LSTA 10-K Fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2009

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

x	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009

OR

o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ________ to ________

Commission file number: 0-10909

NEOSTEM, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	22-2343568 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
420 Lexington Avenue Suite 450 New York, New York	10170
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:	(212) 584-4180

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. o Yes x No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

o Yes x No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. x Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). o Yes o No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this Chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

Large accelerated filer o	Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o	Smaller reporting company x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). o Yes x No

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2009 (the last business day of the most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was approximately $11,724,108, computed by reference to the closing sales price of $1.90 for the common stock on the NYSE Amex reported for such date.  (For purposes of determining this amount, only directors, executive officers, and 10% or greater holders of our common stock have been deemed affiliates).

On March 24, 2010, 43,946,031 shares of the registrant's common stock, par value $0.001 per share, were outstanding.

Documents incorporated by reference: Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Commission not later than 120 days after the close of the registrant’s fiscal year, have been incorporated by reference, in whole or in part, into Part III, Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

All references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “we,” “us,” the “Company” and “NeoStem” mean NeoStem, Inc., including subsidiaries and predecessors, except where it is clear that the term refers only to NeoStem, Inc. This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those set forth under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as well as historical information. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, statements that are not statements of current or historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “plan,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “could,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” or “continue” or similar expressions or other variations or comparable terminology are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Additionally, statements concerning our ability to successfully develop the adult stem cell business at home and abroad, the future of regenerative medicine and the role of adult stem cells in that future, the future use of adult stem cells as a treatment option and the role of VSEL TM technology in that future, and the potential revenue growth of such business are forward-looking statements. Our future operating results are dependent upon many factors, and our further development is highly dependent on future medical and research developments and market acceptance, which is outside its control. Forward-looking statements may not be realized due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation, (i) our ability to manage the business despite continuing operating losses and cash outflows; (ii) our ability to obtain sufficient capital or a strategic business arrangement to fund our operations and expansion plans, including meeting our financial obligations under various licensing and other strategic arrangements and the successful commercialization of the relevant technology; (iii) our ability to build the management and human resources and infrastructure necessary to support the growth of the business and expansion into China; (iv) competitive factors and developments beyond our control; (v) scientific and medical developments beyond our control; (vi) our inability to obtain appropriate governmental licenses or any other adverse effect or limitations caused by government regulation of the business; (vii) whether any of our current or future patent applications result in issued patents and our ability to obtain and maintain other rights to technology required or desirable for the conduct of our business; (viii) whether any potential strategic benefits of various licensing transactions will be realized and whether any potential benefits from the acquisition of these new licensed technologies will be realized; (ix) whether we can obtain the consents we may require to sublicensing arrangements from technology licensors in connection with technology development; (x) our ability to maintain our NYSE Amex listing; (xi) factors regarding our business in China and, generally, regarding doing business in China, including through our variable interest entity structure; and (xii) the other factors discussed in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other periodic Company filings with the SEC. The Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available for review at www.sec.gov under “Search for Company Filings.”

All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by these and other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Overview

NeoStem, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “NeoStem” or “the Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in September 1980 under the name Fidelity Medical Services, Inc. and commenced operations in our current line of business in January 2006.

In 2009, through our expansion efforts within the People’s Republic of China (“China” or “PRC”) and with the acquisition of a controlling interest in Suzhou Erye Pharmaceuticals Company Ltd., or Erye, we transitioned into a multi-dimensional international biopharmaceutical company with product and service revenues, global research and development capabilities and operations in three distinct business units: (i) U.S. adult stem cells, (ii) China adult stem cells, and (iii) China pharmaceuticals, primarily antibiotics. These business units are expected to provide platforms for the accelerated development and commercialization of innovative technologies and products in both the U.S. and China.

In the U.S. we are a leading provider of adult stem cell collection, processing and storage services enabling healthy individuals to donate and store their stem cells for personal therapeutic use. Similar to the banking of cord blood, pre-donating cells at a younger age helps to ensure a supply of one’s own stem cells should they be needed for future medical treatment. Our current network of U.S. adult stem cell collection centers is focused primarily on the Southern California and Northeast markets and during 2010 we have begun to enter into new agreements for collection centers with the goal of expanding our coverage to ten centers by the end of 2010. In addition to our services, we are conducting research and development activities on our own at our new laboratory facility in Cambridge, MA and through collaborations in pursuit of diagnostic and therapeutic applications using autologous adult stem cells, including applications using our VSEL TM technology, with regard to very small embryonic-like stem cells, which we license from the University of Louisville.

In 2009, we began several China-based, adult stem cell initiatives including: (i) creating a separate China-based stem cell operation, (ii) constructing a stem cell research and development laboratory and processing facility in Beijing, (iii) establishing relationships with hospitals to provide stem cell-based therapies, and (iv) obtaining product licenses covering several adult stem cell therapeutics focused on regenerative medicine. In 2010, we expect to begin offering stem cell banking services and certain stem cell therapies to patients in China, as well as to foreigners traveling to China seeking medical treatments that are either unavailable or cost prohibitive in their home countries.

The cornerstone of our China pharmaceuticals business is the 51% ownership interest we acquired in Erye in October 2009. Erye was founded more than 50 years ago and represents an established, vertically-integrated pharmaceutical business. Historically, Erye has concentrated its efforts on the manufacturing and distribution of generic antibiotic products and has received more than 160 production certificates from the State Food and Drug Administration of China, or SFDA, covering both antibiotic prescription drugs and active pharmaceutical intermediates (APIs) Erye’s revenue for 2009 was approximately $61 million.

Our three business units are expected to provide platforms for accelerated development and commercialization of innovative technologies and products in both the U.S. and China.

Adult Stem Cell Business in the U.S.

Stem cells are very primitive and undifferentiated cells that have the unique ability to transform into many different cells, such as white blood cells, nerve cells or heart muscle cells. We only work with adult (and not embryonic) stem cells. Adult stem cells are found in the bone marrow, in peripheral blood and in umbilical cord blood. For over 40 years physicians have been using adult stem cells to treat various blood cancers, but only recently has the promise of using adult stem cells to treat a myriad of other diseases begun to be realized.

Within the adult stem cell classification, the use of cells is either autologous, meaning donor and patient are the same, or allogeneic, meaning donor and patient are different. The use of allogeneic stem cells requires the identification of a matching donor, which can result in added costs, critical time delays or may never occur. Even if a matching donor is identified, the use of allogeneic stem cells introduces the risk of “graft vs. host disease” requiring immunosuppression drugs for extended periods following transplantation. Accordingly, our current stem cell programs are based exclusively on adult stem cells for autologous use as we believe that adult stem cells hold the greatest promise for therapeutic innovation.

We are developing our business in the adult stem cell field to capitalize on the increasing importance that adult stem cells may have in regenerative medicine, with an initial focus on the delivery of therapies for cardiac, orthopedic, wound, cosmetic and dermatologic indications.

Collection, Processing and Storage Services

We are a leading provider of adult stem cell collection, processing and storage services in the U.S., enabling healthy individuals to donate and store their stem cells for personal therapeutic use. Similar to the banking of cord blood, pre-donating cells at a younger age helps to ensure a supply of autologous stem cells should they be needed for future medical treatment. Our current network of U.S. adult stem cell collection centers is primarily focused on the Southern California and Northeast markets and during 2010 we have begun to enter into new agreements for collection centers with the goal of expanding our coverage to ten centers by the end of 2010. Commercial stem cell processing and storage services are provided to us nationally, on an exclusive basis, by Progenitor Cell Therapy LLC, or PCT, utilizing current good manufacturing practices, or cGMP standards.

Our process for collecting adult stem cells for autologous use involves the administration of a mobilizing agent prior to collection, allowing the migration of stem cells from bone marrow to peripheral blood. Once the stem cells have reached the bloodstream, an individual goes through a safe and minimally-invasive procedure called “apheresis,” similar to donating platelets, at one of the collection centers in our network. Then, the stem cells are processed and stored under cGMP standards. Our proprietary process does not change or alter the underlying cells and does not require expansion technology.

We believe that individuals will view the ability to pre-donate and store autologous adult stem cells for future personal therapeutic use as a valuable part of a “bio-insurance” program. The benefits of pre-donation include: having a known supply of autologous stem cells rather than an uncertain supply of compatible allogeneic stem cells; autologous stem cells may be compromised once a patient becomes sick; and the quantity and quality of stem cells generally diminish with age. This perceived value of pre-donation should increase as additional indications for stem cell-based therapies are developed.

We have initiated a marketing and sales campaign, individually and through collaborations, for the purpose of educating physicians and potential clients on the benefits of adult stem cell collection and storage. Our strategy is to work with our established collection centers to market in their communities and to build new alliances and partnerships. Utilizing our new laboratory facility in Cambridge, MA, we also will have on premises an adult stem cell collection center, scheduled to be launched in the second quarter of 2010.  We continue to build awareness with Boston-area academic institutions that are researching and treating with adult stem cells.

Our stem cell banking services generate revenue from a combination of fees paid upfront and over time, by both collection centers and individual clients. We plan to grow the client base at each of our centers, and add new centers in other strategic metropolitan areas. Additional initiatives to drive private sector revenue growth include:

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collaborations with high profile medical centers and academic institutions involved in research and clinical trials relating to adult stem cells;

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services in the U.S. targeted for “medical tourism” designed to access stem cell therapies available outside the U.S.;

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partnerships with executive health programs, wellness physicians, concierge medical programs, medical spas and first responder groups;

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initiatives with cord blood companies, tissue banks and pharmaceutical companies;

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support for The Stem for Life Foundation , which promotes public awareness, funds research and development and subsidizes stem cell collection and storage programs;

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storage of excess stem cells collected from bone marrow transplant donors; and

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processing and isolation of adult stem cells for research and diagnostic use.

While many individuals could potentially benefit from having a supply of their stem cells available for personal therapeutic use, our initial targeted customer niches include:

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individuals with a family history of serious diseases;

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individuals at high risk for burns, wounds and other trauma, such as first responders and military personnel;

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individuals at occupational risk from prolonged radiation or chemical exposure, such as healthcare providers, laboratory personnel and nuclear power plant workers;

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wellness, cosmetic and anti-aging focused individuals; and

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athletes and others who could benefit from regenerative therapies.

To further drive our stem cell initiatives, we will continue targeting key governmental agencies, congressional committees and not-for-profit organizations to contribute funds for our research and development programs. In October 2008, we were advised that we would receive federal funding from the Department of Defense to evaluate the potential use of adult stem cell-based therapy for wound healing, currently anticipated to be in the approximate net amount of $681,000, and in September 2009, we were notified of an award of a Grand Opportunities grant in the amount of $108,746 from the National Institutes of Health which we expect to receive in the second quarter of 2010.

VSEL TM Technology and Other Therapeutic Technologies

We are engaged in research and development of new therapies based on very small embryonic-like stem cells, or the VSEL TM technology, with the University of Louisville Research Foundation, or ULRF, and have a worldwide exclusive license to the VSEL TM technology. Research by a group headed by Dr. Mariusz Ratajczak, M.D., Ph.D., who is the head of the Stem Cell Biology Program at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville and co-inventor of the VSEL TM technology, and others, provides compelling evidence that bone marrow contains a heterogeneous population of stem cells that have properties similar to those of an embryonic stem cell. These cells are referred to as very small embryonic-like stem cells. This finding opens the possibility of achieving the positive benefits associated with embryonic stem cells without the ethical or moral dilemmas or certain of the potential negative effects associated with embryonic stem cells. Of even greater potential is the ability to obtain these stem cells for autologous use.

We have a sponsored research agreement, or an SRA, with ULRF, pursuant to which we agree to support further research in the laboratory of Dr. Ratajczak. In return for supporting additional research relating to the VSEL TM technology to be carried out in the laboratory of Dr. Ratajczak as principal investigator, we will receive the exclusive first option to negotiate a license covering the research results.

Recent studies conducted by us in collaboration with the University of Louisville have confirmed that significant quantities of very small embryonic-like stem cells can be obtained from the peripheral blood of humans following stimulation with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, commonly known as Neupogen ® .Dr. Ratajczak’s group at the University of Louisville has published preliminary work that would indicate that these stem cells have a role in cardiac regeneration and may help identify those at risk for cardiovascular disease. In addition, very small embryonic-like stem cells have been shown to increase in numbers in the peripheral circulation following acute myocardial infarction, stroke and other stress inducing events in experimental animals and in humans. Thus, very small embryonic-like stem cells may have significant potential to repair degenerated, damaged or diseased tissue, or the three “Ds” of aging. With our existing banking network, we have the ability to collect and store very small embryonic-like stem cells, along with other stem cell populations, from individual donors, setting the stage for their future use in personalized regenerative medicine.

In addition to the research we are funding in Dr. Ratajczak’s laboratory at the University of Louisville, we are funding research at the University of Michigan in the laboratory of Dr. Russell Taichman to evaluate bone defect repair through the proceeds of a $108,746 Grand Opportunities grant from the National Institutes of Health.  We are also in discussions with other researchers to generate data relating to other clinical applications of very small embryonic-like stem cells, that could include neural, cardiac, and ophthalmic disease, to expand our research efforts and maximize the value of this technology.

To facilitate our independent research and development efforts, we opened an 8,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility at the Riverside Technology Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, or the Cambridge Laboratory. In the near term, our efforts will focus on expanding the current VSEL TM technology know-how and working with other adult stem cell technologies by performing detailed purification, characterization and expansion of stem cells. Furthermore, at the Cambridge Laboratory we are characterizing and developing various adult stem cells, including VSEL TM technology, for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Specifically, the use of stem cells as a diagnostic tool to understand aging has not been sufficiently explored as a means to improve current therapies and to test new therapies. To address this unmet need, we intend to create a stem cell screening panel, known as a biomarker screening panel. This antibody-based test would simultaneously quantify several important stem cell populations that are known to be circulating in peripheral blood, including very small embryonic-like stem cells. This biomarker screening panel would enable researchers to assess the relative wellness of an individual by comparing his or her existing stem cell profile to an age-adjusted reference of expected, or normal, stem cell levels. The Cambridge Laboratory will also support the planned development of a commercial process that we expect will facilitate the separation of very small embryonic-like stem cells from blood, enabling us to create high-throughput, cell-based assays for use in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical research.

We also are engaged in licensing new adult stem cell-based therapies that we plan to use to commercialize innovative therapeutic applications.  Several recent examples include:

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In February 2009, we entered into a License Agreement with Vincent Giampapa, M.D., F.A.C.S. pursuant to which we acquired a world-wide, exclusive license to certain innovative stem cell technology and applications for cosmetic, facial and body procedures and skin rejuvenation.

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In April 2009, we entered into a License Agreement with Vincent Falanga, M.D., pursuant to which we acquired a world-wide, exclusive license to certain innovative stem cell technology and applications for wound healing.

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In May 2009, we entered into a License and Referral agreement with Promethean Corporation, or Promethean, through its subsidiary, Ceres Living, Inc., or Ceres, to use certain Company marks and publications in connection with certain sales and marketing activities relating to its nutritional supplement known as AIO Premium Cellular Health, a liquid nutritional supplement based on certain nutraceuticals which have been shown to optimize stem cell functions. Under the agreement,  Ceres will pay to the Company or the Stem for Life Foundation specified fees for each unit of the product sold; and Ceres is engaging in a referral service with respect to the Company’s adult stem cell collection and processing activities.  Ceres is paid a referral fee by us for adult stem collections generated by Ceres’ referral network.

Adult Stem Cell Business in China

We believe that, in China, we can accelerate research, the development of stem cell-based therapies, and the creation of intellectual property positions in the stem cell field because of China’s regulatory and scientific environment and its culture, which are more readily accepting of stem cell-based therapies. Additionally, China has a large population with a rapidly growing middle and upper class who are interested in regenerative medicine and can afford such services. Accordingly, in 2009, we expanded our operations and markets to include China through the creation of a separate stem cell business unit.

Our China stem cell-based initiatives will be led by U.S. researchers and physicians in collaboration with experts in China for each clinical application to be pursued. We believe that this collaborative approach, and our expansion into China, will create commercial, financial and scientific opportunities that, ultimately, will generate increased revenues for us.

Our current stem cell-based initiatives in China include:

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developing a pipeline of regenerative medicine therapies, initially focused on orthopedic conditions;

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developing wellness, cosmetic and anti-aging applications;

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participating in the medical tourism market for regenerative medical treatments;

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establishing a network of collection, processing and storage facilities; and

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engaging in research and development designed to improve and expand our service and product offerings both in the U.S. and in China.

Because certain PRC regulations currently restrict foreign entities from holding certain licenses and controlling certain businesses in China, we have created a wholly foreign-owned entity, or WFOE, NeoStem (China), Inc., or NeoStem (China), to implement our expansion initiatives in China. Additionally, to comply with China’s foreign investment regulations with respect to stem cell-related activities, these business initiatives in China are conducted via two Chinese domestic entities, Qingdao Niao Bio-Technology Ltd., or Qingdao Niao, and Beijing Ruijieao Bio-Technology Ltd., or Beijing Ruijieao, that are controlled by the WFOE through various contractual arrangements. See “PRC Corporate Legal Structure” below.

