International Stem Cell Corporation

What International Stem Cell Corporation does

International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO, OTCQB:ISCO) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2006 through a reverse merger with BTHC III, Inc. and headquartered in San Diego, California, with 11-50 employees. The company's core technology platform is built on human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSC) — pluripotent stem cells created from unfertilized human eggs via parthenogenetic activation. This approach sidesteps the ethical issues associated with embryonic stem cell research, and the homozygous nature of hpSC lines enables immune-matching to a substantial portion of the global population, underpinning ISCO's long-stated UniStemCell banking concept.

ISCO has developed three primary therapeutic candidates from its hpSC platform: ISC-hpNSC (a homogeneous neural stem cell population targeting Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, and ischemic stroke), CytoHep (hepatocyte-like cells for metabolic liver diseases and cirrhosis), and ChondroStem (3D bio-printed cartilage for osteoarthritis). The lead program, ISC-hpNSC, completed a 12-patient Phase I clinical trial in Parkinson's disease in Australia in 2021 with no test article-related adverse events. ISCO also operates two wholly-owned subsidiaries — Lifeline Cell Technology, which sells specialized cells and growth media to biotech and pharmaceutical research customers worldwide, and Lifeline Skin Care, which markets stem cell-based consumer skincare products.

Revenue is generated through a mix of product sales (Lifeline Cell Technology research products and Lifeline Skin Care), contract development and cGMP manufacturing services for cell therapy products, and licensing royalties — including a license arrangement with Rohto Pharmaceutical of Japan. Q1 2026 quarterly revenue was $2.15 million. Manufacturing is conducted in cGMP-compliant cleanrooms meeting ISO 7 (Class 10,000, Grade C) standards, with all cell culture handled inside ISO 5 (Class 100, Grade A) biological safety cabinets. The company holds granted patents covering its core parthenogenetic technology in the European Union and Japan, and has pursued strategic collaborations with Royal Melbourne Hospital (Parkinson's trial), Tulane University (stroke program), and others.

Name

International Stem Cell Corporation

Legal name

International Stem Cell Corporation

Website

https://internationalstemcell.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biotechnology

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Stem Cell Therapies (MSC/iPSC/HSC-derived) (HLAAABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stem Cell–Based Regenerative Therapies (HLAAAGAA), Cell Therapy Enabling Technologies (gene editing, cell engineering, delivery methods) (HLAAABAL), Cell Processing & Ancillary Materials (media, cytokines, beads, vectors, disposables) (HLAAABAH), Transplantation & Advanced Therapies Pharmaceuticals (incl. Cell & Gene Therapies) (HLAIAAAO), Cell Therapy Manufacturing Services (GMP, autologous/allogeneic) (HLAAAKAC)

Keywords

• Stem cell therapeutics
• Regenerative medicine
• Parthenogenetic stem cells
• Cell therapy manufacturing
• Biomedical research products

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlsbad

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Therapeutic Development and Cell-Based Research Products: ISCO operates through subsidiaries Lifeline Cell Technology (produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide) and Lifeline Skin Care (stem cell-based skin care products). Revenue is generated from product sales and potential future therapeutic commercialization.
2. Contract Manufacturing Services: ISCO offers contract development and cGMP-manufacture of cell therapy products, customizing and producing uniquely formulated media for the life science industry.
3. Licensing Royalties: The company pursues license agreements for its technology, including terms with Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. of Japan.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

International Stem Cell Corporation develops and manufactures stem cell-based therapeutic candidates and biomedical research products derived from its proprietary human parthenogenetic stem cell (hpSC) platform. Its clinical-stage lead product ISC-hpNSC® is a neural stem cell therapy being advanced for Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, and ischemic stroke, alongside preclinical programs CytoHep (liver disease) and ChondroStem (osteoarthritis). Through subsidiaries Lifeline Cell Technology and Lifeline Skin Care, ISCO also sells research-grade cells, growth media, and stem cell-based skincare products.

Product overview

International Stem Cell Corporation is a biotechnology company developing stem cell-based therapies and biomedical products centered on human parthenogenetic stem cell (hpSC) technology. The core platform consists of hpSC, which can be derived from unfertilized eggs without ethical issues associated with viable embryos. From this platform, the company has developed multiple therapeutic products: ISC-hpNSC® (neural stem cells for neurological disorders), CytoHep (hepatocyte-like cells for liver diseases), and ChondroStem (for cartilage regeneration). The company operates through two subsidiaries: Lifeline Cell Technology (cells and growth media for research) and Lifeline Skin Care (skincare products). The company also pursues UniStemCell™ as a potential stem cell bank. All cellular products are manufactured in cGMP-compliant facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ISC-hpNSC: Proprietary neural stem cells derived from human parthenogenetic stem cells for treatment of neurological diseases including Parkinson's disease
• CytoHep
• ChondroStem
• UniStemCell

