 2014.

The HyStem -based product PremviaTM

is cleared the FDA in the US for use in wound management. In addition,

BioTime has developed Hextend , a blood plasma

volume expander for use in surgery, emergency trauma treatment and other

applications. Hextend is manufactured and

distributed in the U.S. by Hospira, Inc. and in South Korea by CJ

HealthCare Corporation, under exclusive licensing agreements.

BioTime is also developing stem cell and other products for research,

therapeutic, and diagnostic use through its subsidiaries:

Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. is developing pluripotent

stem-cell based therapies in neurology and oncology, including

AST-OPC1 oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in spinal cord injury,

multiple sclerosis and stroke, and AST-VAC2, an allogeneic dendritic

cell-based cancer vaccine. Asterias Series A common stock is traded

under the symbol ASTY.

BioTime Asia, Ltd., a Hong Kong company, may offer and sell

products for research use for BioTime's ESI BIO Division.

Cell Cure Neurosciences Ltd. is an Israel-based biotechnology

company focused on developing stem cell-based therapies for retinal

and neurological disorders, including the development of retinal

pigment epithelial cells for the treatment of macular degeneration,