Orthopedic Therapies

In order to advance our regenerative medicine business in China, in March 2009, we acquired an exclusive license for Asia to use an innovative process that expands a patient’s own adult stem cells to treat a variety of musculoskeletal diseases. The licensed procedure, Regenexx TM , has been developed by a Colorado-based company, Regenerative Sciences, Inc., or RSI. The Regenexx TM procedure uses autologous mesenchymal stem cells extracted from bone marrow for the treatment of various orthopedic conditions, including osteoarthritis, meniscus tears of the knee, avascular necrosis and bulging lumbar discs. In addition, our agreement with RSI includes consulting services to be provided by RSI to us in the area of stem cell-based orthopedic therapies for the Asia market. We believe that the integration of our peripheral blood collection process into the Regenexx TM procedure will enhance its marketability.

To provide orthopedic-related stem cell-based services, we intend to establish a network of hospitals to offer these orthopedic treatments in China. We recently established a collaboration with Shandong Wendeng Orthopedic Hospital, or Wendeng Hospital, which will be the first of such hospitals. In June 2009, Qingdao Niao entered into a five-year cooperation agreement with Wendeng Hospital to treat patients and conduct clinical research regarding the application of autologous stem cells for the treatment of a variety of orthopedic conditions. Wendeng Hospital is considered to be one of the leading speciality orthopedic hospitals in China, with close to 90% of its inpatient capacity dedicated to orthopedic cases. Physician and laboratory personnel have completed training at RSI, operations began at Wengdeng Hospital in the first quarter of 2010 and it is anticipated that revenues will start to be generated in the second quarter of 2010.

Wellness, Cosmetic & Anti-Aging Applications

We are developing a program that includes products and therapies, including stem cell-based therapies and health supplements, that we intend to offer for wellness, cosmetic and anti-aging applications. One of the key initial therapies is anticipated to be the autologous adult stem cell-based skin rejuvenation therapy that we in-licensed from Vincent Giampapa, M.D., in February 2009.

The license agreement with Dr. Giampapa is intended to advance our regenerative medicine business in the U.S. and China by our acquisition of a world-wide, exclusive license to certain innovative stem cell technology and applications for cosmetic facial and body procedures and skin rejuvenation. This supplements a three-year agreement that Dr. Giampapa entered into with us in January 2009 where he agreed to provide us with consulting services in the anti-aging area. In collaboration with Dr. Giampapa, we intend to develop and launch a range of cosmetic and anti-aging applications in China.

These therapeutic applications were anticipated to be provided, initially, by Qingdao Niao at the facilities at the Qingdao Second Sanatorium of Jinan Military Command, or the Second Sanatorium, pursuant to a three-year cooperation agreement entered into in June 2009. Second Sanitorium is a leading comprehensive hospital within the military’s healthcare network and one of the principal healthcare centers in charge of ensuring the well-being of senior and retired military officials in China.  A section of the hospital is undergoing renovations to allow for stem cell based thereapies in anti-aging and such renovations are behind schedule.  To avoid delay to our program we are considering alternative locations for initially commencing these activities.

Consulting and Royalty Agreement

In June 2009, we signed an agreement, or the Network Agreement, with Enhance BioMedical Holdings Limited, or Enhance BioMedical, a Shanghai corporation and subsidiary of Enhance Holding Corporation, a multinational conglomerate with businesses in various market sectors including healthcare. Pursuant to the Network Agreement, Enhance Biomedical will help us develop an adult stem cell collection and treatment network using our proprietary stem cell technologies in Shanghai and Taiwan as well as the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Anhui and Jiangxi, or the Network Territory. Enhance BioMedical has healthcare provider relationships with numerous hospitals and doctors in the Network Territory. It also operates the Anti-Aging and Prevention Medical Center in Taipei, Taiwan, with facilities focused on stem cell research and development and anti-aging therapies. As of March 15, 2010, Enhance BioMedical was the beneficial owner of approximately 16.7% of our common stock.

The Network Agreement is a ten-year, exclusive, royalty bearing agreement pursuant to which we will provide Enhance BioMedical with the training, technical, and other assistance required for it to offer stem cell-based therapies. Subject to certain terms and conditions, the Network Agreement is renewable for a subsequent ten-year term at the option of Enhance BioMedical. This agreement also gives us the option, until June 2014, to acquire up to a 20% fully diluted equity interest in Enhance BioMedical.  We will receive certain milestone payments as well as be entitled to a stated royalty on Enhance BioMedical’s revenues derived from these stem cell-based therapies. Under the Network Agreement, Enhance BioMedical has the exclusive right to utilize our proprietary adult stem cell technologies identified by us to provide adult stem cell services and therapies in the Network Territory.

In the second quarter of 2010 we expect Enhance Biomedical to launch adult stem cell collection and storage activities to enable them to launch the application of  cosmetic and anti-aging therapies in Taiwan during the summer of 2010 under our Network Agreement.

Medical Tourism

“Medical tourism” is defined as the process of travelling from home for treatment abroad or elsewhere domestically. A large segment of the individuals participating in medical tourism seek access to medical therapies not currently available or affordable in their home countries. The World Bank estimates that medical tourism will be a $10 billion industry by 2011. In 2007 alone, 750,000 Americans traveled outside the U.S. to obtain medical treatment, a number which is expected to increase to 6 million by 2010.

Since our inception, we have been building relationships with physicians in the U.S. and abroad who have developed advanced therapies using autologous stem cells. China, specifically, is fast emerging as a desirable destination for individuals seeking medical care in a wide range of medical specialties, including cardiology, neurology, orthopedics and others. As a result, a number of leading private and government hospitals in major Chinese cities have established medical tourism departments to provide treatment to international patients using advanced Western medical technology and techniques, including stem cell-based therapies. In addition to capitalizing on this trend as a potential driver for our collection and storage business, we plan to work with specialty hospitals and physicians in China and elsewhere to make stem cell-based therapies available for these medical tourism patients.

Research and Development

In May 2009, Qingdao Niao leased space from Beijing Zhongguancum Life Science Park Development Corp., Ltd. to be used for a world-class storage facility in Beijing, China or the Beijing Facility, that will be equipped to provide comprehensive adult stem cell collection, processing and storage capabilities, and a laboratory to support a number of our therapeutic programs, including the orthopedic program at Wengdeng Hospital.

In addition to supporting the processing and storage activities, the laboratory will provide a state-of-the-art venue for expanded adult stem cell-related research and development activities in China. We are collaborating with experts in China to expand our intellectual property positions in the stem cell field and develop adult stem cell-based therapies for the U.S. and broader China markets. These efforts will be dedicated to the research and development of our stem cell technology and its application to a number of therapeutic programs, initially including diabetes, anti-aging and cardiac disease.   We are also in discussions with other researchers to generate data relating to other clinical applications of very small embryonic-like stem cells, that could include neural, cardiac, and ophthalmic disease, to expand our research efforts and maximize the value of this technology. In this regard, letters of intent have been executed between our Chinese consultant, Shandong Life Science and Technology Research Institute, or SLSI, and Peking University Diabetes Center, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, the Ministry of Health and  Shandong University .

In July 2009, NeoStem (China) entered into a cooperation agreement with our Chinese consultant, SLSI, to assist in the formation of a not-for-profit organization as required under PRC law, to organize and conduct various stem cell-based clinical trials in collaboration with specialty hospitals. This initiative was funded by NeoStem (China) in the amount of approximately $730,000 and an additional $500,000 is anticipated to be funded by NeoStem (China) over the next several months.

In order to implement the establishment of the Beijing Facility, as of December 31, 2009, our Company, our WFOE  subsidiary NeoStem (China), and Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or PCT, entered into an agreement, or the PCT Agreement, whereby NeoStem and NeoStem (China) engaged PCT to perform the services necessary (1) to construct the Beijing Facility, consisting of a clean room for adult stem cell clinical trial processing and other stem cell collections which will have the processing capacity on an annual basis sufficient for at least 10,000 samples, research and development laboratory space, collection and stem cell storage area and offices, together with the furnishings and equipment, and (2) to effect the installation of quality control systems consisting of materials management, equipment maintenance and calibration, environmental monitoring and compliance and adult stem cell processing and preservation which comply with cGMP standards and regulatory standards that would be applicable in the United States under GTP standards, as well as all regulatory requirements applicable to the program under the laws of the PRC.

Pursuant to the terms of the PCT Agreement, the Beijing Facility is to be located at the Life Science Innovation Center, Life Science Park, Zhongguancum, Beijing. PCT is to complete the project on a “turn-key” basis. Once the project has begun, our Company has the option to terminate the PCT Agreement without cause upon providing no less than 60 days written notice to PCT, subject to our obligation to pay for any services performed up to the date of termination and certain costs and expenses incurred by PCT.

The aggregate cost of the program, including the Phase 1 equipment purchases, is expected to be approximately $3,000,000. The project will commence on April 1, 2010, and is anticipated to take approximately seven months to complete. PCT has agreed to provide at least 90 days of support services to our Company for an additional fee after completion of the project, which is renewable at the request of our Company for an additional 90 days.

Pharmaceutical Business in China — Erye

We believe that China currently affords a unique opportunity to grow our revenues on an accelerated basis. In order to enter this market, we completed the merger with China Biopharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc., or the Merger, on October 30, 2009, the net effect of which was the acquisition by us of a 51% ownership interest in Erye. Our current senior executive management team at Erye, Mr. Shi, Chairman, and Madame Zhang, General Manager, joined Erye in 1998, who in conjunction with others bought it from the PRC government in 2003 and, in the years that followed, transformed it into a profitable private enterprise. Erye had approximately 739 employees as of December 31, 2009, of which approximately 536 were full-time.

Erye was founded more than 50 years ago and represents an established, vertically-integrated pharmaceutical business, focused primarily on the manufacturing and sale of antibiotics. Historically, Erye has concentrated its efforts on the manufacturing and distribution of generic antibiotic products and has received more than 160 production certificates from the SFDA covering both antibiotic prescription drugs and active pharmaceutical intermediates, or APIs. Erye’s revenue for 2009 was approximately $61.

Industry

China has a large population with a rapidly growing demand for pharmaceutical drugs and has committed to providing increased governmental insurance to provide a larger segment of the population greater access to pharmaceuticals. The antibiotics market in China was approximately $8.8 billion in 2007, with an annual average growth rate of approximately 24 percent for the previous three years. The overall pharmaceuticals market is forecasted to triple in size by 2013, becoming the third largest drug market in the world behind the U.S. and Japan.

In early 2009, the PRC government announced that improving healthcare for its citizens would be a major priority and China’s State Council approved the spending of $124 billion on its healthcare system between 2009 and 2011. This spending initiative, coupled with a population approaching 1.4 billion, makes China a large market opportunity for pharmaceutical drugs. As part of this initiative, China has created the New Rural and Urban Cooperative Medical Insurance System. More than 60% of the drugs produced by Erye are covered under this new medical insurance system.

Products

Erye offers a broad portfolio of anti-infective drugs, with no single product accounting for more than 10% of total revenues. In 2008, seven of the top 20 antibiotics used in Chinese hospitals were products offered by Erye. Erye’s top five products, by revenue, for the first nine months of 2009, are set forth in the following table:

Erye is currently focused on bringing more differentiated and higher-margin product offerings to its portfolio.

Distribution/Customers

In China, consumers generally receive prescription drugs through hospitals. Antibiotics are distributed almost exclusively through hospitals. Since pharmaceutical manufacturers in China are not permitted to sell directly to hospitals, it is essential to have an effective and extensive distributor network. Erye’s distributor network covers all of mainland China’s provinces and municipalities and generates sales principally through three channels:

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exclusive distributors of prescription drugs, referred to as “co-sales teams”: this distribution channel handles the clinical promotion and distribution of differentiated, higher-margin product lines, within exclusive province-based and municipality-based territories;

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non-exclusive distributors of prescription drugs: this distribution channel is devoted to selling established product lines that require little, if any, clinical promotion; and

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exclusive distributors of APIs: this distribution channel is devoted to selling APIs to large pharmaceutical manufacturers nationwide.

Erye has an internal sales and marketing team of more than 40 individuals that supervise the distributor network, assist with clinical promotions and manage hospital relationships. Many of Erye’s sales executives have long-term experience in pharmaceutical sales and previously held sales positions with state-owned pharmaceutical companies, where they established long-standing relationships with large distribution centers in several key regions nationwide and, in particular, within the Yangzi River Triangle.

Production Facilities

Erye currently operates a production facility in the City of Suzhou, containing approximately 33,490 square meters of offices, dormitories, a food court, warehouse and production facilities, including eight (cGMP) production lines certified by the SFDA, workshops and laboratory areas.

In 2005, the PRC government issued a mandate requiring the relocation of many of Erye’s existing manufacturing facilities. The government mandate did not require Erye to relocate by any specific date. In order to comply with this mandate and to meet the growing demands of its business, Erye acquired land use rights to approximately 27 acres in the Xiangcheng District of Suzhou and, in 2007, commenced the construction of a new, state-of-the-art production facility. This new campus-style facility includes 12 buildings containing a total of approximately 49,436 square meters of space, for which the external building construction has been completed and manufacturing equipment is being assembled and tested. The land use rights end in January of 2058.

Erye began transferring its operations in January 2010. The relocation will continue as the new production lines are completed and receive cGMP certification through 2011. In January 2010, Erye received notification that the SFDA has approved Erye’s application for cGMP certification to manufacture solvent crystallization sterile penicillin and freeze dried raw sterile penicillin at the new facility, which provides 50% and 100% greater manufacturing capacity, respectively, than its existing facility. Historically, these two lines have accounted for approximately 20% of Erye’s sales.

Once Erye has completed the transfer of operations to the new facilities, and its new production lines are fully operational, it will have substantially increased capacity from the current plant, with the goal of becoming among the largest antibiotics producers in Eastern China. This dominant market position would allow us to take advantage of the expected growth and spending in this segment of the market. Our U.S. based management team intends to work closely with the management of Erye to identify new pharmaceutical product candidates to further accelerate revenue growth. We believe that our ownership in Erye, and the expansion of our stem cell business into China, will create commercial, financial and scientific opportunities to significantly grow our business.

The total cost of the new facility is estimated to be approximately $30 million, of which approximately $16 million has been paid for through December 31, 2009. The remaining $14 million is expected to be funded from a combination of proceeds from the Company’s February 2010 common stock  offering in which it raised net proceeds of approximately $7.1 million, the proceeds from the exercise by RimAsia in March 2010 of a warrant to purchase 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock at a per share purchase price of $1.75 resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of $1,750,000 (in each of the prior two cases such funding would be in the form of a loan from the Company), an Erye line of credit and Erye’s operating cash flow. To this end, the owners of Erye have agreed to reinvest a substantial portion of their respective shares of the earnings of Erye to pay the costs associated with the completion of, and Erye’s relocation to, the new production facility.

Research and Development — Product Pipeline

Erye provides a well-established and capable platform and network for the introduction of pharmaceuticals, and other health-related products, to the vast domestic patient and consumer markets in China.

Currently, Erye has seven new drug candidates in its pipeline, at varying stages of the development and commercialization process. Applications for production certificates for four of these drug candidates have been submitted to and are pending approval by the SFDA, including Adefovir capsules, Cloxacillin Sodium (API), Clindamycin Phosphate for injection, and Omeprazole capsules (approved November 2009). Erye also has three candidates in clinical trials that could be considered “new drugs” in China, including Faropenem sodium (API), Faropenem tablets, a broad spectrum antibiotic, and Tiopronin enteric-coated capsules, used to prevent kidney stones.

Erye’s recent track record for obtaining SFDA production certificates includes seven certificates in 2007, four certificates in 2008 and four certificates in 2009 (including Omeprazole capsules).

In addition to research and development regarding new prescription drugs, we plan to expand Erye’s product pipeline with health supplements and nutraceutical products. We believe that the expansive markets in China present opportunities for these products and that Erye already has extensive capabilities to accelerate product distribution.

PRC Corporate Legal Structure

We conduct our operations in the PRC through two distinct business units: (i) our China pharmaceutical business unit which we conduct though our 51% ownership interest in Erye; and (ii) our China adult stem cell business unit which we conduct through contractual arrangements that our wholly foreign-owned entity, or WFOE, NeoStem (China) has with two variable interest entities, or VIEs, Qingdao Niao Bio-Technology Ltd. and Beijing Ruijieao Biotechnology Ltd.

China Pharmaceutical Business

On October 30, 2009, we completed the Merger with China Biopharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc., or CBH, through a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours with our subsidiary as the surviving entity. As a result of the Merger, we acquired a controlling interest in Suzhou Erye Pharmaceuticals Company Ltd., or Erye, a Sino-foreign joint venture with limited liability organized under the laws of the PRC. Suzhou Erye Economy and Trading Co. Ltd., or EET, owns the remaining 49% ownership interest in Erye. An amended joint venture agreement and articles of association of Erye, the effectiveness of which was subject to approval by the requisite PRC government authorities, was prepared and approval obtained in principle on December 28, 2009 from Jiangsu Bureau of Foreign Economic and Trade.  Notwithstanding this approval, we cannot be certain that all provisions, especially those provisions relating to the distribution and liquidation preference in the joint venture contract, are in full compliance with or fully enforceable under PRC law.

