HAIFA, Israel, Sept. 16, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (PSTI) (TASE:PLTR), a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapy products, announced today it is evaluating strategic opportunities to co-develop and commercialize its PLacental eXpanded (PLX) cell therapies in Japan.

Recent changes in Japan’s laws governing regenerative medicine and the approval of stem cell therapies indicate the country may now offer the fastest track to commercialization in the world for regenerative medicine treatments. As part of Pluristem’s strategy in Japan, on September 16, 2014, Company executives presented to a group of Japanese pharmaceutical executives in Tokyo, and conducted a series of one-on-one meetings with Japanese companies exploring a potential partnership with Pluristem.

To support its strategy in Japan, Pluristem is working with The Sage Group, a consulting firm specializing in healthcare industry transactions and business strategy, and Sage’s partner Waterfield HealthCom, a Japan-based firm managed by Yoshi Mizuta. Mr. Mizuta is a highly experienced pharmaceutical industry executive with more than 40 years in the business of financial healthcare transactions in the Japanese arena.

Japan’s government passed a bill in 2013, which goes into effect in November of this year, effectively fast-tracking the approval of stem cell therapies for marketing. According to the law, stem cell regenerative medicine therapies can receive conditional, time-limited approval for marketing, and be eligible for reimbursement, upon proof of safety but prior to verification of efficacy; safety and effectiveness need to be confirmed after the conditional approval.

Waterfield HealthCom’s Mr. Mizuta commented, “With its broad portfolio of indications and its commercial scale 3D cell manufacturing capabilities, Pluristem is a very desirable partner for Japanese pharmaceutical companies looking to bring cell therapies to the market in the near term.”

“As a result of Japan’s favorable new law, cell therapies like Pluristem’s PLX cells can receive market approval in Japan upon completion of Phase II trials when good safety and efficacy data is available. This could potentially reduce approval time down to two or three years,” Mr. Mizuta concluded.

Pluristem CEO Zami Aberman added, “The opportunity in Japan opens an accelerated path for the global regenerative medicine industry to prove the efficacy of cell therapies in a broad patient population in Japan. Japan has one of the most advanced healthcare systems, and the second largest healthcare market in the world.”

Pluristem currently has co-development and out-licensing partnership agreements with United Therapeutics (UTHR) and South-Korea-based CHA Bio&Diostech (CHA).

PETACH TIKVA, Israel, Sept. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE MKT: CANF) (CFBI.TA), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address cancer and inflammatory diseases, today announced that an article titled, “New Drugs and Treatment Targets in Psoriasis,” published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Acta Derm Venereologica, cites the Company’s CF101 as a potential treatment for psoriasis. The article was written by researchers at the Department of Dermato-allergology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. To read the article in full, please visit: Acta Derm Venereologica.

The article states that biologics for the treatment of psoriasis are costly, require repeated injections, and some patients experience a loss of therapeutic effect. Thus, the development of orally available, small molecule drugs are desirable, state the article’s authors. They identify A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonists as one of four potential small molecules currently in clinical trials.

The article includes a summary of Can-Fite’s Phase II psoriasis trial and includes CF101 among four small molecule drugs under development including Pfizer’s Tofacitinib, Celgene’s Apremilast, and Incyte’s Ruxolitinib.

“There is a need for small molecule orally bioavailable drugs for the treatment of psoriasis which is a chronic disease. We believe the good safety and efficacy profile that has been described in the Phase II and Phase II/III interim analysis, positions CF101 as a leading drug under development for this disease,” stated Dr. Pnina Fishman, CEO of Can-Fite.

Can-Fite’s Phase II/III psoriasis trial is ongoing with top line results expected to be released in the first quarter of 2015. The psoriasis therapeutic market was worth $3.6 billion in 2010 and is forecast to grow to $6.7 billion by 2018, according to Global Data.

MELVILLE, NY–(Marketwired – September 16, 2014) – ITUS Corporation (“ITUS”) (ITUS), a company that builds and protects innovation, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, J-Channel Industries Corporation (“JCIC”), has entered into a license agreement with Jeld-Wen, Inc., in connection with JCIC’s patented J-Channel Window Frame Construction technology.

Robert Berman, ITUS’s President and CEO stated, “In the past 7 days alone, we have entered into 5 revenue producing license agreements, and launched our seventh patent assertion program against eBay and the Alibaba companies. It’s amazing to see our talented team reunite, and so quickly rekindle the spark that leads to success. The momentum is beginning to build, good things are happening, and it’s an exciting time for our company and its shareholders.”

The Jeld-Wen agreement is the 12th settlement for the J-Channel Window Frame Construction technology, and resolves the patent infringement lawsuit filed against Jeld-Wen and Lowe’s on August 7, 2013, which will be dismissed.

About ITUS Corporation
ITUS develops and acquires patented technologies for the purposes of patent monetization and patent assertion. The company currently has 10 patent portfolios in the areas of Key Based Web Conferencing Encryption, Encrypted Cellular Communications, E-Paper® Electrophoretic Display, Nano Field Emission Display (“nFED”), Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Display (“MEMS”), Loyalty Conversion Systems, J-Channel Window Frame Construction, VPN Multicast Communications, Internet Telephonic Gateway, and Enhanced Auction Technologies. Additional information is available at www.ITUScorp.com.

EVEN YEHUDA, Israel, September 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ —

Bluesphere Corp. (BLSP) (the “Company” or “Bluesphere”), a clean energy company that develops, manages and owns waste-to-energy projects, announced today it just signed a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) to develop a 5 MW biogas project together with ESC an Israeli State-owned company in Israel.

The MOU contemplates that ESC the Israeli State-owned company will lease a suitable site for the project and arrange the required amounts of food waste for use as feedstock and will perform maintenance service for the project.

According to Israeli law, the Israel Electric Company is obligated to purchase the power produced from this project and, as such, a long-term power purchase agreement at a favourable rate will be entered into over the coming months.

Bluesphere will be responsible for developing the project, permitting, project finance and operation for the 20-year life of the project.  Bluesphere intends to work with Austep S.p.A., a premier Italian EPC contractor with dozens of similar facilities in operation around the world and its EPC contractor on Bluesphere’s US biogas projects.

After the project is in operation for three years, ESC the Israeli State-owned company has the option to purchase up to a 50% ownership stake in the project at then fair market value.

“It is a tremendous honour to have been selected from all the competition in Israel to implement this project.  It marks the start of our Israeli strategy, which can become a major driver of value for Bluesphere.  Israel offers us a unique opportunity insofar as power purchase agreements are awarded to biogas projects as a matter of law.  This is normally one of the hardest parts of any project’s development and in Israel we have the power purchase agreement as a given. Moreover, our counterpart will arrange to deliver source-separated organic municipal waste, which is a great feedstock for the project.  We have carefully implemented our intended strategy of developing promising projects around the world and have now found a big and lucrative project to start with in Israel,” stated Bluesphere CEO Shlomi Palas. “We are already in discussions with financial partners for the project’s financing.  In addition there are more opportunities in Israel to implement biogas projects and we are evaluating a number of them.”

About Bluesphere Corporation

Bluesphere Corporation is a company in the cleantech sector as a waste-to-energy project Integrator. Bluesphere develops waste-to-energy and other renewable energy projects. The Company aspires to become a key player in the global waste-to-energy and renewable energy markets. For further information please visit the Company’s website http://www.bluespherecorporate.com

MELVILLE, NY–(Marketwired – September 11, 2014) – ITUS Corporation (“ITUS“) (ITUS), a company that builds and protects innovation, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, J-Channel Industries Corporation (“JCIC”), has entered into licenses with Atrium Windows and Doors, Inc., Pella Corporation, Ply Gem Industries, Inc., and Simonton Building Products, Inc., all in connection with JCIC’s patented J-Channel Window Frame Construction technology.

Robert Berman, ITUS’s President and CEO, stated, “Many years have passed since the integrated J-Channel was first introduced to the vinyl window market, and it continues to be an industry standard. We are very happy with the progress that we are making with this assertion campaign, and with the results that we are achieving for the inventor, and our shareholders.”

The Agreement resolves patent infringement lawsuits filed by JCIC in August 2013 against Atrium, Pella, Ply Gem, and Simonton, which will be dismissed. JCIC has now entered into 11 settlement and/or license agreements in connection with its J-Channel Window Frame Construction technology.

About ITUS Corporation
ITUS develops and acquires patented technologies for the purposes of patent monetization andpatent assertion. The company currently has 10 patent portfolios in the areas of Key Based Web Conferencing Encryption, Encrypted Cellular Communications, E-Paper® Electrophoretic Display, Nano Field Emission Display (“nFED”), Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Display (“MEMS”), Loyalty Conversion Systems, J-Channel Window Frame Construction, VPN Multicast Communications, Internet Telephonic Gateway, and Enhanced Auction Technologies. Additional information is available at www.ITUScorp.com.

