X-Message-Number: 9015 From: Ofarrell <> Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 23:49:03 EST Subject: Re: "Prometheus" and 21st Century Medicine For Immediate Release 16 January, 1998 From: 21st Century Medicine, Contact Person: Joan O'Farrell, COO Re: "Prometheus" and 21st Century Medicine Recently there have been statements, speculations and suggestions posted to various Internet venues regarding 21st Century Medicine (hereinafter referred to as 21CM or "the company") and the Prometheus Project, The Prometheus Pilot Project and the Life on Hold Trust (hereinafter referred to as "Prometheus"). Because of the inappropriateness and inaccuracies both expressed and implied in these statements 21CM is issuing the following clarifications: 1) There is currently no relationship between Prometheus and 21st Century Medicine. 2) Over the past few weeks 21CM has sought legal advice from its corporate and securities lawyers (based on the information available to us) regarding Prometheus and the possible structure under which any cooperative effort between Prometheus and 21CM could go forward. We have been advised by counsel that in their opinion any interaction between 21CM and Prometheus constitutes an unacceptable risk to 21CM due to the structure of Prometheus and unresolved concerns regarding securities laws, the need for a Prospectus, the need for legal review by competent securities and corporate lawyers, and the need for a management structure which is accountable to contributors and investors. 3) We note from both public and private communications that similar conclusions have been reached by the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, the Immortalist Society, the Cryonics Institute and the American Cryonics Society. 4) 21CM is a for-profit biomedical research and development company with current research commitments in the areas of cardiopulmonary-cerebral resuscitation, shock, and liquid and solid state preservation of the heart, brain and kidney. At this time 21CM has substantial intellectual property in these areas and is pursuing patent protection. It is a core objective of 21CM to aggressively pursue commercial development, application and profit from the intellectual property and technologies it develops. 5) Pursuant to 4) above, any cooperative ventures or agreements 21CM enters into with other entities (for-profit, non-profit, corporations, individuals, trusts, etc.) will be rigorously structured to protect the interests of 21CM. Further, all such agreements will be subjected to careful review by counsel. _No such agreements are in place between 21CM and Prometheus at this time, nor are they being contemplated for the future given the current structure and management of Prometheus._ 6) As previously noted, 21CM is a for-profit privately held stock corporation. Suggestions that 21CM be the recipient of donations from Prometheus "pledgers" or "investors" are inappropriate. While it is true that 21CM has as a core research goal the development of reversible biopreservation methods for organs and organisms (including and especially the mammalian brain) it is also important to understand that the company has research commitments in other areas which promise an anticipated faster track to commercial application and revenue generation and thus that the priorities of the company will be influenced by these other research activities. 7) Individuals wishing to support brain cryopreservation research via directed _charitable contributions_ to a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation should contact the Life Extension Foundation at 1(800) FOR-LIFE. 8) Questions regarding the present or future status of Prometheus should _not_ be directed to 21CM, its directors or officers, as the company has no current or anticipated interest in or anticipated interaction with Prometheus. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=9015