China Adult Stem Cell Business

Because certain PRC regulations currently restrict or prohibit foreign-invested entities from holding certain licenses and controlling businesses in certain industries in China, we created the WFOE, NeoStem (China), to implement our expansion objectives in China. NeoStem (China) may engage in the research and development, transfer and technological consultation service of bio-technology, regenerative medical technology and anti-aging technology, excluding the development or application of human stem cell, gene diagnosis and treatment technologies; consultation of economic information; import, export and wholesaling of machinery and equipment (the import and export do not involve the goods specifically stipulated in/by state-operated trade, import and export quota license, export quota bidding, export permit, etc.). To comply with China’s foreign investment prohibition on stem cell research and development, clinical trials and related activities, this business is conducted via two VIEs: Qingdao Niao and Beijing Ruijieao, each a Chinese domestic company controlled by NeoStem (China) through the VIE documents. Under the VIE documents, the shareholders of the VIEs are required to transfer their ownership interests in these entities to NeoStem (China) in China in the event Chinese laws and regulations allow foreign investors to hold ownership interests in the VIEs, or to our designees at any time for the amount of, to the extent permitted by Chinese laws, the outstanding loans to the VIE shareholders. The shareholders of the VIEs have entrusted us to appoint the directors and senior management personnel of the VIEs on their behalf. Through NeoStem (China), we have entered into exclusive technical and management service agreements and other service agreements with the VIEs, under which NeoStem (China) is providing technical and management services to the VIEs in exchange for substantially all net income of the VIEs. In addition, shareholders of the VIEs have pledged their equity interests in the VIEs to NeoStem (China) as collateral for non-payment of loans or for fees on technical and management services due to us.

The capital investment in these VIEs is funded by us through the WFOE and recorded as interest-free loans to the shareholders of Qingdao Niao and Beijing Ruijieao. To date, the WFOE has been capitalized in the total amount of approximately $2.9 million with an additional $1,000,000 anticipated in the second quarter of 2010. As of December 31, 2009, the total amount of interest-free loans to these shareholders of the VIEs listed as above was approximately 5,500,000 RMB (approximately $805,000).  We expect that the WFOE will require substantial additional funding in order for us to continue the current expansion plans in China associated with our stem cell business.

In December, 2009, in order to facilitate working capital requirements in China, NeoStem (China) issued a promissory note to the Bank of Rizhao Qingdao Branch  in the amount of  4,400,000 RMB  (approximately $643,700). The note is due on June 21, 2010 and bears an interest rate of 4.05%. The loan is collateralized by cash in a restricted bank account totaling 5,189,400 RMB (approximately $759,200). In addition, in January, 2010 NeoStem (China) entered into a pledge agreement with the bank pledging all of  its interest in its VIEs as additional collateral for the loan.

We expect to receive benefits, to the extent permitted by PRC laws, through various VIE contractual agreements in the form of authorized sharing of the ownership of the know-how and other intellectual property rights derived from the clinical trials and research and development, and in the form of financial benefits on a basis of profit sharing mechanisms with participating partner hospitals from the commercialization of regeneration medical treatments developed successfully from the clinical trials.

Pursuant to certain opinions regarding Administration of Not-for-profit Research Institutions (Trial), or the Opinions, which were promulgated and became effective on December 19, 2000, not-for-profit research institutions shall have independent legal person status, and shall operate independently under the guidance and supervision of corresponding government authorities. Not-for-profit research institutions shall conduct science, research, technical consulting and technical service mainly for the purpose of social benefits, and shall not be operated for profit. No person or institution shall obtain any investment return from not-for-profit research institutions in any manner, and all of the income generated by not-for-profit research institutions during their provision of for-profit services to society, and which is permitted to be kept by the not-for-profit research institution pursuant to relevant rules, shall be used for the development of the not-for-profit research institution.

Accordingly, we are cooperating, through NeoStem (China) with our China consultant, SLSI, with regard to the formation of a not-for-profit organization under PRC law, to organize and conduct various clinical trials in China. We have provided funding through a contractual arrangement with SLSI, and SLSI has taken responsibility for establishing and structuring clinical trials with third parties, other research institutes and a number of partner hospitals. Through various VIE or other contractual agreements, we expect to obtain, directly or indirectly, part of the management and operation rights and benefits from SLSI. However, if this contractual arrangement is regarded as breaching any clause in the Opinions, the contractual agreements we have with SLSI will need to be terminated or modified, and we may not obtain or continue to obtain benefits, directly or indirectly, from SLSI as expected.

Further, pursuant to the Interim Measures for the Administration of Human Genetic Resources, or the Measures, which was promulgated and took effect on June 10, 1998, China adopted a reporting and registration system on important pedigrees and genetic resources in specified regions. Whoever is engaged in activities in China such as sampling, collecting, researching, developing, trading or exporting human genetic resources or taking such resources outside China shall abide by the Measures. The term “human genetic resources” in the Measures refers to the genetic materials such as human organs, tissues, cells, blood specimens, preparations of any types or recombinant DNA constructs, which contain human genome, genes or gene products as well as to the information related to such genetic materials. It is possible that the research and development operations conducted by SLSI may be regarded by corresponding government authorities in China as human genetic resources research and development activities, and thus, the Measures may apply. If the Measures apply to the cooperation between the Lab and/or the SLSI, and us, such cooperation is subject to approval of competent government authorities in China. The sharing of patents or other corresponding intellectual property rights derived from such research and development operations is also subject to various restriction and approval requirements established under the Measures. If we are unable to obtain corresponding approvals on a timely basis, or at all, our operation in China will be materially adversely affected.

One VIE will be devoted to adult stem cell related research and development activities and the other will be devoted to the commercialization of stem cell-based therapies in collaboration with hospitals.

Intellectual Property

We are seeking patent protection for our technology. We acquired and are prosecuting one pending U.S. patent application which had been filed by our predecessor, NS California. This patent application is intended to cover the process by which stem cells from the bone marrow are mobilized, isolated from adult peripheral blood and stored. In addition, we have filed a patent application covering low-dose, short course, cytokine induction of stem cell mobilization and patent applications claiming methods of purifying stem cells. The Company also has filed two additional U.S. patent applications claiming methods of isolating adult stem cells using various proprietary techniques.

Pursuant to our license agreement covering the VSEL TM technology, we acquired the exclusive, world-wide license to patent applications and know-how relating to very small embryonic-like stem cells. Patent applications regarding this technology are pending in the U.S., China and Europe. These patent applications relate specifically to a method of isolating and using very small embryonic-like stem cells. Under the license for the VSEL TM technology, we have the right to unpatented inventions and discoveries contained in certain manuscripts relating to transplantation and mobilization of these cells in certain circumstances, which has been pursued in subsequently filed provisional patent applications.

Pursuant to our license agreement with Vincent Giampapa, M.D., F.A.C.S., we have an exclusive, world-wide license to a granted U.S. patent, patent applications and know-how relating to methods and compositions for the restoration of age-related tissue loss.

Pursuant to our license agreement with Vincent Falanga, M.D., F.A.C.P., we have an exclusive, world-wide license to a U.S. provisional patent application and corresponding PCT application and know-how relating to the use of autologous mesenchymal stem cells to treat wounds.

Pursuant to our license agreement with RSI, we have an exclusive license for Asia to a patent application pending in Hong Kong and the right to file additional patent applications throughout Asia, as well as an exclusive license to know-how, all relating to the isolation and use of mesenchymal stem cells in orthopedic indications.

There can be no assurance that any of our patent applications will issue as patents or should patents issue that they will not be found invalid. The patent position of biotechnology companies generally is highly uncertain and involves complex legal, scientific and factual questions.

The government approval procedure in China for the filing, consideration and approval of new patent applications is as follows: The applicant prepares documentation and sends the application to State Intellectual Property Office of China, or SIPO, usually through patent application agencies. The application is then examined by SIPO. If the application is approved, SIPO issues and releases a patent illustration book for challenges by competing claimants. Once the illustration book is issued, the patent is protected. Within a three-year period, depending on different categories of the patent, if there are no challenges against the patent, then SIPO will issue a patent license to the applicant.

Competition

Pharmaceutical operations in China are still at an early stage of development due to heavy state involvement in the past. However, competition from China-based drug manufacturing companies is growing rapidly. Our direct competitors are domestic pharmaceutical companies and new drug research and development institutes such as Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding Co., Ltd., Shanghai Asia Pioneer Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Shandong Lukang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shandong Luoxin Pharmacy Stock Co. Ltd., China Pharma Holdings, China Biologic Products, China Sky One Medical, Sinovac Biotech and Tianyin Pharma. We also face competition from foreign companies who have strong proprietary pipelines and strong financial resources.

Historically in the U.S., we have faced competition from other established operators of stem cell preservation businesses and providers of stem cell storage services. Today, there is an established and growing market for cord blood stem cell banking. We are also aware of another company with established stem cell banking services that processes and stores stem cells collected from adipose, or fat, tissue. This type of stem cell banking requires harvesting fat by a liposuction procedure. Embryonic stem cells represent yet another alternative to pre-donated and stored adult stem cells. As techniques for expanding stem cells improve, thereby allowing therapeutic doses, the use of embryonic stem cells and other collection techniques of adult stem cells could increase and compete with our services. Finally, we are aware that other technologies are being developed to turn skin cells into cells that behave like embryonic stem cells or to harvest stem cells from the pulp of baby teeth. While these and other approaches remain in early stages of development, they may one day be competitive.

In addition, cord blood banks such as ViaCord or LifebankUSA easily could enter the field of adult stem cell collection because of their processing labs, storage facilities and customer lists. We estimate that there are approximately 43 cord blood banks in the U.S., approximately 28 of which are autologous, meaning that the donor and recipient are the same, and approximately 15 of which are allogeneic, meaning that the donor and recipient are not the same. Hospitals that have transplant centers to serve cancer patients may elect to provide some or all of the services that we provide. We estimate that there are approximately 162 hospitals in the U.S. with stem cell transplant centers. These competitors may have better experience and access to greater financial resources than we do. In addition, other established companies may enter our markets and compete with us.

The provision of stem cell-based therapies and banking services in China is a nascent industry, with most participants engaging through single facilities on a small scale. Many of these treatment centers rely on technology taken from domestic universities, although a few more advanced competitors use technology licensed from overseas. These small facilities are typically focused on delivering stem cell treatments in one specific treatment area, such as central nervous system diseases, ischemia, and cosmetics, with the majority treating central nervous system diseases. Given limited stem cell operations in China, the market remains significantly underserved.

Of the field of stem cell-based therapies and banking services in China, the only competitor of note of which we are aware is Beike Biotechnology Co Ltd., or Beike, headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangzhou province, which provides stem cell-based treatments through collaborations with a network of approximately 20 hospitals. In 2008, Beike established a stem cell storage facility in Jiangsu province, recently broke ground on an expanded facility and has disclosed that it plans to eventually house induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) extraction on a commercial scale.

Governmental Regulation

As we expand into China, we expect to rely upon the experience of Erye as well as certain of our other PRC advisors and consultants with the Drug Administration Law of China, which governs the licensing, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of pharmaceutical products in China. Additionally, our operations are subject to various PRC regulations and permit systems.

The application and approval procedure in China for a newly-developed drug product is nearly as detailed and lengthy as that for U.S. new drug applicants, requiring the documentation of pharmacological studies, toxicity studies and pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism (PKDM) studies and new drug samples. Documentation and samples are then submitted to a provincial food and drug administration, or the provincial FDA. The provincial FDA sends its officials to the applicant to check the applicant’s research and development facilities and to arrange a new drug examination committee meeting for approval deliberations. This process usually takes three months. After the documentation and samples are approved by the provincial FDA, the provincial FDA will submit the approved documentation and samples to the SFDA. The SFDA examines the documentation and tests the samples and arranges a new drug examination committee meeting for approval deliberations. If the application is approved by the SFDA, the SFDA will issue a clinical trial license to the applicant allowing the applicant to conduct human clinical trials. The clinical trial license approval typically takes one year. The applicant completes the clinical trial process and prepares documentation and files submitted to the SFDA for new drug approval. The clinical trial process usually takes one or two years depending on the category and class of the new drug. The SFDA examines the documentation and gives final approval for the new drug and issues the new drug license to the applicant. This process usually takes 8 months. As a result, the entire process for new drug approval, from start to finish, usually takes three to four years.

The PRC government is in the process of reviewing its industry policies relating to the pharmaceutical industry and, as a part of this review, has been reviewing drug permits and licenses that have been issued. As of now, Erye maintains good standing of its drug permits and licenses. Although the PRC government has published regulations regarding stem cell clinical applications, there is currently not implemented guidance.  Without guidance, it is difficult to definitively know how the regulations are to be implemented.

The PRC Antitrust Law was promulgated on August 30, 2007 and became effective on August 1, 2008. The government authorities in charge of antitrust matters in China are the Antitrust Commission and other antitrust authorities under the State Council. The PRC Antitrust Law regulates: (i) monopoly agreements, including decisions or actions in concert that preclude or impede competition, entered into by business operators; (ii) abuse of dominant market position by business operators; and (iii) concentration of business operators that may have the effect of precluding or impeding competition. Except for the exemptions set forth under Article 15 of the PRC Antitrust Law, competing business operators are prohibited from entering into monopoly agreements that fix or change commodity prices, restrict the production volume or sales volume of commodities, divide markets for sales or procurement of raw materials, restrict procurement of new technologies or new equipment or development of new technologies or new equipment, result in joint boycott of transactions or constitute monopoly agreements as determined by the antitrust authority.

In addition, business operators with the ability to control the price or quantity of commodities or other trading conditions or those with the ability to block or affect other business operators into the relevant markets are prohibited from engaging in certain business conducts that would result in abuse of their dominant market position.

Moreover, concentration of business operators refers to: (i) merger with other business operators; (ii) gaining control over other business operators through acquisition of equity interest or assets of other business operators; and (iii) gaining control over other business operators through exerting influence on other business operators through contracts or other means. In the event of occurrence of any concentration of business operators and to the extent required by the Antitrust Law, the relevant business operators must file with the antitrust authority under the State Council prior to conducting the contemplated business concentration. If the antitrust authority decides not to further investigate whether the contemplated business concentration has the effect of precluding or impeding competition or fails to make a decision within 30 days from receipt of relevant materials, the relevant business operators may proceed to consummate the contemplated business concentration.

It is widely expected that a set of detailed implementing rules of the PRC Antitrust Law will be issued by the PRC government. We are now in the process of reviewing our current business model and business operation against the PRC Antitrust Law. However, before the promulgation of such implementing rules, we are unable to determine whether we might be in violation of any aspects of the PRC Antitrust Law.

The services that we provide to individuals are relatively new. Our adult stem cell collection, processing and storage service is not a medical treatment, although it involves medical procedures. Our stem cell-related business is not addressed by many of the regulations applicable to our field and as a result, there is often considerable uncertainty as to the applicability of regulatory requirements. Although we have devoted significant resources to ensuring compliance with those laws that we believe to be applicable, it is possible that regulators may disagree with our interpretations, prompting additional compliance requirements or even enforcement actions.

We believe that the adult stem cells collected, processed and stored through our collection services are properly classified under the FDA’s human cells, tissues and cellular- and tissue-based products, or HCT/P, regulatory paradigm and should not be classified as a medical device, biologic or drug.

Relationships with licensed professionals such as physicians may be subject to state and federal laws restricting the referral of business, prohibiting certain payments to physicians, or otherwise limiting such collaborations. If our services become approved for reimbursement by government or private insurers, we could be subject to additional regulation and perhaps additional limitations on our ability to structure relationships with physicians. Additionally, state regulators may impose restrictions on the business activities and relationships of licensed physicians or other licensed professionals. For example, many states restrict or prohibit the employment of licensed physicians by for-profit corporations, or the “corporate practice of medicine.” If we fail to structure our relationships with physicians in accordance with applicable laws or other regulatory requirements it could have a material adverse effect on our business. Even if we do enter into these arrangements, we may not be able to maintain these relationships or establish new ones in the future on acceptable terms.

Some states also impose additional regulation and oversight of clinical laboratories operating within their borders and impose regulatory compliance obligations on out-of-state laboratories providing services to their residents. Many of the states in which we, our strategic partners or members of our collection network engage in collection, processing or storage activities have licensing requirements that must be complied with. Additionally, there may be state regulations impacting the use of blood products that would impact our business. There can be no assurance that we, our strategic partners or members of our collection center network will be able to obtain or maintain any necessary licenses required to conduct business in any states or that the cost of compliance will not materially and adversely affect our ability to market or perform our services or our ability to do so profitably. Certain licensing requirements require employment of medical directors and others with certain training and technical backgrounds and there can be no assurance that such individuals can be retained or will remain retained or that the cost of retaining such individuals will not materially and adversely affect our ability to market or perform our services or our ability to do so profitably.  The Cambridge laboratory has established a quality program based on Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) laboratory safety standards and American Association of Blood Bank (“AABB”) standards

Since January of 2004, registration with the FDA is required by facilities engaged in the recovery, processing, storage, labeling, packaging or distribution of any HCT/Ps, or the screening or testing of a donor. Any third party retained by us to process our samples must be similarly registered with the FDA and comply with HCT/P regulations. The FDA also adopted rules in May 2005 that regulate current Good Tissues Practices, or cGTP. Additionally, adverse events in the field of stem cell therapy that may occur could result in greater governmental regulation of our business, creating increased expenses and potential delays relating to the approval or licensing of any or all of the processes and facilities involved in our stem cell collection and storage services.

In the U.S., our planned stem cell biomarker screening panels may be subject to regulation as a medical device by the FDA under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. These domestic regulations govern many of the commercial activities we plan to perform, including the purposes for which our proposed immunodiagnostic assays can be used, the development, testing, labeling, storage and use of our proposed assays with other products, and the manufacturing, advertising, promotion, sales and distribution of our proposed assays for the approved purposes. Compliance with these regulations could prove expensive and time-consuming and render such panels commercially impractical.

