MicroIslet Poster Presentations Accepted at Levine Diabetes Symposium

- Presentations highlight the Company's plan to address immuno-response and islet supply limitations of the Edmonton Protocol 


SAN DIEGO, Nov. 8  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MicroIslet, Inc. (AMEX:MII), a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development and commercialization of patented technologies in transplantation therapy for people with insulin-dependent diabetes, today announced that two poster presentations have been accepted by the seventh annual Rachmiel Levine Diabetes Symposium, "Characterization of Encapsulated Porcine Islets and Long-Term Function in Diabetic Non-Human Primates without Prolonged Immunosuppression" and "Islet Transplantation Dosing Based on Viable Beta Cell Analysis."  This year's Symposium, titled "Advances in Diabetes Research: From Cell Biology to Cell Therapy," will be held November 8 to 11, 2006, at the Hilton Long Beach Hotel, Long Beach, California.

"The Levine Symposium offers MicroIslet a timely opportunity to highlight what differentiates our treatment approach from the Edmonton Protocol," commented James R. Gavin III, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of MicroIslet.  "A recently published study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported on the insulin independence one year after treatment of 36 patients who received human islet transplants using the Edmonton Protocol. The study was a limited success -- 44% of the patients were insulin independent after one year, and another 28% experienced partial improvement in glycemic control.  The study suggests however that retransplantation would be necessary to achieve long-term insulin independence in a substantial percentage of cases."

Dr. Gavin continued, "The Edmonton Protocol broke very important ground in 2000.  But it had been known for a long time to have significant limitations, including the requirement for immuno-protection for the transplanted tissues and inherently limited islet supply, a particular problem if retransplantation is necessary for long-term success.  We believe that MicroIslet has made significant progress toward addressing these limitations.  In the Edmonton Protocol, human insulin-producing islets are transplanted into diabetic patients and are protected against immune rejection by means of immunosuppressive drug regimens.  Our proprietary treatment approach microencapsulates islets to reduce or eliminate the need for chronic immunosuppression.  We are also the only entity we are aware of that has access to a robust supply of clinically-approved, insulin-producing islets, through our exclusive porcine islet supply agreement with the Mayo Foundation, which makes any necessary retransplantation a much less significant concern."

Dr. Gavin concluded, "MicroIslet would not be where it is today without the advancement represented by the Edmonton Protocol, and we are honored that its investigators James Shapiro, M.D. and Jonathan Lakey, Ph.D. are members of our Scientific Advisory Board.  We are seeking to build upon the Edmonton Protocol to address its limitations and develop a well-tolerated, minimally invasive, more quantitatively-dosed and widely available treatment for insulin dependent diabetes."

About the Levine Symposium

The Rachmiel Levine Diabetes Symposium is designed to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date presentation on the latest advances in type 1 diabetes research and islet transplantation and to stimulate further research in this area.  The program will offer four days of lectures by regional, national and international leaders in the field, including oral presentations and a poster session.

About MicroIslet

MicroIslet is a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of patented technologies in the field of transplantation therapy for people with insulin-dependent diabetes. MicroIslet's patented islet transplantation technology, exclusively licensed from Duke University, includes methods for isolating, culturing, cryopreservation, and immuno-protection (microencapsulation) of islet cells. MicroIslet is working to develop and commercialize a first product, called MicroIslet-P(TM), a microencapsulated porcine islet cell suspension that will be used for transplantation in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. Additional information about MicroIslet can be found at http://www.microislet.com/.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including the implication and interpretation of preliminary data, the expectation of development of new therapeutic products and the impact of MicroIslet's products on diabetes patients, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including MicroIslet's ability to continue as a going concern, the risks and uncertainties inherent in medical treatment discovery, development and commercialization, the risks and uncertainties associated with MicroIslet's early stage xenotransplantation technologies, the risks and uncertainties of governmental approvals and regulation, dependence on the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research as a sole source supplier of animal parts for pre-clinical and clinical studies, MicroIslet's need to raise substantial additional capital to proceed through human clinical trials and bring any product to market, the risks that MicroIslet's competitors will develop or market technologies or products that are more effective or commercially attractive than MicroIslet's products, and other risks detailed from time to time in MicroIslet's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof.  MicroIslet disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

  For more information, please visit our Web site at http://www.microislet.com/.
  For further information, contact:

  Kevin A. Hainley, MicroIslet Inc.
  858-657-0287, 

  Sean Collins, Senior Partner
  CCG Investor Relations & Strategic Communications
  310-231-8600 ext. 202

  ISIN US59507Q1067


DATASOURCE: MicroIslet, Inc.



CONTACT:  Kevin A. Hainley of MicroIslet Inc., [phone],

; or Sean Collins, Senior Partner of CCG Investor Relations

& Strategic Communications, [phone], ext. 202, for MicroIslet, Inc.



Web site:  http://www.microislet.com/ 

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