Biotech Beta-Pro LLC Enters New Phase of Growth As It Helps Meet Global Demand For Human Islet Cells

Biotech Beta-Pro LLC Enters New Phase of Growth As It Helps Meet Global Demand
For Human Islet Cells

GORDONSVILLE, Va., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Beta-Pro LLC, a biotechnology firm
that provides diabetes researchers with custom cellular and consulting
services, has entered a new phase of growth as it bridges the widening gap
between an inconsistent, low quality supply of human pancreatic islets and
skyrocketing demand.

Beta-Pro provides pharmaceutical researchers with a high quality, consistent
supply of islets and other biomaterials. The firm isolates and distributes
insulin-producing human pancreatic islets from surplus organs not placed for
whole organ transplant in an FDA-approved, cGMP "clean room" facility.
Beta-Pro then charges fees to recover the costs for organ procurement,
processing, preservation, quality control, storage, handling, and delivery of
islets and other biomaterials.

The use of human islets is becoming increasingly important in diabetes
research. As reported in the Journal of theAmerican Medical Association
(JAMA), "The use of human pancreatic islets can serve as a gold standard for
the assessment of beta-cell function in the future, as clinical research
advances toward a cure for diabetes."

As more diabetes researchers focus on islets and cellular therapies, the
demand for islets has outpaced the current inconsistent supply. The Islet Cell
Resource (ICRs) Centers Consortium, formerly the largest supplier of human
islet cells, was only able to meet 81 percent of the demand in 2005 and only
46 percent of the demand in 2008. These deficits occurred despite a 15 percent
annual production increase since 2001.

"The economics of supply and demand is at play here, and islet-cell demand for
research is overwhelming the current, inconsistent supply of islets," said
Beta-Pro's Cynthia M. Barber, Ph.D., co-founder and general manager. "Since
only 25 percent of donor pancreases are suitable for whole-organ
transplantation, our unique model is helping address the supply gap by
leveraging this organ surplus for isolation and distribution of human islets
in the hopes of facilitating a cure for diabetes."

Beta-Pro representatives are attending the 2009 American Association of
Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Meeting and Exposition at the Los Angeles
Exposition Center, November 9-12, 2009. To learn more, visit
www.betaprollc.com. For service inquiries contact Tim Grossman, director of
global sales, at (800) 959-2066, extension 1128, or tgrossman@beta-prollc.com.

Source: JAMA, April 15, 2009 - Vol 301, No. 15.

Contact: Joe Shields
Director of Public Relations
(800) 959-2066 ext. 1131
joe.shields@beta-prollc.com

SOURCE Beta-Pro LLC

Joe Shields, Director of Public Relations for Beta-Pro LLC, +1-800-959-2066
ext. 1131, joe.shields@beta-prollc.com