We are subject to state and federal privacy laws related to the protection of our customers’ personal health information and state and federal laws related to the security of such personal health information and other personal data to which we would have access through the provision of our services. Currently, we are obligated to comply with privacy and security standards adopted under HIPAA. Certain of these regulatory obligations will be changing over the next year as a result of amendments to HIPAA under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Consequently, our compliance burden will increase, and we will be subject to audit and enforcement by the federal government and, in some cases, enforcement by state authorities. We will also be obligated to publicly disclose wrongful disclosures or losses of personal health information. We may be required to spend substantial amounts of time and money to comply with these requirements, any regulations and licensing requirements, as well as any future legislative and regulatory initiatives. Failure by us or our business partners to comply with these or other applicable regulatory requirements or any delay in compliance may result in, among other things, injunctions, operating restrictions, and civil fines and criminal prosecution, a material adverse effect on the marketing and sales of our services and impair our ability to operate profitably or at all.

We also are subject to state and federal laws regulating the proper disposal of biohazardous materials. Accordingly, we are subject to and seek to comply with, applicable regulations under federal, state and local laws regarding employee safety, environmental protection and hazardous substance control. We have made and will continue to make expenditures for environmental compliance, environmental protection and employee safety. Such expenditures have not had, and in the opinion of management are not expected to have, a material effect on our financial position, results of operation, capital expenditures or competitive position. However, these laws may change, our processes may change, or other facts may emerge which could affect our operations, business or assets and therefore the amount and timing of expenditures in the future may vary substantially from those currently anticipated.

As the stem cell therapy industry is at an early stage of development in China, new laws and regulations may be adopted in the future to address new issues that arise from time to time. As a result, substantial uncertainties exist regarding the interpretation and implementation of current and any future PRC laws and regulations applicable to the stem cell therapy industry. There is no way to predict the content or scope of future Chinese stem cell regulation. There can be no assurance that the PRC government authorities will not issue new laws or regulations that impose conditions or requirements with which we cannot comply. Noncompliance could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM, and Ministry of Science and Technology of China, or MOST, jointly publish the Catalogue of Technologies the Export of which from China is Prohibited or Restricted, and the Catalogue of Technologies the Import of which into China Prohibited or Restricted. Stem cell-related technologies are not listed in the current versions of these catalogues, and therefore their import or export should not be forbidden or require the approval of MOFCOM and MOST. However, these catalogues are subject to revision and, as the PRC authorities develop policies concerning stem cell technologies, it is possible that the categories would be amended or updated should the PRC government want to regulate the export or import of stem cell related technologies to protect material state interests or for other reasons. Should the catalogues be updated so as to bring any activities of the planned stem cell processing, storage and manufacturing operation in Beijing and related research and development activities under their purview, any such limitations or restrictions imposed on the operations and related activities could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Employees

As of December 31, 2009, NeoStem had 25 full-time, and 3 part-time employees in the U.S., and 2 employees in China. None of our employees is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and we believe our employee relations are good. Erye has 739 employees, of which 536 are full-time employees, all of whom are located in Jiangsu Province, China. Although a significant number of Erye’s employees have employment contracts, none of the employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and employee relations are believed to be good.  It is anticipated with the relocation of the Erye plant, there will be some attrition of employees though it will not have a significant impact on Erye.

Former Business Operations and Corporate Information

NeoStem was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in September 1980 under the name Fidelity Medical Services, Inc. Under prior management it engaged in various businesses, including the development and sale of medical imaging products, the retail sale and wholesale distribution of stationery and related office products in the United Kingdom, operation of a property and casualty insurance business, and ultimately through June 2002 the sale of extended warranties and service contracts over the Internet covering automotive, home, office, personal electronics, home appliances, computers and garden equipment. In June 2002, management determined, in light of continuing operating losses, to discontinue its warranty and service contract business and to seek new business opportunities for NeoStem. NeoStem entered a new line of business where it provided capital and guidance to companies in multiple sectors of the healthcare and life science industries, in return for a percentage of revenues, royalty fees, licensing fees and other product sales of the target companies.  In addition to such activities, since June 2002 NeoStem continued to “run off” the sale of its warranties and service contracts. This run off was completed in March 2007.

We commenced operations in our adult stem cell business in January 2006. On October 30, 2009, we completed a merger with China Biopharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc., or CBH, the former owner of the 51% interest in Erye. Our principal executive offices are located at 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 450, New York, New York 10170, and our telephone number is (212) 584-4180. We maintain a corporate website at www.neostem.com. The contents of our website are not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and should not be relied upon in connection herewith.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

THE RISKS DESCRIBED BELOW ARE NOT THE ONLY RISKS FACING THE COMPANY. ADDITIONAL RISKS THAT WE DO NOT YET KNOW OF OR THAT WE CURRENTLY THINK ARE IMMATERIAL MAY ALSO IMPAIR OUR BUSINESS OPERATIONS. THE FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY, IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K AND THE DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. THE STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K THAT ARE NOT HISTORIC FACTS ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE SET FORTH IN OR IMPLIED BY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. IF ANY OF THE RISKS OCCUR, OUR BUSINESS STRATEGY, FINANCIAL CONDITION OR OPERATING RESULTS COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.

Risks Related to Our Business and Financial Condition

We are a company with a limited operating history and have incurred substantial losses and negative cash flow from operations in the past, and we expect to continue to incur losses and negative cash flow for the near term.

We are a company with a limited operating history, limited capital, and limited sources of revenue. Since our inception in 1980, we have incurred net losses of approximately $71 million through December 31, 2009. We incurred net losses of approximately $25.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 and approximately $9.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, and we expect to incur additional operating losses and negative cash flow in the future. The revenues from our adult stem cell collection, processing and storage business are not sufficient to cover costs attributable to that business. We expect to incur losses and negative cash flow for the foreseeable future as a result of our activities under license and sponsored research agreements relating to our VSEL TM technology and other research and development efforts to advance stem cell and other therapeutics, both in the U.S. and China. We also expect to continue to incur significant expenses related to sales, marketing, general and administrative and product research and development in connection with the development of our business.

Although Suzhou Erye Pharmaceuticals Company Ltd., or Erye, a Chinese pharmaceutical company in which we recently acquired a 51% interest, earned $12.3 million in net income for the year ended December 31, 2009, it has only a limited history of earnings. Moreover, Erye is expected to incur significant expenses in the near term due to: (1) costs related to stabilizing and streamlining its operations; (2) costs related to the relocation of its production operations to a new facility currently under construction; (3) research and development costs related to new drug projects; and (4) costs related to expanding its existing sales network for new drug distribution. Pursuant to the current joint venture agreement that governs the ownership and management of Erye, or the Joint Venture Agreement, which is subject to PRC government approval, for the next three years (i) 49% of undistributed profits, after tax, will be distributed to Suzhou Erye Economy and Trading co. Ltd., or EET, which owns the remaining 49% of Erye, and loaned back to Erye for use in connection with its construction of the new Erye facility; (ii) 45% of the net profit after tax will be provided to Erye as part of the new facility construction fund, which will be characterized as paid-in capital for our 51% interest in Erye; and (iii) only 6% of the net profit will be distributed to us directly for our operating expenses. As a result, we will not be able to supplement our cash flow fully from the operations and income expected to be generated by Erye.

We will need substantial additional capital to continue operations and additional capital may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all.

We will require substantial additional capital to fund our business plan, including additional research and development activities related to our adult stem cell technologies and drug development efforts, and to support marketing efforts in the U.S. and China. Our actual cash requirements may differ materially from those currently estimated.

At December 31, 2009, we had a cash balance of $7,159,369. The trading volume of our common stock, coupled with our history of operating losses and liquidity problems, may make it difficult for us to raise capital on acceptable terms or at all. The demand for the equity and debt of small cap biopharmaceutical companies like ours is dependent upon many factors, including the general state of the financial markets. As demonstrated over the last year, during times of extreme market volatility, capital may not be available on favorable terms, if at all. Our inability to obtain such additional capital on acceptable terms could materially and adversely affect our business operations and ability to continue as a going concern.

If we are unable to manage the growth of our business, our prospects may be limited and the results of our operations and ability to continue as a going concern may be materially and adversely affected.

We intend to expand our sales and marketing programs, manufacturing capacity, and portfolios of pharmaceutical products and innovative stem cell-based therapies to meet future demand in the U.S. and China. Any significant expansion may strain our managerial, financial and other resources. If we are unable to manage our growth, our business, operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. We will need to continually improve our operations, financial and other internal systems to manage our growth effectively, and any failure to do so may result in slower growth, diminished operating results and a failure to achieve profitability, which would materially and adversely affect our ability to continue as a going concern.

All acquisitions intended to grow our business may expose us to additional risks.

We will continue to review acquisition prospects that could complement our current business, increase the size and geographic scope of our operations or otherwise offer revenue generating or other growth opportunities. Any increase in debt in connection with an acquisition could result in increased interest expense. Additionally, acquisitions may dilute the interests of our stockholders, place additional constraints on our available cash and entail other risks, including: difficulties in assimilating acquired operations, technologies or products; the loss of key employees from acquired businesses; diversion of management’s attention from our core business; risks of successor liability for unknown claims; and risks of entering markets, including international markets, in which we have limited or no prior experience.

Risks Related to the Stem Cell Business

The University of Louisville has the ability to exercise significant influence over the future development of our VSEL TM technology.

The terms of our exclusive license of the VSEL TM technology from the University of Louisville provide for a collaborative approach on development decisions. For example, should we seek to collaborate with a third party on the VSEL TM technology programs, prior approval of the University of Louisville would be required for any sublicensing agreement. There can be no assurance they would grant approval for decisions requiring their consent. In addition, we entered into a sponsored research agreement with the University of Louisville, pursuant to which they perform certain research activities for us. Accordingly, although we have recently begun our own independent research and development activities with respect to the VSEL TM technology and have entered into an additional sponsored research agreement with the University of Michigan, we are highly dependent on the University’s cooperation and performance in developing the VSEL TM technology. Further, the VSEL TM technology license agreement requires the payment of certain license fees, royalties and milestone payments, payments for patent filings and applications and the use of due diligence in developing and commercializing the VSEL TM technology. The sponsored research agreement requires other periodic payments. Our failure to meet our financial or other obligations under the license or sponsored research agreement in a timely manner could result in the loss of some or all of our rights to proprietary technology, such as the loss of exclusive rights or even termination of the agreements, and/or we could lose our right to have the University of Louisville conduct research and development efforts on our behalf.

We have a very limited history of conducting our own research and development activities.

To support our own research and development capabilities for our VSEL TM technology and other stem cell technologies, in September 2009 we signed a lease for approximately 8,000 square feet of office and laboratory space in Cambridge, Massachusetts that serves as our research and development headquarters. To pursue our business strategy, we must increase our internal research capabilities, which we are endeavoring to accomplish at this facility, and by establishing relationships with third parties. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in these efforts. Our additional research and development capacity also will require adequate sources of funding. There can be no assurance that any of these development efforts will produce a successful product or technology. Our failure to develop new products would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Even if we are successful in developing a therapeutic application using our VSEL TM technology or other potential stem cell technologies, we still may be unsuccessful in creating a commercially viable and profitable business.

The commercial viability of our VSEL TM technology and other stem cell technologies may depend upon our ability to successfully expand the number of stem cells collected through adult stem cell collection processes in order to achieve a therapeutically-viable dose. Today, the number of very small embryonic-like stem cells that can be isolated from the peripheral blood of an adult donor is relatively small and this volume of cells may not be sufficient for therapeutic applications. A critical component of our adult stem cell collection, processing and storage services relating to the VSEL TM technology and other potential stem cell technologies could therefore be the utilization of stem cell expansion processes. There are many biotechnology laboratories attempting to develop stem cell expansion technology, but to date stem cell expansion techniques remain very inefficient. There can be no assurance that such technology will be effective or available at all. The failure of cost effective and reliable expansion technologies to become available could severely limit the commercial opportunities of our VSEL TM technology programs and other potential stem cell technologies and limit our business prospects, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Moreover, stem cell collection techniques are rapidly developing and could undergo significant change in the future. Such rapid technological development could result in our technologies, becoming obsolete. Successful biotechnology development in general is highly uncertain and is dependent on numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control. While our VSEL TM technology and other stem cell technologies appear promising, such technologies may fail to be successfully commercialized for numerous reasons, including, but not limited to, competing technologies for the same indication. There can be no assurance that we will be able to develop a commercially successful therapeutic application for this technology or other potential stem cell technologies.

Our research and development activities using adult stem cells in therapeutic indications present additional risks.

Our research and development activities relating to our VSEL TM technology and other populations of adult stem cells are subject to many of the same risks as our adult stem cell collection, processing and storage business, and additional risks related to requirements for preclinical and clinical testing by regulatory authorities including the United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the underlying therapy. The development of new drugs and therapies is often a long, expensive and difficult process and most attempts fail. Our VSEL TM technology is in the very early stages of development and will require many steps, tests and processes before we will be able to commence clinical testing in humans. There can be no assurance that a biologics license application, or BLA, with the FDA will not be required for our VSEL TM technology or our other stem cell technologies. The approval process for a BLA can take years, require human clinical trials and cost several million dollars. There also can be no assurance that we independently, or through collaborations, will successfully develop, commercialize or market our VSEL TM technology or other stem cells for any therapeutic indication. Should we fail to develop our VSEL TM technology or other adult stem cell technologies pursued by us, our business prospects, operating results and financial condition will be materially and adversely affected.

Technological and medical developments or improvements in conventional therapies could render the use of stem cells and our services and planned products obsolete.

Advances in other treatment methods or in disease prevention techniques could significantly reduce or entirely eliminate the need for our stem cell services, planned products and therapeutic efforts. Additionally, technological or medical developments may materially alter the commercial viability of our technology or services, and require us to incur significant costs to replace or modify equipment in which we have a substantial investment. In either event, we may experience a material adverse effect on our business, operating result and financial condition.

If safety problems are encountered by us or others developing new stem cell-based therapies, our stem cell initiatives could be materially and adversely affected.

The use of stem cells for therapeutic indications is still in the very early stages of development. If an adverse event occurs during clinical trials related to one of our product candidates or those of others, the FDA and other regulatory authorities may halt our clinical trials or require additional studies. The occurrence of any of these events would delay, and increase the cost of, our product development and may render the commercialization of our product candidates impractical or impossible.

Future therapies using adult stem cells may not develop, and demand for adult stem cell collection, processing and storage may never develop.

The value of our stem cell collection, processing and storage business and our development programs could be significantly impaired, and our ability to become profitable and continue our business could be materially and adversely affected, if adult stem cell therapies under development by us or by others to treat disease are not proven effective, demonstrate unacceptable risks or side effects or, where required, fail to receive regulatory approval. The therapeutic application of stem cells to treat serious diseases is currently being explored using adult stem cells like those that are the focus of our business, as well as embryonic stem cells. Cells collected and used for the same individual are referred to as autologous cells and those collected from an individual who is not the user of the cells are referred to as allogeneic cells. To our knowledge, the only allowed therapeutic use of stem cells in the U.S., other than in connection with clinical trials, involves hematopoietic stem cell transplants to treat certain types of blood-based cancers (hematopoietic stem cells are the stem cells from which all blood cells are made). No other stem cell therapeutic products have received regulatory approval for sale in the U.S. While stem cell-based therapy has been reported to be susceptible to various risks, including some undesirable side effects and immune system responses, these problems have been primarily associated with allogeneic use. Inadequate therapeutic efficacy also is a risk that may prevent or limit approval or commercial use of adult stem cells, whether for autologous use or allogeneic use. In addition, the time and cost necessary to complete the clinical development and to obtain regulatory approval of new therapies using stems cells are expected to be significant.

Side effects or limitations of our stem cell collection process or a failure in the performance of the cryopreservation storage facility or systems of our service providers could harm our reputation and business.

Customers may experience adverse outcomes from our adult stem cell collection and storage process. These include: (i) the possibility of an infection acquired from the aphereis process, which is the process of extracting stem cells from a patient’s whole blood and it is an integral part of our collection process; (ii) collection of insufficient quantities of stem cells for therapeutic applications; (iii) failure of the equipment supporting our cryopreservation storage service to function properly and thus maintain a supply of usable adult stem cells; and (iv) specimen damage, including contamination or loss in transit to us. Should any of these events occur, our reputation could be harmed, our operations could be adversely affected and litigation could be filed against us. Our systems and operations are vulnerable to damage or interruption from fire, flood, equipment failure, break-ins, tornadoes and similar events for which we do not have redundant systems or a formal disaster recovery plan. Any claim of adverse side effects or limitations or material disruption in our ability to maintain continued uninterrupted storage systems could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

State and other requirements may impact our ability to conduct a profitable collection, processing and storage business for adult stem cells.

Some states impose additional regulation and oversight of clinical laboratories operating within their borders and impose regulatory compliance obligations on out-of-state laboratories providing services to their residents. Many of the states in which we, our strategic partners or members of our collection network engage in collection, processing or storage activities have licensing requirements that must be complied with. Additionally, there may be state regulations impacting the use of blood products that would impact our business. Certain licensing requirements require employment of medical directors and others with certain training and technical backgrounds and there can be no assurance that such individuals can be retained or will remain retained or that the cost of retaining such individuals will not materially and adversely affect our ability to market or perform our services or our ability to do so profitably. There can be no assurance that we, our strategic partners or members of our collection center network will be able to obtain or maintain any necessary licenses required to conduct business in any states or that the cost of compliance will not materially and adversely affect our ability to market or perform our services or our ability to do so profitably.

Our adult stem cell collection, processing and storage business was not contemplated by many existing laws and regulations, and our ongoing compliance, therefore, is subject to interpretation and risk.

