Walkersville, MD. – Lonza and California Stem Cell, Inc. are pleased to announce the first commercially available source of motor neuron progenitors derived from human embryonic stem cells. The MotorPlate™ Human ESC-derived Motor Neuron Progenitor products are functional, adherent motor neuron progenitors seeded in 96-well plates and shipped to customers fresh and ready-to-use with optimized media.

Neurology and drug discovery laboratories have traditionally relied on rodent models for motor neuron function and disease research (ALS, SMA, etc.). No longer will researchers have to solely rely on these non-human models and perform challenging cross-species extrapolation. These unique cells offer researchers a more relevant in vitro model along with uniform biological response and consistent lot-to-lot performance not typically found in a difficult to isolate primary cell type.

Researchers will have a choice between two different versions of the MotorPlate™ – Standard and Mature. MotorPlate™ Standard 96 expresses motor neuron developmental markers and is suitable for both predictive toxicology and maturation studies. MotorPlate™ Mature 96 is a later stage, more mature version of the MotorPlate™ 96, displaying increased functional activity, and is better suited for functional assays, including electrophysiological recordings.

In April 2010, Lonza Inc. (USA) entered worldwide, exclusive licensing and supply agreements with California Stem Cell, Inc. The Lonza – California Stem Cell collaboration makes novel pluripotent stem cell products readily available to researchers worldwide. California Stem Cell’s proprietary methods for scalable production of multiple cell types from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC), combined with Lonza’s extensive primary cell expertise, specifically enhance screening tools and improve the predictive strength of current cell based models. The next product set to be launched is the NeuroPlate™ Human ESC-derived Neuronal Progenitors.

For more information, please visit www.lonza.com/motorplate.

About California Stem Cell

California Stem Cell, Inc is a privately held company focused on the manufacturing of high-purity human cells for drug discovery, predictive toxicology and clinical application. Since its founding in 2005, California Stem Cell has developed proprietary methods for the scalable production of human motor neurons, neuronal progenitors, cardiomyocyte progenitors and hepatocytes at its Irvine, California facility. California Stem Cell is currently developing stem cell-derived therapeutic products for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and spinal cord injury.

About Lonza

Lonza is one of the world’s leading suppliers to the pharmaceutical, healthcare and life science industries. Products and services span its customers’ needs from research to final product manufacture. It is the global leader in the production and support of active pharmaceutical ingredients both chemically as well as biotechnologically. Biopharmaceuticals are one of the key growth drivers of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Lonza has strong capabilities in large and small molecules, peptides, amino acids and niche bioproducts which play an important role in the development of novel medicines and healthcare products. In addition, Lonza is a leader in cell-based research, endotoxin detection and cell therapy manufacturing. Furthermore, the company is a leading provider of value chemical and biotech ingredients to the nutrition, hygiene, preservation, agro and personal care markets.

Lonza is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. In 2010, the company had sales of CHF 2.680 billion. Further information can be found at www.lonza.com.