CEL-SCI Corporation (NYSE MKT: CVM) today announced that the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Cancer Center has becomes the 7th clinical site in the U.S. to join its Phase III head and neck cancer clinical trial of its investigational cancer immunotherapy treatment Multikine* (Leukocyte Interleukin, Injection).

CEL-SCI’s study is currently being conducted at about 60 active clinical centers on three continents and is expected to expand from 17 countries to a 20 countries with an estimated 880 patients to be enrolled by the end of 2015. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, head and neck cancers account for about 3% to 5% of all cancers in the United States.

The Masonic Cancer Center creates a collaborative research environment focused on the causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer; applying that knowledge to improve quality of life for patients and survivors; and sharing its discoveries with other scientists, students, professionals, and the community. It is one of only 41 institutions in the U.S. to become a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. With more than 500 faculty and staff members, the Masonic Cancer Center is home to some of the world’s top cancer researchers.

The Principal Investigator of CEL-SCI’s Phase III study at this site is Dr. Gautam Jha, Assistant Professor and Medical Oncologist, at the University of Minnesota’s Medical School. Dr. Jha’s interests focus on solid tumor oncology including genito-urinary malignancies and head and neck tumors. His research interests include developing immune-based therapies by disrupting Treg mediated immune suppression in patients with cancers of prostate and head and neck. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer.

“Dr. Jha’s research interests and expertise in immunotherapies for the treatment of head and neck cancer is an asset for our study, as well as for the patients to be enrolled and treated at the Masonic Cancer Center,” stated CEL-SCI Chief Executive Officer Geert Kersten. “We are pleased to see more top-notch cancer centers joining our clinical trial.”

HAIFA, Israel, Sept. 8, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (PSTI) (TASE:PLTR), a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapy products, announced today that its licensee, United Therapeutics Corporation, has completed the dosing of the first cohort of patients in its Phase I study using Pluristem’s PLacental eXpanded (PLX-PAD) cells in patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PAH, with a global market estimated at approximately $3 billion, is characterized by abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs; it can disrupt lung and heart function, leading to debilitating conditions such as heart failure.

The Phase I study, being conducted in Australia, is an open-label, dose-escalation study designed to enroll 9 patients diagnosed with PAH. The first cohort of 3 patients has received 0.5 million PLX cells per kilogram body weight. An independent Data Safety Monitoring Board recommended advancement to the second cohort. The second cohort will receive 1 million cells per kilogram, while the third cohort is planned to be administered 2 million cells per kilogram. The primary endpoint of the study is the safety of PLX-PAD cells, which will be evaluated at 12 weeks and one year after dosing. Secondary efficacy endpoints are to be measured at six weeks post-treatment in order to assess changes in the ability to exercise, disease severity and cardio-respiratory function; measures include six-minute walk distance and cardio-pulmonary hemodynamic parameters evaluated via right heart catheterization and echocardiogram.

“We look forward to preliminary results for this trial in 2015, after completion of dosing in all three cohorts,” stated Pluristem Chairman and CEO Zami Aberman. “This Phase I study is important to the development of our PAH program in conjunction with United Therapeutics, and we are delighted to work with United Therapeutics in advancing the promise of cell therapy to treat pulmonary diseases.”

The Phase I study is being conducted as part of a 2011 licensing agreement between United Therapeutics and Pluristem. Pursuant to the agreement, United Therapeutics will develop, market and sell Pluristem’s PLX-PAD cells for PAH. Pluristem is eligible to receive up to $55 million based on successful achievement of clinical milestones and commercialization, and reimbursement of certain R&D costs. Following commercialization, United Therapeutics will purchase commercial supplies of PLX-PAD cells from Pluristem at a specified margin over Pluristem’s cost, and will pay royalties at a percentage of its gross profits.

WILMINGTON, Mass., Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Implant Sciences Corporation (IMSC), a high technology supplier of systems and sensors for homeland security and defense markets, announced today it has sold 12 QS-B220 desktop explosives and drugs trace detectors to Incheon International Airport Corporation, operator of Incheon International Airport, the largest airport in South Korea. Implant Sciences’ ETDs will be deployed for airport security and will replace existing systems the airport had in place from a competitor.

“This customer was looking to replace a competing installed product with a more cost-efficient, high-performance ETD from a company that provides superior customer service and support,” stated Dr. Darryl Jones, Implant Sciences’ Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing. “This airport had been evaluating our QS-B220, but the sale was contingent upon our system being added to the TSA’s Qualified Products List. Upon being placed on the TSA’s QPL, the customer immediately placed their order.”