Our adult stem cell collection, processing and storage service is not a medical treatment, although it involves medical procedures. Our stem cell-related business is relatively new and is not addressed by many of the regulations applicable to our field. As a result, there is often considerable uncertainty as to the applicability of regulatory requirements. Although we have devoted significant resources to ensuring compliance with those laws that we believe to be applicable, it is possible that regulators may disagree with our interpretations, prompting additional compliance requirements or even enforcement actions.

We believe that the adult stem cells collected, processed and stored through our collection services are properly classified under the FDA’s human cells, tissues and cellular- and tissue-based products, or HCT/P, regulatory paradigm and should not be classified as a medical device, biologic or drug. There can be no assurance that the FDA will not reclassify the adult stem cells collected, processed and stored through our collection services. Any such reclassification could have adverse consequences for us and make it more difficult or expensive for us to conduct our business by requiring regulatory clearance, approval and/or compliance with additional regulatory requirements.

The costs of compliance with such additional requirements or such enforcement may have a material adverse effect on our operations or may require restructuring of our operations or impair our ability to operate profitably.

We may need to obtain regulatory approval before we can market and sell stem cell biomarker screening panels in the U.S.

In the U.S., our planned stem cell biomarker screening panels may be subject to regulation as a medical device by the FDA under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. These domestic regulations govern many of the commercial activities we plan to perform, including the purposes for which our proposed immunodiagnostic assays can be used, the development, testing, labeling, storage and use of our proposed assays with other products, and the manufacturing, advertising, promotion, sales and distribution of our proposed assays for the approved purposes. Compliance with these regulations could prove expensive and time-consuming and render such panels commercially impractical.

Ethical and other concerns surrounding the use of stem cell therapy may negatively impact the public perception of our stem cell services, thereby suppressing demand for our services.

Although our stem cell business pertains to adult stem cells only, and does not involve the more controversial use of embryonic stem cells, the use of adult human stem cells for therapy could give rise to similar ethical, legal and social issues as those associated with embryonic stem cells, which could adversely affect its acceptance by consumers and medical practitioners. Additionally, it is possible that our business could be negatively impacted by any stigma associated with the use of embryonic stem cells if the public fails to appreciate the distinction between adult and embryonic stem cells. Delays in achieving public acceptance may materially and adversely affect the results of our operations and profitability.

The market for services related to the preservation and expansion of stem cells has become increasingly competitive.

Historically, we have faced competition from other established operators of stem cell preservation businesses and providers of stem cell storage services. Today, there is an established and growing market for cord blood stem cell banking. We are also aware of another company with established stem cell banking services that processes and stores stem cells collected from adipose, or fat, tissue. This type of stem cell banking requires harvesting fat by a liposuction procedure. Embryonic stem cells represent yet another alternative to pre-donated and stored adult stem cells. As techniques for expanding stem cells improve, thereby allowing therapeutic doses, the use of embryonic stem cells and other collection techniques of adult stem cells could increase and compete with our services. Finally, we are aware that other technologies are being developed to turn skin cells into cells that behave like embryonic stem cells or to harvest stem cells from the pulp of baby teeth. While these and other approaches remain in early stages of development, they may one day be competitive.

In addition, cord blood banks such as ViaCord or LifebankUSA easily could enter the field of adult stem cell collection because of their processing labs, storage facilities and customer lists. We estimate that there are approximately 43 cord blood banks in the U.S., approximately 28 of which are autologous, meaning that the donor and recipient are the same, and approximately 15 of which are allogeneic, meaning that the donor and recipient are not the same. Hospitals that have transplant centers to serve cancer patients may elect to provide some or all of the services that we provide. We estimate that there are approximately 162 hospitals in the U.S. with stem cell transplant centers. These competitors may have better experience and greater financial marketing, technical and research resources, name recognition, and market presence than we do. In addition, other established companies may enter our markets and compete with us. There can be no assurance that we will be able to compete successfully.

Building market acceptance of our U.S. autologous adult stem cell collection, processing and storage services, may be more costly and take longer than we expect.

The success of our U.S. autologous adult stem cell business depends on continuing and growing market acceptance of our collection, processing and storage services as well as stem cell therapy generally. Increasing the awareness and demand for our services requires expenditures for marketing and education of consumers and medical practitioners who, under present law, must order stem cell collection and treatment on behalf of a potential customer. The time and expense required to educate and to build awareness of our services and their potential benefits and about stem cell therapy in general could significantly delay market acceptance and our ultimate profitability. The successful commercialization of our services will also require that we satisfactorily address the concerns of medical practitioners in order to avoid resistance to recommendations for our services and ultimately reach our potential consumers. No assurances can be given that our business plan and marketing efforts will be successful, that we will be able to commercialize our services, or that there will be market or clinical acceptance of our services by potential customers or physicians, respectively, sufficient to generate any material revenues for us. To date, only a minimal number of collections have been performed at the collection centers in our network.

We operate in a highly regulated environment and may be unable to comply with applicable federal regulations, registrations and approvals.

Since January of 2004, registration with the FDA is required by facilities engaged in the recovery, processing, storage, labeling, packaging or distribution of any HCT/Ps, or the screening or testing of a donor. Any third party retained by us to process our samples must be similarly registered with the FDA and comply with HCT/P regulations. If we, or any third party processors, fail to register or update registration information in a timely way, we will be out of compliance with FDA regulations which could adversely affect our business. The FDA also adopted rules in May 2005 that regulate current Good Tissues Practices, or cGTP. Additionally, adverse events in the field of stem cell therapy that may occur could result in greater governmental regulation of our business, creating increased expenses and potential delays relating to the approval or licensing of any or all of the processes and facilities involved in our stem cell collection and storage services.

We also are subject to state and federal laws regulating the proper disposal of biohazardous materials. Although we believe we are currently in compliance with all such applicable laws, a violation of such laws, or the future enactment of more stringent laws or regulations, could subject us to liability for noncompliance and may require us to incur significant costs.

There can be no assurance that we will be able, or have the resources, to continue to comply with regulations that govern our operations currently, or that we will be able to comply with new regulations that govern our operations, or that the cost of compliance will not materially and adversely affect our ability to market or perform our services or our ability to do so profitably.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, requires that our business comply with state and federal privacy laws which increase the cost and administrative burden of providing stem cell banking services.

We are subject to state and federal privacy laws related to the protection of our customers’ personal health information and state and federal laws related to the security of such personal health information and other personal data to which we would have access through the provision of our services. Currently, we are obligated to comply with privacy and security standards adopted under HIPAA. Certain of these regulatory obligations will be changing over the next year as a result of amendments to HIPAA under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Consequently, our compliance burden will increase, and we will be subject to audit and enforcement by the federal government and, in some cases, enforcement by state authorities. We will also be obligated to publicly disclose wrongful disclosures or losses of personal health information. We may be required to spend substantial amounts of time and money to comply with these requirements, any regulations and licensing requirements, as well as any future legislative and regulatory initiatives. Failure by us or our business partners to comply with these or other applicable regulatory requirements or any delay in compliance may result in, among other things, injunctions, operating restrictions, and civil fines and criminal prosecution, a material adverse effect on the marketing and sales of our services and impair our ability to operate profitably or at all.

Our success in developing future stem cell therapies will depend in part on establishing and maintaining effective strategic partnerships and collaborations, which may impose restrictions on our business and subject us to additional regulation.

A key aspect of our business strategy is to establish strategic relationships in order to gain access to critical supplies, to expand or complement our research and development or commercialization capabilities, and to reduce the cost of research and development. There can be no assurance that we will enter into such relationships, that the arrangements will be on favorable terms or that such relationships will be successful. If any of our research partners terminate their relationship with us or fail to perform their obligations in a timely manner, our research and development activities or commercialization of our services may be substantially impaired or delayed.

Relationships with licensed professionals such as physicians may be subject to state and federal laws restricting the referral of business, prohibiting certain payments to physicians, or otherwise limiting such collaborations. If our services become approved for reimbursement by government or private insurers, we could be subject to additional regulation and perhaps additional limitations on our ability to structure relationships with physicians. Additionally, state regulators may impose restrictions on the business activities and relationships of licensed physicians or other licensed professionals. For example, many states restrict or prohibit the employment of licensed physicians by for-profit corporations, or the “corporate practice of medicine.” If we fail to structure our relationships with physicians in accordance with applicable laws or other regulatory requirements it could have a material adverse effect on our business. Even if we do enter into these arrangements, we may not be able to maintain these relationships or establish new ones in the future on acceptable terms.

We are dependent on relationships with third parties to conduct our business.

Apheresis is the process through which stem cells are extracted from a patient’s whole blood and it is an integral part of our collection process. Our process involves the injection of a “mobilizing agent” which causes the stem cells to migrate from the bone marrow into the blood stream. The injection of this mobilizing agent is an integral part of the collection process. There is currently only one supplier of this mobilizing agent, called Neupogen®. Although we continue to explore alternative mobilizing agents and methods of stem cell collection, there can be no assurance that any alternative mobilizing agents will be available or alternative methods will prove to be successful. In the event that our supplier is unable or unwilling to continue to supply the mobilizing agent to us on commercially reasonable terms, and we are unable to identify alternative methods or find substitute suppliers on commercially reasonable terms, we may not be able to successfully commercialize our business. In addition, we are currently using only one outside apheresis provider though we are currently pursuing other opportunities. Although other third parties, including the centers themselves, subject to appropriate licensure, are capable of providing apheresis services, any disruption in the provision of this service would cause a delay in the delivery of our services. Our failure to maintain relationships with these third parties or the failure of such parties to provide quality contracted services would have a material adverse impact on our business.

We are dependent upon our management, scientific and medical personnel and we may have difficulty attracting or retaining qualified personnel.

Our performance and success are dependent upon the efforts and abilities of our management, and medical and scientific personnel. Furthermore, our growth will require hiring a significant number of qualified technical, commercial, business and administrative personnel. If we are unable to attract and retain the qualified personnel necessary to develop our business, perform contractual obligations under our University of Louisville and other license agreements and maintain appropriate licensure, on acceptable terms, we may not be able to sustain our operations or achieve our commercialization and other business objectives and we may fail to grow or sustain our business as a going concern.

There is significant uncertainty about the validity and permissible scope of patents in the biotechnological industry and we may not be able to obtain patent protection.

We own or hold exclusive rights to one patent and own or hold exclusive rights to fourteen filed patent applications related to our products and technologies. Given the nature of our therapeutic programs, our patents cover methods of isolating, storing and using stem cells, including very small embryonic stem cells. There can be no assurance that the patent applications to which we hold rights will result in the issuance of patents, or that any patents issued or licensed to us will not be challenged and held to be invalid or of a scope of coverage that is different from what we believe the patent’s scope to be. Our success will depend, in part, on whether we can: obtain patents to protect our own products and technologies; obtain licenses to use the technologies of third parties if necessary, which may be protected by patents; and protect our trade secrets and know-how. Our inability to obtain and rely upon patents essential to our business may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

We may be unable to protect our intellectual property from infringement by third parties.

Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property, third parties may infringe or misappropriate our intellectual property. Our competitors may also independently develop similar technology, duplicate our processes or services or design around our intellectual property rights. We may have to litigate to enforce and protect our intellectual property rights to determine their scope, validity or enforceability. Intellectual property litigation is costly, time-consuming, diverts the attention of management and technical personnel and could result in substantial uncertainty regarding our future viability. The loss of intellectual property protection or the inability to secure or enforce intellectual property protection would limit our ability to develop or market our services in the future. This would also likely have an adverse effect on the revenues generated by any sale or license of such intellectual property. Furthermore, any public announcements related to such litigation or regulatory proceedings could adversely affect the price of our common stock.

Third parties may claim that we infringe on their intellectual property.

We may be subject to costly litigation in the event our technology is claimed to infringe upon the proprietary rights of others. Third parties may have, or may eventually be issued, patents that would be infringed by our technology. Any of these third parties could make a claim of infringement against us with respect to our technology. We may also be subject to claims by third parties for breach of copyright, trademark or license usage rights. Litigation and patent interference proceedings could result in substantial expense to us and significant diversion of efforts by our technical and management personnel. An adverse determination in any such proceeding or in patent litigation could subject us to significant liabilities to third parties or require us to seek licenses from third parties. Such licenses may not be available on acceptable terms or at all. Adverse determinations in a judicial or administrative proceeding or failure to obtain necessary licenses could prevent us from commercializing our products, which would have a material adverse affect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

We may be unable to maintain our licenses, patents or other intellectual property and could lose important protections that are material to continuing our operations and growth and our ability to achieve profitability.

Our license agreement with the University of Louisville and other license agreements require us to pay license fees, royalties and milestone payments and fees for patent filings and applications. Obtaining and maintaining patent protection and licensing rights also depends, in part, on our ability to pay the applicable filing and maintenance fees. Our failure to meet financial obligations under our license agreements in a timely manner or our non-payment or delay in payment of our patent fees, could result in the loss of some or all of our rights to proprietary technology or the inability to secure or enforce intellectual property protection. Additionally, our license agreements require us to meet certain diligence obligations in the development of the licensed products.  Our failure to meet these diligence obligations under our license agreements could result in the loss of some or all of our rights under the license agreements.  The loss of any or all of our intellectual property rights could materially limit our ability to develop and/or market our services, which would materially and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

Our inability to obtain reimbursement for our therapies from private or governmental insurers, could negatively impact demand for our services.

Successful sales of health care services and products generally depends, in part, upon the availability and amounts of reimbursement from third party healthcare payor organizations, including government agencies, private healthcare insurers and other healthcare payors, such as health maintenance organizations and self-insured employee plans. Uncertainty exists as to the availability of reimbursement for new therapies such as stem cell-based therapies. There can be no assurance that such reimbursement will be available in the future at all or without substantial delay or, if such reimbursement is provided, that the approved reimbursement amounts will be sufficient to support demand for our services at a level that will be profitable.

Our insurance may not be adequate to cover all claims or losses.

We expect to have insurance coverage against operating risks, including product liability claims and personal injury claims related to our products and services, but no assurance can be given that the nature and amount of that insurance will be sufficient to fully indemnify us against liabilities arising out of pending and future claims and litigation or available on terms acceptable to us. This insurance has deductibles or self-insured retentions and contains certain coverage exclusions. The insurance may not provide complete protection against losses and risks, and our results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected by unexpected claims not covered by insurance.

We have received an informal request for documents in connection with an SEC investigation of a third party matter, and there is no assurance that the SEC will not take action against us.

In connection with the SEC’s investigation of a matter regarding an unaffiliated third party, we have received an informal request from the SEC, dated December 23, 2008, for the voluntary production of documents and information concerning the issuance, distribution, registration, purchase, sale and/or offer to sell our securities from January 1, 2007. The third party served as the lead underwriter of our public offering that was consummated in August 2007. We are cooperating fully with the SEC’s request. There has been no indication to date that we are a target of the investigation. The SEC letter stated that the request should not be construed as an indication by the SEC or its staff that any violation of the federal securities laws has occurred, nor should it be considered a reflection upon any person, entity or security, but that there is no assurance that the SEC will not take any action against us. A determination by the SEC to take action against us could be costly and time consuming, could divert the efforts and attention of our directors, officers and employees from the operation of our business and could result in sanctions against us, any or all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.

Risks Related to the Acquisition of Our Interest in Erye

Erye has a limited history of earnings.

Erye’s continued growth and profitability depends on stabilizing and streamlining its operations, relocating to a new factory that is now under construction, continuing research and development for new drug products and expanding its sales network for drug distribution. The failure of Erye to be profitable could materially and adversely affect its and our operating results, financial condition and ability to continue as a going concern.

We may not be able to successfully integrate Erye into our business.

Our U.S. based management team has limited experience in purchasing and integrating new businesses in China. Our failure to successfully complete the integration of Erye could have a material adverse affect on our business, operating results and financial condition by reason of our failure to realize a sufficient benefit and financial return on capital expended in connection with the acquisition.

We expect to realize increased revenues and market penetration in Erye’s product areas as a result of the acquisition of our interest in Erye. Achievement of these expected benefits will depend, in part, on how we manage the integration of the Erye business into our operations. If we are unsuccessful in integrating the Erye business in a cost-effective manner, we may not realize the expected benefits of the acquisition and our business, operating results and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.

CBH and/or its affiliates may have had unknown liabilities that now may be deemed to be liabilities of NeoStem or its merger subsidiary as a result of the Merger.

There may have been liabilities of CBH and/or its affiliates that were unknown at the time of the Merger. As a result of the Merger, any such unknown liabilities may be deemed to be liabilities of NeoStem or our merger subsidiary. In the event any such liability becomes known, it may lead to claims against us or our subsidiary including, but not limited to, lawsuits, administrative proceedings, and other claims. Any such liabilities may subject us to increased expenses for attorneys’ fees, fines and litigation and expenses associated with any subsequent settlements or judgments. There can be no assurance that such unknown liabilities do not exist. To the extent that such liabilities become known, any such liability-related expenses may materially and adversely affect our profitability, operating results and financial condition.

Erye, and we as the owner of a controlling ownership interest in Erye, may be subject to tax liability as a result of the transfer of real estate assets from Erye to EET.

Prior to the closing of the Merger, CBH was required to cause Erye to transfer certain real estate assets to EET, or the Split with a leaseback to Erye, the transfer of which may be deemed a taxable event under PRC tax laws. EET has agreed to indemnify Erye and us against any tax liability that may result from such transfer of real estate assets. However, should such transfer of real estate assets be ultimately determined to be taxable, there is a risk that if EET will be unable or unwilling to pay the resultant tax liability pursuant to EET’s indemnification obligations, we would bear the liability to pay such tax liability, which could materially and adversely affect our business operating results and financial condition.