Products and services

• ISC-hpNSC® A homogeneous population of neural stem cells derived from human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSC), intended for treating Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, and ischemic stroke through neural stem cell transplantation. Manufactured under cGMP conditions with stringent quality control.
• CytoHep Hepatocyte-like cells derived from human parthenogenetic stem cells, manufactured under cGMP for treatment of liver diseases including Crigler-Najjar syndrome and liver cirrhosis. Exhibits hepatic lineage markers, indocyanine green clearance, glycogen storage, and cytochrome P450 activity.
• ChondroStem Cartilage regeneration technology for osteoarthritis treatment that uses 3D bio-printing capabilities to generate cartilage with enhanced cell viability, including increased glycosaminoglycans, collagen type II, aggrecan and sulfated proteoglycans for repair of damaged or osteoarthritic joints.
• Human Parthenogenetic Stem Cells (hpSC) Pluripotent stem cells created from unfertilized human eggs through parthenogenetic activation, which can be immune-matched to millions of people and serve as the foundation for therapeutic cell generation including ISC-hpNSC, CytoHep, and ChondroStem.
• Lifeline Cell Technology Wholly-owned subsidiary that produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide, including customized media formulations for the life science industry and distribution of research-grade hpSC-derived products.
• Lifeline Skin Care Wholly-owned subsidiary that develops and markets stem cell-based skin care products to consumers through its own e-commerce storefront.
• UniStemCell Proposed stem cell bank concept based on homozygous parthenogenetic stem cell lines that can serve as a source of immune-matched therapeutic cells for millions of individuals, supporting the company's UniStemCell trademark.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase I Parkinson's trial completed with 12 patients enrolled
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Royal Melbourne HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyal Melbourne Hospital serves as the clinical trial site for ISCO's Phase I Parkinson's disease clinical trial. The hospital's neurosurgery team performs the ISC-hpNSC® cell transplantation procedures. This partnership is critical for the company's lead therapeutic program.
• Tulane UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Stem Cell Corporation launched a stroke program in collaboration with Tulane University, expanding the therapeutic applications of ISC-hpNSC® to ischemic stroke treatment.
• University of CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLifeline Cell Technology (ISCO subsidiary) entered into an agreement with University of California to study macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.
• Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerInternational Stem Cell Corporation signed an agreement including certain terms for a definitive license agreement with Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. of Japan for the company's stem cell technology.
• Cytograft Tissue EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Stem Cell Corporation entered into an agreement with Cytograft Tissue Engineering to develop a therapeutic medium for Cytograft's living vascular grafts.
• Absorption SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Stem Cell Corporation and Absorption Systems announced a potential stem cell alternative to live animal testing for corneal damage.

Scale indicators8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Athersys: Clinical-stage biotechnology company developing MultiStem cell therapy for stroke, traumatic brain injury, and inflammatory conditions; highly comparable given shared CNS and regenerative medicine focus.
• Pluristem Therapeutics: Clinical-stage developer of placenta-derived cell therapies for multiple indications including muscle injury and hematopoietic recovery; comparable as a small-cap public peer in regenerative cell therapy.
• Mesoblast: Commercial-stage cell therapy company using mesenchymal lineage cells for inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases; comparable as a public peer advancing cell-based regenerative therapies through late-stage trials.
• Lineage Cell Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotechnology company developing allogeneic cell transplant therapies for CNS, ophthalmic, and oncology indications; comparable to ISCO in pipeline scope and stage across differentiated cell-based treatments.
• BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics: Clinical-stage cell therapy company developing autologous stem cell treatments for neurodegenerative diseases including ALS and multiple sclerosis, directly comparable as a small-cap public peer focused on neural cell therapy.

Broad incumbents

• BlueRock Therapeutics: Bayer-owned iPSC-derived cell therapy company with a leading Parkinson's disease program (DA01); a key competitor in the same Parkinson's cell therapy space ISCO targets with ISC-hpNSC.
• ViaCyte: Stem cell-derived islet cell therapy developer for type 1 diabetes (now partnered with Vertex/CRISPR Therapeutics); comparable as an advanced pluripotent stem cell-derived therapeutic developer.
• Fate Therapeutics: Clinical-stage iPSC-derived natural killer cell and T-cell therapy developer; comparable as a broader, better-capitalized cell therapy player using pluripotent stem cell platforms similar in concept to ISCO's hpSC approach.

Emerging players

• Aspen Neuroscience: Private clinical-stage company developing autologous iPSC-derived dopamine neuron replacement therapy for Parkinson's disease; a focused emerging competitor in ISCO's lead indication.
• Cytograft Tissue Engineering: Tissue engineering company developing living vascular grafts and previously partnered with ISCO on therapeutic media; a niche emerging peer in regenerative cell-based products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/intlstemcell
• Facebookfacebook.com/InternationalStemCellCorporation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-stem-cell-corporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Stem Cell Corporation