“At Implant Sciences, our commitment to a culture of service is a priority and we believe it differentiates us in the market. Our local distributor, A&T, has a strong track record, is one of the most active leaders of the security market in South Korea, and will provide service and support to Incheon International Airport. We are pleased to work with them,” Jones added.

PETACH TIKVA, Israel, Sept. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE MKT: CANF) (CFBI.TA), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address cancer and inflammatory diseases, today announced the issuance of Patent No. 2010-529501, titled, “Method for inducing hepatocyte proliferation and uses thereof,” by the Japanese Patent Office. The patent covers Can-Fite’s clinical stage drug candidate, CF102, in the treatment of liver regeneration and function following liver surgery or other injury via inhibition of pro-apoptotic proteins, resulting in liver repair. A European Patent (No. 2227234) for this technology was issued earlier this year in the European Union.

“This patent further expands our worldwide patent portfolio,” stated Dr. Pnina Fishman, CEO of Can-Fite. “In preclinical studies, CF102 induces proliferation of hepatocytes following liver resection (surgery), increases liver weight and reduces elevated levels of serum liver enzymes, reflecting improved liver status. In patients with preexisting liver diseases, such as cirrhosis or cancer, normal hepatocellular proliferation following injury is impaired, exposing patients to liver dysfunction and associated complications that can lead to liver failure and death. We believe that the use of CF102 to induce proliferation of hepatocytes in liver cancer patients following surgery may provide important health benefits and prolong survival.”

Can-Fite currently has an out-licensing agreement with Seikagaku Corporation, which has licensed the rights to develop Can-Fite’s investigational drug candidate, CF101, for the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory indications in Japan. The agreement is worth up to $20 million in upfront, milestone and annual payments for Can-Fite, plus up to 12% in royalties. Can-Fite has received $7.5 million to date.

Can-Fite’s intellectual property portfolio consists of 150 issued and pending patents worldwide. Additional patents relating to induction of hepatocyte proliferation and uses thereof are pending in several other markets, including the United States and Israel.

About CF102

CF102 is a small orally bioavailable drug that binds with high affinity and selectivity to the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR). A3AR is highly expressed in tumor cells whereas low expression is found in normal cells. This differential effect accounts for the excellent safety profile of the drug. In Can-Fite’s pre-clinical and clinical studies, CF102 has demonstrated a robust anti-tumor effect via deregulation of the Wnt signaling pathway, resulting in apoptosis of liver cancer cells. CF102 is in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of liver cancer in the U.S., Israel, and Europe.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has agreed with Can-Fite’s Phase II study protocol and had previously granted Can-Fite Orphan Drug Designation for CF102 in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer.

WILMINGTON, Mass., Aug. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Marking a major milestone for the Company, Implant Sciences Corporation (IMSC), a high technology supplier of systems and sensors for homeland security and defense markets, announced today that its QS-B220 desktop explosives trace detector has successfully completed the certification process for the United States Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) qualification requirements for aviation checkpoint and checked baggage screening. The QS-B220 becomes the first ETD with a non-radioactive source to be added to the TSA’s Qualified Product List (QPL).

“The addition of the QS-B220 to TSA’s QPL is the single most significant achievement in our Company’s history,” stated Implant Sciences’ President and CEO, Glenn D. Bolduc. “We’re very proud to be able to deliver this innovative product for the protection of travelers in our country. Every member of the Implant Sciences team has done a phenomenal job of getting us to this point. We would also like to recognize the support we have received from our shareholders and other investors over the last few years while we have been pursuing this most significant qualification. Without their support this would not have been achievable.”

“Being added to TSA’s QPL is one of the highest levels of recognition in the security industry and one of the most difficult to achieve. The team at Implant Sciences has been nothing short of remarkable and focused in preparing the QS-B220 for this challenge,” continued Todd Silvestri, VP of Technology for Implant Sciences Corporation. “Implant Sciences has highlighted their deep domain knowledge in the development and commercialization of this unit, and we are excited as a company to have cleared the last major hurdle in the U.S. aviation market.”

About the QS-B220 Desktop Explosives Trace Detector

The QS-B220 uses Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) to rapidly detect and identify trace amounts of a wide variety of military, commercial, and homemade explosives. Featuring a radioactive material-free design, push-button maintenance and diagnostics, and a patented inCal™ internal automatic calibration system, the QS-B220 brings new levels of performance and convenience to desktop trace detection users with unsurpassed ease of use.