Demand for Erye’s existing pharmaceutical products may not experience significant growth and new product candidates and technologies we may develop or license may fail to obtain regulatory approval and market acceptance.

We cannot accurately predict the future growth rate or the size of the markets for our pharmaceutical products and technologies in China. The expansion of these markets depends on a number of factors, such as:

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the cost, performance and reliability of the products and technologies being offered, as compared to the products/technologies offered by competitors;

•

customers’ perceptions regarding the benefits of the products and technologies;

•

public perceptions regarding the use of the products and technologies;

The acquisition of our interest in Erye is intended to provide us with a stable yet growing business from which to launch new pharmaceutical drugs and other products in China. Should Erye fail to perform as expected, our business and results of operations will be materially and adversely affected and our ability to raise capital and continue as a going concern will be impaired.

Our ability to manage Erye’s business will be limited.

Pursuant to the Joint Venture Agreement, Erye’s board of directors is comprised of two individuals designated by EET and three individuals designated by us; provided, however, that one of the positions designated by us is to be the member of our board of directors designated by EET. The affirmative vote of at least 75% of all of the Erye board of directors is required for all major decisions, including decisions related to corporate transactions, changes in capital structure, and the material business strategy, operations and development of Erye. In addition, under PRC law, an affirmative vote of 100% of Erye’s board of directors is required to approve certain material matters of Erye such as the increase or decrease of its registered capital, a merger or spinoff of Erye, any amendment to its articles of association, and the termination and dissolution of Erye. We currently own only a 51% interest in Erye. Accordingly, in view of these provisions, we may have limited ability to exercise control over Erye’s business strategy, operations and development. Since many of Erye’s officers will reside in China and most of our executive officers reside in the U.S., Erye’s officers will manage the day-to-day operations of Erye with only limited participation from our executive officers.

Some terms of the Joint Venture Agreement limit our ability to consummate future acquisitions and investments in chemical drug manufacturing companies, which could limit our growth.

Pursuant to the terms of the Erye Joint Venture Agreement, prior to making an investment in any other chemical drug manufacturing company that competes directly with the business of Erye, we must obtain Eyre’s approval. In addition, we are obligated to consult with Erye prior to introducing any new small molecule drug in China to determine whether it can be produced less expensively or more efficiently by Erye. There can be no assurance that Erye will provide such approvals for acquisitions or new products, which could materially and adversely affect the growth of our business in China, our operating results and our financial condition.

An amendment to the Joint Venture Agreement may be required for a loan  to Erye, and the effectiveness of which is subject to approval by PRC government authorities.

If we make a loan to Erye or the joint venture for the purpose of funding a portion of the cost to complete equipping and Erye’s relocation to Erye’s new production facility, an amendment to the Joint Venture Agreement may be required in order to provide for the use and repayment of such funds. The amendment cannot become effective until it is approved by Jiangsin Provincial Bureau of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation and by any other PRC governmental authority approving the Joint Venture Agreement. Any delay in obtaining such approval(s) or material amendments to the terms of the amendment to the Joint Venture Agreement, or taxes or other payments imposed by the PRC government authorities as a condition to approval may delay or diminish our realization of benefits of such funding, which could delay Erye’s relocation and have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

The transactions related to the Merger may not have received all necessary PRC governmental approvals.

Prior to the closing of the Merger, CBH was required to cause Erye to transfer certain real estate assets to EET, or the Split.The Split has been approved by Jiangsin Provincial Bureau of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, or the JPBFTEC, and the amended Articles of Association and the amended Joint Venture Agreement have also been approved by the JPBFTSC in principle. While we believe that we have complied with applicable PRC laws and sought all requisite approvals with respect to the transactions related to the Merger (including, but not limited to, the Split and the amendments to both the Articles of Association and the Joint Venture Agreement), in light of the uncertainty of PRC laws in this area, no assurance can be given that all required filings have been made  or that PRC authorities will not take a contrary view, any of which events could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Eyre’s success is dependent upon its ability to establish and maintain its intellectual property rights.

Erye’s success depends, in part, on its ability to protect its current and future technologies and products and to defend its intellectual property rights. If it fails to protect its intellectual property adequately, competitors may manufacture and market products similar to Erye’s. Some patent applications in China are maintained in secrecy until the patent is issued. Because the publication of discoveries tends to follow their actual discovery by many months, Erye may not be the first to invent, or file patent applications on any of its discoveries. Patents may not be issued with respect to any of Erye’s patent applications and existing or future patents issued to or licensed by Erye may not provide competitive advantages for its products. Patents that are issued may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by its competitors. Furthermore, Erye’s patent rights may not prevent its competitors from developing, using or commercializing products that are similar or functionally equivalent to Erye’s products.

Erye also relies on trade secrets, non-patented proprietary expertise and continuing technological innovation that it seeks to protect, in part, by entering into confidentiality agreements with licensees, suppliers, employees and consultants. These agreements may be breached and there may not be adequate remedies in the event of a breach. Disputes may arise concerning the ownership of intellectual property or the applicability of confidentiality agreements. Moreover, Erye’s trade secrets and proprietary technology may otherwise become known or be independently developed by its competitors. If patents are not issued with respect to products arising from research, Erye may not be able to maintain the confidentiality of information relating to these products.

In the PRC, there has been substantial litigation in the pharmaceutical industry with respect to the manufacturing, use and sale of new products. These lawsuits relate to the validity and infringement of patents or proprietary rights of third parties. Erye may be required to commence or defend against charges relating to the infringement of patent or proprietary rights. Any such litigation could: (i) require Erye to incur substantial expense, even if it is insured or successful in the litigation; (ii) require Erye to divert significant time and effort of its technical and management personnel; (iii) result in the loss of its rights to develop or make certain products; and (iv) require Erye to pay substantial monetary damages or royalties in order to license proprietary rights from third parties.

An adverse determination in a judicial or administrative proceeding or a failure to obtain necessary licenses could prevent Erye from manufacturing and selling some of its products or increase its costs to market these products, which could have a material adverse affect on its and our business, operating results and financial condition.

In addition, when seeking regulatory approval for some of its products, Erye is required to certify to regulatory authorities, including the SFDA, that such products do not infringe upon third party patent rights. Filing a certification against a patent gives the patent holder the right to bring a patent infringement lawsuit against Erye. Any lawsuit regarding a particular product could delay, or result in a denial of, regulatory approval by the SFDA. A claim of infringement and the resulting delay could result in substantial expenses and even prevent Erye from manufacturing and selling certain of its products, which also could have a material adverse effect on its and our business, operating results and financial condition.

Erye’s launch of a product prior to a final court decision or the expiration of a patent held by a third party can expose Erye to a claim of substantial damages. Depending upon the circumstances, a court may award the patent holder damages equal to three times its loss of income. If Erye is found to have infringed a patent held by a third party and become subject to such treble damages, these damages could have a material adverse effect on its and our operating results and financial condition.

Erye’s insurance may not cover all risks or losses related to its drugs, products and services.

Any of Erye’s products or services may be defective, ineffective or cause dangerous side effects and, in certain cases, even fatality, and lead to claims in excess of the insurance maintained by Erye and us. Uninsured losses could materially and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

The business of Erye is conducted in a highly competitive industry.

Erye’s pharmaceutical products consist primarily of prescription antibiotics and active pharmaceutical intermediates, or APIs, which are chemicals used to manufacture pharmaceutical products. The market in China for these products is highly competitive and subject to regulation by the SFDA.

Erye competes in a large market with many competitors, particularly in the area of oral antibiotics. Many of its competitors are more established than Erye, and have significantly greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources Erye. Some of Erye’s competitors have greater name recognition and a larger customer base. These competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or changing opportunities and customer requirements and may be able to undertake more extensive promotional activities, offer more attractive terms to customers, and adopt more aggressive pricing policies. There can be no assurances that Erye will be able to compete successfully.

Many of Erye’s current products are prescription antibiotics that it sells through distributors, in many cases to state-controlled and private hospitals.

State-controlled and private hospitals are the primary users for many of Erye’s current products. The prices paid by such hospitals and the timing of payment for products purchased are, to a large extent, dependent on government policy, which is susceptible to change. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that Erye’s pricing structure for many of its products or the timing of the revenues from the sales of those products will continue. A change in government policy resulting in a reduction to the prices for any of Erye’s injectible antibiotics, or the timing of payment for products purchased, could have a material adverse effect on Erye’s, and our, results of operations and financial condition. Despite the above, payment is typically received by Erye at the time of sale to the distributor.

Price control regulations may decrease our profitability.

The list of medications eligible for reimbursement as well as the prices at which they are reimbursed are controlled by the PRC government, and are subject to control by the relevant state or provincial price administration authorities. In practice, price control with respect to these medicines sets a ceiling on their retail price. The actual price of such medicines set by manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers cannot historically exceed the price ceiling imposed by applicable government price control regulations. Although, as a general matter, government price control regulations have resulted in drug prices tending to decline over time, there has been no predictable pattern for such decreases. Such price controls, especially downward price adjustment, may negatively affect the revenue and profitability of Erye and, consequently, our revenue and profitability.

The bidding process with respect to the purchase of pharmaceutical products may lead to reduced revenue.

PRC regulations require non-profit medical organizations established in China to implement bidding procedures for the purchase of drugs. It is intended that the implementation of a bidding purchase system will be extended gradually and will cover, among other drugs, those drugs consumed in large volume and commonly used for clinical uses. Pharmaceutical wholesalers must have the due authorization of the pharmaceutical manufacturers in order to participate in the bidding process. If, for the purpose of reducing the bidding price, pharmaceutical manufacturers participate in the bidding process on their own and enter into purchase and sales contracts with medical organizations directly without authorizing a pharmaceutical distributor, the revenue of Erye may be adversely affected.

Erye’s activities related to research, development and marketing new drugs have inherent risks.

Part of Erye’s strategy is to expand its portfolio of drugs and therapies. Our U.S. management team is working with Erye to identify appropriate drug candidates for the Chinese market. The development of a new drug or therapy requires time, financial resources and drug development expertise. There is always a risk that such development efforts will prove unsuccessful. There also is a risk that any new drugs and technologies developed by Erye may not be compatible with market needs, may be too expensive or may face competition. Because markets for drugs differ geographically within China, Erye must develop and manufacture its products to target specific markets to ensure product sales. Erye’s growth and survival will depend on its ability to develop and commercialize new products and effectively market those products. If its efforts are unsuccessful, its and our business, operating results and financial conditions will be materially and adversely affected.

Erye’s success depends on its ability to retain key personnel and manage its growth.

Erye’s business is dependent on certain of their key management and technological personnel. The departure of any of such key personnel may seriously disrupt and harm Erye’s operations, business and the implementation of Erye’s business plan. There can be no assurance that Erye can be successful in retaining them or replacing any personnel without delay in the event of a departure. Given Eyre’s plans for growth, it will need to attract and retain new executives. The inability to achieve, maintain and manage growth could have a material adverse effect on Eyre’s and our business, operating results and financial condition and our ability to continue as a going concern.

Risks Related to Doing Business in China

Our operations are subject to risks associated with emerging markets.

The Chinese economy is not well established and is only recently emerging and growing as a significant market for consumer goods and services. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the market will continue to grow. Perceived risks associated with investing in China, or a general disruption in the development of China’s markets could materially and adversely affect the business, operating results and financial condition of Erye and us.

A significant portion of our assets is located in the PRC, and investors may not be able to enforce federal securities laws or their other legal rights.

A substantial portion of our assets is located in the PRC. As a result, it may be difficult for investors in the U.S. to enforce their legal rights, to effect service of process upon certain of our directors or officers or to enforce judgments of U.S. courts predicated upon civil liabilities and criminal penalties against our directors and officers located outside of the U.S.

The PRC government has the ability to exercise significant influence and control over our operations in China.

In recent years, the PRC government has implemented measures for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the establishment of corporate governance practices in business enterprises. However, many productive assets in China are still owned by the PRC government. In addition, the government continues to play a significant role in regulating industrial development by imposing business regulations. It also exercises significant control over the country’s economic growth through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.

There can be no assurance that China’s economic, political or legal systems will not develop in a way that becomes detrimental to our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our activities may be materially and adversely affected by changes in China’s economic and social conditions and by changes in the policies of the government, such as measures to control inflation, changes in the rates or method of taxation and the imposition of additional restrictions on currency conversion.

Additional factors that we may experience in connection with having operations in China that may adversely affect our business and results of operations include:

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our inability to enforce or obtain a remedy under any material agreements;

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PRC restrictions on foreign investment that could impair our ability to conduct our business or acquire or contract with other entities in the future;

	•	restrictions on currency exchange that may limit our ability to use cash flow most effectively or to repatriate our investment;
	•	restrictions on currency exchange that may limit our ability to use cash flow most effectively or to repatriate our investment;
	▪	fluctuations in currency values;
	▪	cultural, language and managerial differences that may reduce our overall performance; and
	▪	political instability in China.

Cultural, language and managerial differences may adversely affect of our overall performance.

While Chinese mergers and acquisitions activity is increasing in frequency, assimilating cultural, language and managerial differences remains problematic. Personnel issues may develop as we endeavor to consolidate management teams from different cultural backgrounds. In addition, errors arising through language translations may cause miscommunications relating to material information. These factors may make the management of our operations in China more difficult. Should we be unable to coordinate the efforts of our U.S.-based management team with our China-based management team, our business, operating results and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

We may not be able to enforce our rights in China.

China’s legal and judicial system may negatively impact foreign investors. The legal system in China is evolving rapidly, and enforcement of laws is inconsistent. It may be impossible to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of laws or enforcement of the judgment of one court by a court of another jurisdiction. China’s legal system is based on civil law or written statutes and a decision by one judge does not set a legal precedent that must be followed by judges in other cases. In addition, the interpretation of Chinese laws may vary to reflect domestic political changes.

There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application to our business of PRC laws and regulations, since many of the rules and regulations that companies face in China are not made public. The effectiveness of newly enacted laws, regulations or amendments may be delayed, resulting in detrimental reliance by foreign investors. New laws and regulations that apply to future businesses may be applied retroactively to existing businesses. We cannot predict what effect the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations may have on our business.

The laws of China are likely to govern many of our material agreements, including, without limitation the Joint Venture Agreement. We cannot assure you that we will be able to enforce our interests or our material agreements or that expected remedies will be available. The inability to enforce or obtain a remedy under any of our future agreements may have a material adverse impact on our operations.

Our businesses in China are subject to government regulation that limit or prohibit direct foreign investment, limiting our ability to control these businesses, as well as our ability to pursue new ventures and expand further into the Chinese market.

The PRC government has imposed regulations in various industries, including medical research and the stem cell business, that limit foreign investors’ equity ownership or prohibit foreign investments altogether in companies that operate in such industries. As a result, our ability to control our existing China-based businesses as well as pursue new ventures and expand further into the Chinese market may be limited.

If new laws or regulations or policies forbid foreign investment in industries in which we want to expand or complete a business combination, they could severely impair our ability to grow our business. Additionally, if the relevant Chinese authorities find us or such business combination to be in violation of any laws or regulations, they would have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including, without limitation: (i) levying fines; (ii) revoking our business and other licenses; (iii) requiring that we restructure our ownership or operations; and (iv) requiring that we discontinue any portion or all of our business. Accordingly, any of these regulations or violations could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

The import into China or export from China of technology relating to stem cell therapy may be prohibited or restricted.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM, and Ministry of Science and Technology of China, or MOST, jointly publish the Catalogue of Technologies the Export of which from China is Prohibited or Restricted, and the Catalogue of Technologies the Import of which into China Prohibited or Restricted. Stem cell-related technologies are not listed in the current versions of these catalogues, and therefore their import or export should not be forbidden or require the approval of MOFCOM and MOST. However, these catalogues are subject to revision and, as the PRC authorities develop policies concerning stem cell technologies, it is possible that the categories would be amended or updated should the PRC government want to regulate the export or import of stem cell related technologies to protect material state interests or for other reasons. Should the catalogues be updated so as to bring any activities of the planned stem cell processing, storage and manufacturing operation in Beijing and related research and development activities under their purview, any such limitations or restrictions imposed on the operations and related activities could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our business in China may be adversely affected by inaccurate claims about our technology.

We recently learned of an effort by a principal of Shandong New Medicine Research Institute of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Limited Liability Company, or Shandong New Medicine, to promote our VSEL TM technology as his own in China. While we have no reason to believe that Shandong New Medicine or such person has any VSEL TM technology or has access to or use of any of our proprietary information, we are analyzing the available facts and circumstances and have initiated and are reviewing additional appropriate legal remedies in the U.S. and abroad. We cannot determine at this time what effect, if any, such actions by Shandong New Medicine or its principal will have on our reputation in China.

The PRC government does not permit direct foreign investment in stem cell research and development businesses. Accordingly, we operate these businesses through local companies with which we have contractual relationships but in which we do not have controlling equity ownership.

