PALO ALTO, Calif., March 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellular Biomedicine Group (CBMG) announced that in the first week of March 2013, the company launched a clinical trial for TC-DC (Tumor Stem Cell Specific Dendritic Cell) therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer. The clinical trial, which is already in progress, is the result of collaboration between CBMG, California Stem Cell (CSC) and Shanghai's PLA 85 Hospital. It is the first immune cell clinical trial of its kind in China.

CBMG's joint venture with CSC grants CBMG an exclusive license from CSC to develop and market CSC's cancer (TC-DC) technology in Greater China. CBMG receives support from CSC's California-based team of scientists and medical professionals, including CSC's Dr. Hans Keirstead.

PLA 85 Hospital is a large general teaching hospital with 12 departments, located in Shanghai and has been granted Class A Hospital status at the Tertiary Level (the highest class). The hospital has over 600 beds with more than 200 professors and associate professors, including many well-known experts who are known for their pioneering work in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors. The principal Investigator of the trial and director of the Liver Disease Center of PLA 85 Hospital, Professor Chengwei Chen, commented, "When I heard of the success this treatment had in clinical trials for other cancers in the U.S., I was very excited at the prospect of the hope it could bring to the millions of patients in China suffering from HCC. I am happy to lead this endeavor to help as many people as we can." SaidDr. Steve Liu, Chairman of CBMG, "The launch of this trial is a major milestone for all of the physicians, scientists and other professionals at CBMG, CSC and PLA 85 Hospital who have contributed to this work."

Multinational Contract Research Organization (CRO) CMIC-GCP has been contracted to manage the trial design and minimize delays.

Hepatocellular CarcinomaForty-five percent of the world's HCC patients are in China, with over 300,000 new patients diagnosed every year. Currently the therapies commonly offered to most patients are surgery and local chemotherapy, with a 2-year recurrence rate of 51% and median survival time of 13 months.

CBMG's research studies the effects of TC-DC (Tumor Stem Cell Specific Dendritic Cell) therapy. Dr. William Cao, President of CBMG said, "In simplified terms, TC-DC therapy takes a sample of the patient's own dendritic, or immune cells and a sample of the patient's tumor stem cells and places them together in the lab. The dendritic cell will learn the characteristics of the tumor stem cells, and is reintroduced to the patient's body, where it can "train" the immune system to fight and destroy the tumor stem cells, which are the root cause of tumor recurrence and metastasis."

About Cellular Biomedicine GroupCellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. develops proprietary cell therapies for the treatment of certain degenerative diseases and cancers. Our developmental stem cell, progenitor cell, and immune cell projects are the result of research and development by scientists and doctors fromChinaandthe United States. Our flagship GMP facility, consisting of eight independent cell production lines, is designed, certified and managed according to U.S. standards. To learn more about CBMG, please visit: http://www.cellbiomedgroup.com

Forward-Looking StatementsStatements in this press release relating to plans, strategies, trends, specific activities or investments, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, risk factors inherent in doing business. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as "may," "will," "expects," "plans," "intends," "estimates," "potential," or "continue," or similar terms or the negative of these terms. Although CBMG believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, they cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements will be obtained. CBMG does not have any obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as required by law.

Contact: Jeff Ramson Investor Relations ProActive Capital Group +1 646-863-6341

Sarah Kelly Director of Corporate Communications, CBMG +1 650 566 5064 sarah.kelly@cellbiomedgroup.com

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Cellular Biomedicine Group Marks the Launch of China Clinical Trial for TC-DC Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma