Cytori Says GE Will Market Stem Cell Devices

NEW YORK (AP) — Cytori Therapeutics Inc. said Friday that General Electric Co.'s health care division will market Cytori's stem cell extraction products in the U.S.

News of the agreement with GE Healthcare sent Cytori shares climbing 49 cents, or 24.3 percent, to $2.51 in premarket trading.

The company's StemSource products are used to extract, freeze and apply adult stem cells taken from fat tissue. Under the agreement, GE Healthcare will be able to market the products to the North American stem cell banking and research markets over the next 18 months.

In January, the companies struck a similar agreement covering 10 European countries. But the new agreement does not include Cytori's Celution System, which is used in saving the stem cells. The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing the system for possible marketing approval.

Shares of San Diego-based Cytori closed at $2.02 on Thursday.