PRC regulations prevent foreign companies from directly engaging in stem cell-related research, development and commercial applications in China. Therefore, to perform these activities, we operate our current stem cell-related business in China through two domestic variable interest entities, or VIEs: Qingdao Niao Bio-Technology Ltd., or Qingdao Niao, and Beijing Ruijieao Bio-Technology Ltd., or Beijing Ruijieao, each a Chinese domestic company controlled by the Chinese employees of NeoStem (China), Inc., our wholly foreign-owned entity, or the WFOE, through various business agreements, referred to, collectively, as the VIE documents. We control these companies and operate these businesses through contractual arrangements with the companies and their individual owners, but we have no direct equity ownership or control over these companies. Our contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing control over these entities as direct ownership. For example, the VIEs could fail to take actions required for our business or fail to conduct business in the manner we desire despite their contractual obligation to do so. These companies are able to transact business with parties not affiliated with us. If these companies fail to perform under their agreements with us, we may have to rely on legal remedies under PRC law, which may not be effective. In addition, we cannot be certain that the individual equity owners of the VIEs would always act in our best interests, especially if they have no other relationship with us.

Although other foreign companies have used WFOEs and VIE structures similar to ours and such arrangements are not uncommon in connection with business operations of foreign companies in China in industry sectors in which foreign direct investments are limited or prohibited, the application of a VIE structure to control companies in a sector in which foreign direct investment is specifically prohibited carries increased risks.

For example, if our structure is deemed in violation of PRC law, the PRC government could revoke the business license of the WFOE, require us to discontinue or restrict our operations, restrict our right to collect revenues, require us to restructure our business, corporate structure or operations, impose additional conditions or requirements with which we may not be able to comply, impose restrictions on our business operations or on our customers, or take other regulatory or enforcement actions against us. We may also encounter difficulties in enforcing related contracts. Any of these events could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

Due to the relationship between the WFOE and the VIEs, the PRC tax authorities may challenge our VIE structure, including the transfer prices used for related party transactions among our entities in China.

Substantially all profits generated from the VIEs will be paid to the WFOE in China through related party transactions under contractual agreements. We believe that the terms of these contractual agreements are in compliance with the laws in China. However, the tax authorities in China have not examined these contractual agreements. Due to the uncertainties surrounding the interpretation of the transfer pricing rules relating to related party transactions in China, it is possible that the tax authorities in China could challenge the transfer prices that we will use for related party transactions among our entities in China and this could increase our tax liabilities and diminish the profitability of our business in China, which would materially and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

We expect to rely, in part, on dividends paid by our WFOE and/or Erye to supply cash flow for our U.S. business, and statutory or contractual restrictions may limit their ability to pay dividends to us.

We expect to rely partly on dividends paid to us under the Joint Venture Agreement, attributable to our 51% ownership interest in Erye, to meet our future cash needs. However, there can be no assurance that the WFOE in China will receive payments uninterrupted or at all as arranged under our contracts with the VIEs. In addition, pursuant to the Joint Venture Agreement that governs the ownership and management of Erye, for the next three years: (i) 49% of undistributed profits (after tax) will be distributed to EET and loaned back to Erye for use in connection with its construction of the new Erye facility; (ii) 45% of the net profit after tax will be provided to Erye as part of the new facility construction fund, which will be characterized as paid-in capital for our 51% interest in Erye; and (iii) only 6% of the net profit will be distributed to us directly for our operating expenses.

The payment of dividends by entities organized under PRC law to non-PRC entities is subject to limitations. Regulations in the PRC currently permit payment of dividends by our WFOE and Erye only out of accumulated distributable earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with accounting standards and regulations in China. Moreover, our WFOE and Erye will be required to set aside a certain percentage of their accumulated after-tax profit each year, if any, to fund certain mandated reserve funds (for our WFOE, such percentage is at least 10% each year until its reserves have reached at least 50% of its registered capital), and these reserves are not payable or distributable as cash dividends. In addition, Erye is also required to reserve a portion of its after-tax profits for its employee welfare and bonus fund, the amount of which is subject to the discretion of the Erye board of directors. In addition, if Erye incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict Erye’s or the joint venture’s ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us. This may diminish the cash flow we receive from Erye’s operations, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize our cash flow effectively.

Our interests in China will be subject to China’s rules and regulations on currency conversion. In particular, the initial capitalization and operating expenses of the two VIEs are funded by our WFOE. In China, the State Administration for Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE, regulates the conversion of the Chinese Renminbi into foreign currencies. Currently, foreign investment enterprises are required to apply to the SAFE for Foreign Exchange Registration Certificates, or IC Cards of Enterprises with Foreign Investment. Foreign investment enterprises holding such registration certificates, which must be renewed annually, are allowed to open foreign currency accounts including a “basic account” and “capital account.” Currency translation within the scope of the “basic account,” such as remittance of foreign currencies for payment of dividends, can be effected without requiring the approval of the SAFE. However, conversion of currency in the “capital account,” including capital items such as direct investments, loans, and securities, require approval of the SAFE. According to the Notice of the General Affairs Department of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises promulgated on August 29, 2008, or the SAFE Notice 142, to apply to a bank for settlement of foreign currency capital, a foreign invested enterprise shall submit the documents certifying the uses of the RMB funds from the settlement of foreign currency capital and a detailed checklist on use of the RMB funds from the last settlement of foreign currency capital. It is stipulated that only if the funds for the settlement of foreign currency capital are of an amount not more than US$50,000 and are to be used for enterprise reserve, the above documents may be exempted by the bank. This SAFE Notice 142, along with the recent practice of Chinese banks of restricting foreign currency conversion for fear of “hot money” going into China, have limited and may continue to limit our ability to channel funds to the two VIE entities for their operation. We are exploring options with our PRC counsels and banking institutions in China as to acceptable methods of funding the operation of the two VIEs, including advances from Erye, but there can be no assurance that acceptable funding alternatives will be identified. Further, even if we find an acceptable funding alternative, there can be no assurance that the PRC regulatory authorities will not impose further restrictions on the convertibility of the Chinese currency. Future restrictions on currency exchanges may limit our ability to use our cash flow for the distribution of dividends to our stockholders or to fund operations we may have outside of China, which could materially adversely effect our business and operating results.

Fluctuations in the value of the Renminbi relative to the U.S. dollar could affect our operating results.

We prepare our financial statements in U.S. dollars, while our underlying businesses operate in two currencies, U.S. dollars and Chinese Renminbi. It is anticipated that our Chinese operations will conduct their operations primarily in Renminbi and our U.S. operations will conduct their operations in dollars. At the present time we do not expect to have significant cross currency transactions that will be at risk to foreign currency exchange rates. Nevertheless, the conversion of financial information using a functional currency of Renminbi will be subject to risks related to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. The value of Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions and supply and demand in local markets. As we have significant operations in China, and will rely principally on revenues earned in China, any significant revaluation of the Renminbi could materially and adversely affect our financial results. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from an offering of our securities into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Beginning in July of 2005, the PRC government changed its policy of pegging the value of Renminbi to the U.S. dollar. Under the new policy, the value of the Renminbi has fluctuated within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. However, the Chinese government has come under increasing U.S. and international pressure to revalue the Renminbi or to permit it to trade in a wider band, which many observers believe would lead to substantial appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other major currencies. There can be no assurance that Renminbi will be stable against the U.S. dollar.

If China imposes economic restrictions to reduce inflation, future economic growth in China could be severely curtailed, reducing the profitability of our operations in China.

Rapid economic growth can lead to growth in the supply of money and rising inflation. If prices for any products or services in China are unable, for any reason, to increase at a rate that is sufficient to compensate for any increase in the costs of supplies, materials or labor, it may have an adverse effect on the profitability of Erye and our operations in China would be adversely affected. In order to control inflation in the past, China has imposed controls on bank credits, limits on loans for fixed assets and restrictions on state bank lending and could adopt additional measures to further combat inflation. Such measures could harm the economy generally and hurt our business by (i) limiting the income of our customers available to spend on our products and services, (ii) forcing us to lower our profit margins, and (iii) limiting our ability to obtain credit or other financing to pursue our expansion plans or maintain our business. We cannot predict with any certainty the degree to which our business will be adversely affected by slower economic growth in China.

Erye’s manufacturing operations in China may be adversely affected by changes in PRC government policies regarding ownership of assets and allocation of resources to various industries and companies.

While the PRC government has implemented economic and market reforms, a substantial portion of productive assets in China are still owned by the PRC government. The PRC government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. Should the PRC government change its policies regarding economic growth and private ownership of manufacturing and other assets of Erye, we may be unable to execute our business plan, we may lose rights to certain business assets and our business, operating results and financial condition may be materially harmed.

If there are any adverse public health developments in China, our business and operations may be disrupted and medical tourism in China may decline, which could delay the launch of our stem cell therapies in China.

Any prolonged occurrence of avian flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, or other adverse public health developments in China or other regions where we operate could disrupt our business and have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. These could include the ability of our personnel to travel or to promote our services within China or in other regions where we operate, as well as temporary closure of our facilities.

Any closures or travel or other operational restrictions would severely disrupt our business operations and adversely affect our results of operations.

If the anticipated growth of medical tourism in China does not occur, or if fewer people travel abroad for the purpose of cosmetic or medical therapies for any reason, including limitations imposed by governmental authorities, we may not achieve our revenue and profit expectations.

One part of our business plan involves launching innovative, safe, and effective adult stem cell-based therapies in China that have not yet been approved in the U.S., to generate sales revenues in advance of obtaining U.S. regulatory approvals. Different countries have different regulatory requirements and pathways resulting in the availability of therapeutics in one market prior to another. This phenomenon has led to the growth of an industry called “medical tourism” where patients travel to foreign locations and receive treatments that have not yet been approved in their home countries.

If the anticipated growth of medical tourism in China does not occur, or if fewer people travel abroad for the purpose of cosmetic or medical therapies for any reason, including limitations imposed by governmental authorities,we may not achieve our revenue and profit expectations. Any setbacks to the implementation of our business plan could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

China is a developing nation governed by a one-party communist government and susceptible to political, economic, and social upheaval that could disrupt the economy.

China is a developing country governed by a one-party government. China is also a country with an extremely large population, wide income gaps between rich and poor and between urban and rural residents, minority ethnic and religious populations, and growing access to information about the different social, economic, and political systems found in other countries. China has also experienced extremely rapid economic growth over the last decade, and its legal and regulatory systems have had to change rapidly to accommodate this growth. If China experiences political or economic upheaval, labor disruptions or other organized protests, nationalization of private businesses, civil strife, strikes, acts of war and insurrections, this may disrupt China’s economy and could materially and adversely affect our financial performance.

If political relations between China and the U.S. deteriorate, our business in China may be materially and adversely affected.

The relationship between China and the U.S. is subject to periodic tension. Relations may also be compromised if the U.S. becomes a more active advocate of Taiwan or pressures the PRC government regarding its monetary, economic or social policies. Changes in political conditions in China and changes in the state of Sino-U.S. relations are difficult to predict and could adversely affect our operations or financial condition. In addition, because of our involvement in the Chinese market, any deterioration in political relations might cause a public perception in the U.S. or elsewhere that might cause the goods or services we may offer to become less attractive. If any of these events were to occur, it could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

China’s State Food and Drug Administration’s regulations may limit our ability to develop, license, manufacture and market our products and services.

Some or all of our operations in China will be subject to oversight and regulation by the SFDA. Government regulations, among other things, cover the inspection of and controls over testing, manufacturing, safety and environmental considerations, efficacy, labeling, advertising, promotion, record keeping and sale and distribution of pharmaceutical products. Such government regulations may increase our costs and prevent or delay the licensing, manufacturing and marketing of any of our products or services. In the event we seek to license, manufacture, sell or distribute new products or services, we likely will need approvals from certain government agencies such as the SFDA. The future growth and profitability of any operations in China would be contingent on obtaining the requisite approvals. There can be no assurance that we will obtain such approvals.

In 2004, the SFDA implemented new guidelines for the licensing of pharmaceutical products. All existing manufacturers with licenses were required to apply for the Good Manufacturing Practices, or cGMP, certifications. Erye has received the requisite certifications. However, should Erye fail to maintain its cGMP certifications or fail to obtain cGMP and other certifications for its new production facilities, this would have a material adverse effect on Erye’s and our business, results of operations and financial condition.

In addition, delays, product recalls or failures to receive approval may be encountered based upon additional government regulation, legislative changes, administrative action or changes in governmental policy and interpretation applicable to the Chinese pharmaceutical industry. Our pharmaceutical activities also may subject us to government regulations with respect to product prices and other marketing and promotional related activities. Government regulations may substantially increase our costs for developing, licensing, manufacturing and marketing any products or services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

The SFDA and other regulatory authorities in China have implemented a series of new punitive and stringent measures regarding the pharmaceuticals industry to redress certain past misconducts in the industry and certain deficiencies in public health reform policies. Given the nature and extent of such new enforcement measures, the aggressive manner in which such enforcement is being conducted and the fact that newly-constituted local level branches are encouraged to issue such punishments and fines, there is the possibility of large scale and significant penalties being levied on manufacturers. These new measures may include fines, restriction and suspension of operations and marketing and other unspecified penalties. This new regulatory environment has added significantly to the risks of our businesses in China and may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

In China, we plan to conduct research and development activities related to stem cells in cooperation with two domestic Chinese companies. If these activities are regarded by PRC government authorities as “human genetic resources research and development activities,” additional approvals by PRC government authorities will be required.

Our research and development activities in adult stem cells in China are conducted in cooperation with the Beijing Stem Cell Research Center, or Lab, and a consultant, the Shandong Life Science Institute and Technology Research, or SLSI. Pursuant to the Interim Measures for the Administration of Human Genetic Resources, or the Measures, that took effect on June 10, 1998, China maintains a reporting and registration system on important pedigrees and genetic resources in specified regions. All entities and individuals involved in sampling, collecting, researching, developing, trading or exporting human genetic resources or taking such resources outside China must abide by the Measures. “Human genetic resources” refers to genetic materials such as human organs, tissues, cells, blood specimens, preparations or any type of recombinant DNA constructs, which contain human genome, genes or gene products as well as to the information related to such genetic materials.

It is possible that our research and development activities conducted by the Lab or SLSI in cooperation with us in China may be regarded by PRC government authorities as human genetic resources research and development activities, and thus will be subject to approval by PRC government authorities. The sharing of patents or other corresponding intellectual property rights derived from such research and development operations is also subject to various restrictions and approval requirements established under the Measures.

With regard to the ownership of intellectual property rights derived from human genetic resources research and development, the Measures provide that the China-based research and development institution shall have priority access to information about the human genetic resources within China, particularly the important pedigrees and genetic resources in the specified regions and the relevant data, information and specimens and any transfer of such human genetic resources to other institutions shall be prohibited without obtaining corresponding approval from the Human Genetic Resource Administration Office of China, among other governmental authorities or agencies. No foreign collaborating institution or individual that has access to the above-mentioned information may publicize, publish, apply for patent rights or disclose it by any other means without obtaining government approval. In a collaborative research and development project involving human genetic resources of China between any Chinese and foreign institutions, intellectual property rights shall be allocated according to the following principles: (i) patent rights shall be jointly applied for by both parties and the resulting patent rights shall be owned by both parties if an achievement resulting from the collaboration is patentable; (ii) either party has the right to exploit such patent separately or jointly in its own country, subject to the terms of the collaboration; however, the transfer of such patent to any third party or authorizing any third party to implement such patent shall be carried out upon agreement of both parties, and the benefits obtained thereof shall be shared in accordance with their respective contributions; and (iii) the right of utilizing, transferring and sharing any other scientific achievement resulted from the collaboration shall be specified in the collaborative contract or agreement signed by both parties. Both parties are equally entitled to make use of the achievement which is not specified in the collaborative contract or agreement; however, the transfer of such achievement to any third party shall be carried out upon agreement of both parties, and the benefits obtained thereof shall be shared in accordance with their respective contributions.

If the research and development operations conducted by the Lab or SLSI in cooperation with us in China are regarded by PRC government authorities as human genetic resources research and development activities, we may be required to obtain approval from PRC governmental authorities to continue such operations and the Measures may adversely affect our rights to intellectual property developed from such operations. Our inability to access intellectual property, or our inability to obtain required on a timely basis, or at all, could materially and adversely affect our operations in China, and our operating results and financial condition.

Erye will lose certain preferential tax concessions, which may cause our tax liabilities to increase and its profitability to decline.

The National People’s Congress of China enacted a new PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, that went into effect on January 1, 2008. Domestic-invested enterprises and foreign-invested entities now are subject to enterprise income tax at a uniform rate of 25% unless they qualify for limited exceptions. During the transition period for enterprises established before March 16, 2007, the tax rate will gradually increase starting in 2008 and will be equal to the new tax rate in 2012. As a result, Erye will lose its preferential tax rates.

Because of the EIT Law, we expect that the tax liabilities of Erye will increase. Any future increase in the enterprise income tax rate applicable to Erye or other adverse tax treatments could increase Erye’s tax liabilities and reduce its net income, which could have a material adverse effect on Erye’s and our results of operations and financial condition.

Some of the laws and regulations governing our business in China are vague and subject to risks of interpretation.

Some of the PRC laws and regulations governing our business operations in China are vague and their official interpretation and enforcement may involve substantial uncertainty. These include, but are not limited to, laws and regulations governing our business and the enforcement and performance of our contractual arrangements in the event of the imposition of statutory liens, death, bankruptcy and criminal proceedings. Despite their uncertainty, we will be required to comply.

New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed businesses may be applied retroactively. Accordingly, the effectiveness of newly enacted laws, regulations or amendments may not be clear. We cannot predict what effect the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations may have on our business.

In addition, pursuant to China’s Administrative Measures on the Foreign Investment in Commercial Sector, foreign enterprises are permitted to establish or invest in wholly foreign-owned enterprises or joint ventures that engage in wholesale or retail sales of pharmaceuticals in China subject to the implementation of relevant regulations. However, no specific regulations in this regard have been promulgated to date, which creates uncertainty. If specific regulations are not promulgated, or if any promulgated regulations contain clauses that cause an adverse impact to our operations in China, then our business, operating results and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

The laws and regulations governing the therapeutic use of stem cells in China are evolving. New PRC laws and regulations may impose conditions or requirements with which could materially and adversely affect our business.

As the stem cell therapy industry is at an early stage of development in China, new laws and regulations may be adopted in the future to address new issues that arise from time to time. As a result, substantial uncertainties exist regarding the interpretation and implementation of current and any future PRC laws and regulations applicable to the stem cell therapy industry. There is no way to predict the content or scope of future Chinese stem cell regulation. There can be no assurance that the PRC government authorities will not issue new laws or regulations that impose conditions or requirements with which we cannot comply. Noncompliance could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Until implementing rules are issued with regard to the PRC Antitrust Law, we are unable to determine whether our operations comply.

It is expected that a set of detailed implementing rules of the PRC Antitrust Law will be issued by the PRC government. We are now in the process of reviewing our current business model and business operation against the current PRC Antitrust Law. However, before the promulgation of such implementing rules, we are unable to determine whether we might be in violation of any aspects of the PRC Antitrust Law. A violation of the PRC Antitrust law could subject our operations to sanctions, fines and other governmental enforcement action any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We may be subject to fines and legal sanctions imposed by the SAFE or other PRC government authorities if we or our PRC employees fail to comply with recent PRC regulations relating to employee stock options granted by offshore listed companies to PRC citizens.

On April 6, 2007, the SAFE issued the “ Operating Procedures for Administration of Domestic Individuals Participating in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan or Stock Option Plan of An Overseas Listed Company ,” referred to as Circular 78. It is not clear whether Circular 78 covers all forms of equity compensation plans or only those which provide for the granting of stock options. For any plans which are so covered and are adopted by a non-PRC listed company after April 6, 2007, Circular 78 requires all participants who are PRC citizens to register with and obtain approvals from the SAFE prior to their participation in the plan. In addition, Circular 78 also requires PRC citizens to register with the SAFE and make the necessary applications and filings if they participated in an overseas listed company’s covered equity compensation plan prior to April 6, 2007. The 2009 Non-U.S. Plan authorizes the grant of certain equity awards to our officers, directors and employees, some of whom are PRC citizens. Circular 78 may require our officers, directors and employees who receive option grants and are PRC citizens to register with the SAFE. We believe that the registration and approval requirements contemplated in Circular 78 will be burdensome and time consuming. If it is determined that any of our equity compensation plans are subject to Circular 78, failure to comply with such provisions may subject us and participants of our equity incentive plan who are PRC citizens to fines and legal sanctions and prevent us from being able to grant equity compensation to our PRC employees. In that case, our ability to compensate our officers, directors and employees through equity compensation would be hindered and our business operations may be adversely affected.

Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences.

We are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which generally prohibits U.S. companies from engaging in bribery or other prohibited payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Foreign companies, including some that may compete with us, are not subject to these prohibitions. Corruption, extortion, bribery, pay-offs, theft and other fraudulent practices occur from time-to-time in the PRC. There can be no assurance, however, that our employees or other agents will not engage in such conduct for which we might be held responsible. If our employees or other agents are found to have engaged in such practices, we could suffer severe penalties and other consequences that may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Under the EIT Law, we may be classified as a “resident enterprise” of the PRC, which could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and to non-PRC stockholders.

Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China with “de facto management bodies” within China is considered a “resident enterprise,” meaning that it can be treated in a manner similar to a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, although the dividends paid to one resident enterprise from another may qualify as “tax-exempt income.” The implementing rules of the EIT Law define de facto management as “substantial and overall management and control over the production and operations, personnel, accounting, and properties” of the enterprise. The EIT Law and its implementing rules are relatively new and ambiguous in terms of some definitions, requirements and detailed procedures, and currently no official interpretation or application of this new “resident enterprise” classification, other than for enterprises established outside of China whose main holding investor/s is/are enterprise/s established in China, is available; therefore, it is unclear how tax authorities will determine tax residency based on the facts of each case.

If the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, the PRC could impose a 10% PRC tax on dividends we pay to our non-PRC stockholders and gains derived by our non-PRC stockholders from transferring our shares, if such income is considered PRC-sourced income by the relevant PRC authorities. In addition, we could be subject to a number of unfavorable PRC tax consequences, including: (a) we could be subject to enterprise income tax at a rate of 25% on our worldwide taxable income, as well as PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations; and (b) although under the EIT Law and its implementing rules, dividends paid to us from our PRC subsidiaries through our sub-holding companies may qualify as “tax-exempt income,” we cannot guarantee that such dividends will not be subject to withholding tax. Any increase in the taxation of our PRC-based revenues could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

Taxing authorities in the PRC may attempt to impose a capital gains tax on the transfer of the ownership of the 51% ownership interest in Erye.

Transactions involving the Merger of two non-PRC companies, but that result in the change in ownership of joint venture interests in the PRC, historically have not been taxed by the taxing authorities in the PRC. However, recently the taxing authorities in the PRC have levied capital gains tax at the rate of approximately 10% of the gain on a few real estate and mining transactions that resulted in a change in ownership in joint ventures located in the PRC. There can be no assurance that the PRC taxing authorities will not impose a capital gains tax of approximately 10% of the gain on the transfer to us of ownership of the 51% equity interests in Erye.

Risks Related to Our Securities

Our common stock has had limited trading volume.

Our common stock is currently listed on the NYSE Amex and has had limited trading volume since its listing on August 9, 2007. Low volumes can result in fluctuating prices and downward pressure on the price per share should there develop an imbalance between the shares available for sale and the number of shares sought to be purchased. We cannot assure you that the liquidity of our common stock will improve or that it will not decline from current levels. Our Class A Warrants also trade on the NYSE Amex, but have had very limited trading volume. Investors holding our common stock may find it difficult to dispose of such shares.

Our stock price has been and may continue to be volatile.

The price of our common stock has fluctuated widely in the past and may be more volatile in the future. In addition to our low stock trading volume, some of the other factors contributing to our stock’s price volatility include announcements of government regulation, new products or services introduced by us or by our competition, healthcare legislation, trends in health insurance, litigation, fluctuations in operating results, our success in commercializing our business, market conditions for healthcare stocks in general as well as economic recession. Any of these factors could have a significant impact on the price of our common stock.

Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have a material adverse effect on our business and stock price.

CBH reported several material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting and concluded that it did not have effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2009. If we fail to (1) remediate the material weaknesses identified in CBH’s internal control over financial reporting that are continuing with regard to Erye, and integrate CBH’s internal control over financial reporting pertaining to Erye with ours, or (2) we fail to maintain the adequacy of internal control over our financial reporting with regard to the financial condition and results of operations of Erye, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time.

During the course of testing our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, we may identify and disclose material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting that will have to be remedied. Implementing any appropriate changes to our internal control may require specific compliance training of our directors, officers and employees, entail substantial costs in order to modify our existing accounting systems, and take a significant period of time to complete. Such changes may not, however, be effective in maintaining the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, and any failure to maintain that adequacy or inability to produce accurate financial statements on a timely basis could result in our financial statements being unreliable, increase our operating costs and materially impair our ability to operate our business.

Failure to achieve and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in a loss of investor confidence in our financial reports and could have a material adverse effect on our stock price. Additionally, failure to maintain effective internal control over our financial reporting could result in government investigation or sanctions by regulatory authorities.  Please see Item 9A – Management’s Annual Report in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting for a discussion of material weaknesses and the Company’s remediation efforts.

We have a significant number of securities convertible into, or allowing the purchase of our common stock. Investors could be subject to increased dilution. Also, the issuance of additional shares as a result of such conversion or purchase, or their subsequent sale, could adversely affect the price of our common stock.

Investors in our company will be subject to increased dilution upon conversion of our preferred stock and upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants. There were 43,946,031 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 24, 2010. As of that date, preferred stock outstanding could be converted into 9,086,124 shares of our common stock and stock options and warrants outstanding that are exercisable represented an additional 19,838,802 shares of our common stock that could be issued (for which cash would need to be remitted to us for exercise) in the future. Most of the outstanding shares of our common stock, as well as the vast majority of the shares of our common stock that may be issued under our outstanding options and warrants, are not restricted from trading or have the contractual right to be registered.

Any significant increase in the number of shares offered for sale could cause the supply of our common stock available for purchase in the market to exceed the purchase demand for our common stock. Such supply in excess of demand could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not applicable.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Effective April 1, 2009, we leased executive offices at 420 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10170, which serve as our headquarters. The lease has a current term that extends through June 2013 and is believed to be sufficient space for the foreseeable future.

In September 2009, we leased office and laboratory space at 840 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts for approximately three years, or the Cambridge Space. The Cambridge Space will be used for general office, research and development, and laboratory purposes (inclusive of an adult stem cell collection center). The base rent under the Cambridge Lease is $283,850 for the first year, $356,840 for the second year and $369,005 for the third year.

The current operations of Erye are located in Suzhou City. All buildings are fully occupied and used by Erye. The ages of all buildings are over 25 years. The land on which the facilities are situated is located at the heart of city and is restricted by government regulation from any new building development. In 2005, the government issued a mandate requiring the relocation of many of Suzhou’s existing manufacturing facilities. To comply with this mandate, and to meet the growing demands of its business, Erye acquired land use rights to approximately 27 acres in the Xiangcheng District of Suzhou for $1.8 million and, in 2007, commenced the construction of a new, state-of-the-art production facility. This new campus-style facility includes 12 buildings containing a total of approximately 49,436 square meters, for which the external building construction has been completed. Portions of the new facility are expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2010 and the relocation is expected to be completed by the end of 2011. The land use rights end in January of 2058.

The total cost of the new facility is estimated to be approximately $30 million, of which approximately $16 million has been paid for through December 31, 2009. The remaining $14 million is expected to be funded from a combination of proceeds from the Company’s February 2010 public offering in which it raised net proceeds of approximately $7.1 million, the proceeds from the exercise by RimAsia in March 2010 of a warrant to purchase 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock at a per share purchase price  of $1.75 resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of $1,750,000 (in each of the prior two cases such funding would be in the form of a loan from the Company), an Erye line of credit and Erye’s operating cash flow. To this end, the owners of Erye have agreed to reinvest a substantial portion of their respective shares of the earnings of Erye to pay the costs associated with the completion of, and Erye’s relocation to, the new production facility.

In 2008, CBH, the then 51% owner of Erye, and EET, as the owner of the remaining 49% of Erye, and RimAsia, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, which established, among other things, certain terms and conditions concerning the operation and relocation of Erye. The MOU calls for all proceeds associated with the relocation of the current facility in which Erye manufactures product to be sold, to the new facilities currently under construction, to be paid to EET. In September 2009, Erye agreed to transfer the land and building for its principal manufacturing facility to a new joint venture beneficially owned by EET.  Erye and the new joint venture, which was approved by the Jiangsu Provincial Bureau of Commerce on December 28, 2009, have agreed to Erye’s continued use of the land and buildings for a nominal fee until the construction of the new plant and Erye’s relocation are completed.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We may be subject to litigation in the ordinary course. Currently, we are not a party to any litigation that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

ITEM 4. REMOVED AND RESERVED

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

ITEM 5(a). MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

MARKET FOR OUR COMMON EQUITY

Our Common Stock is presently traded on the NYSE Amex (previously known as the American Stock Exchange) under the trading symbol “NBS.”  From August 31, 2006 to August 8, 2007, it traded on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (OTC.BB) under the symbol “NEOI” and from July 24, 2003 to August 30, 2006 traded under the symbol “PHSM.”  The prices, as presented below, represent the highest and lowest intra-day prices for our common stock as quoted on the OTC.BB through August 8, 2007 and the high and low sales prices on the NYSE Amex thereafter. The OTC.BB market quotations may reflect inter-dealer prices without retail mark-up, mark-down, or commission, and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. On March 26, 2010, as reported on the NYSE Amex, the last sale price of our common stock was $1.68 per share, and the high and low sale prices of our common stock were $1.72 and $1.66 , respectively.

HOLDERS

As of March 15, 2010, there were approximately 1,476 holders of record of our common stock which does not include beneficial owners for whom Cede & Co. or others act as nominees.

DIVIDENDS AND DIVIDEND POLICY

Holders of our common stock are entitled to dividends when, as, and if declared by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefore. We have never paid any cash dividends on our capital stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.  We currently intend to retain any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. Future dividend policy is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors, subject to certain qualifications described below.

As long as any shares of our Series C Preferred Stock are outstanding, no dividend may be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any junior stock, unless there has been declared and paid or set apart for payment on the shares of Series C Preferred Stock, all accrued and unpaid annual dividends; provided, however, that the foregoing does not apply to (i) dividends payable solely in shares of any class or series of junior stock, or (ii) the purchase, redemption or conversion of shares of any junior stock, in exchange solely for shares of junior stock.

Furthermore, we rely on dividend payments from our subsidiaries, NeoStem (China), Inc., or NeoStem (China) and CBH Acquisition LLC, or Merger Sub, now China Biopharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc., that is the holder of our 51% interest in Erye, which may, from time to time, be subject to certain additional restrictions on their ability make distributions to us. PRC accounting standards and regulations currently permit payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits, a portion of which must be set aside to fund certain reserve funds. Our inability to receive all of the revenues from NeoStem (China) and Merger Sub may in turn provide an additional obstacle to our ability to pay dividends on our common stock in the future. Additionally, because the PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of the PRC, shortages in the availability of foreign currency may occur, which could restrict our ability to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends.

Finally, any distributions we may receive by reason of our ownership of a 51% interest in Erye will be subject to the provisions of the Joint Venture Agreement, which presently provides that, for the next three years, we will receive annual distributions of only six percent of Erye’s net profit.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table gives information about our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under our equity compensation plans. In the following table, the equity compensation plans approved by stockholders include the NeoStem, Inc. 2003 Equity Participation Plan (the “2003 Plan”), the NeoStem, Inc. 2009 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2009 Plan”) and the NeoStem, Inc. 2009 Non-U.S. Based Equity Compensation Plan (the “2009 Non-U.S. Plan”) as of December 31, 2009.  These plans were our only equity compensation plans in existence as of December 31, 2009.

RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES

Effective as of October 9, 2009, the Company entered into an agreement with a consultant who has previously provided services to the Company, pursuant to which this consultant was retained to provide additional financial market related services for a two month period. In consideration for providing services under this agreement, the Company agreed to issue to the consultant an aggregate of 25,000 shares of restricted Common Stock, to vest as to one-half of the shares at the end of each monthly period during the term, and a five year warrant to purchase 25,000 shares of restricted Common Stock at a per share exercise price of $2.10 (with certain cashless exercise provisions), to vest in its entirety at the end of the term. The issuance of such securities is subject to the approval of the NYSE Amex, which approval was obtained in December 2009.

Effective as of October 9, 2009, the Company entered into an agreement with a financial advisor who has previously provided services to the Company, pursuant to which this advisor was retained to provide additional financial advisory services for a two month period. In consideration for providing services under this agreement, the Company agreed to issue to the consultant an aggregate of 50,000 shares of restricted Common Stock, to vest as to one-half of the shares at the end of each monthly period during the term, and a five year warrant to purchase 25,000 shares of restricted Common Stock at a per share exercise price of $2.10 (with cashless exercise provisions), to vest in its entirety at the end of the term. The issuance of such securities is subject to the approval of the NYSE Amex, which approval was obtained in December 2009.

Effective as of November 20, 2009, the Company entered into an agreement with a consultant who has previously provided services to the Company, pursuant to which this consultant was retained to provide additional consulting services for a three month period. In consideration for providing services under this agreement, the Company agreed to issue to the consultant an aggregate of 50,000 shares of restricted common stock, to vest as to one-third of the shares at the end of each monthly period during the term. The issuance of such securities is subject to the approval of the NYSE Amex, which approval was obtained in December 2009.

Effective as of January 4, 2010 the Company entered into a one-year agreement with a consultant to provide investor relations services to the Company.  In consideration for providing services under this agreement, the Company agreed to pay a retainer of $8,000 per month, at the beginning of the month and each month thereafter during the primary term of the agreement and issue to the consultant a five year warrant to purchase 200,000 shares of restricted common stock at a per share exercise price of $2.00 to vest 50,000 each of the last day of each of the fiscal quarters. The issuance of such securities is subject to the approval of the NYSE Amex, which approval was obtained in January 2010.

Effective as of February 26, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with a consultant to provide to the Company necessary information for designing a successful marketing plan and product list for the penetration (Phase II) of Federal, State and local government markets.  In consideration for providing the services, the Company agreed to pay a retainer of $20,000 each month and a five year warrant in the Company's standard form to purchase 275,000 shares of Common Stock which shall have a per share exercise price $1.42 and shall vest and become exercisable in its entirety on such date after the Effective Date that certain milestones in performance have been achieved; provided that if such date is prior to May 14, 2010 then the warrant shall vest on May 14, 2010.  The issuance of such securities is subject to the approval of the NYSE Amex.

Effective as of March 11, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with a law firm which has been providing legal services to the Company since 2006, pursuant to which this firm was retained to provide additional legal services with regard to negotiation, drafting and finalization of contracts; in the development of strategic plans; with regard to funding from various agencies of the State of New Jersey and the Federal government.  In consideration for providing the services, the Company agreed to issue a five year warrant to purchase 52,000 shares of restricted Common Stock at a per share exercise price of $1.42, vesting as to one-half of the shares on June 30, 2010 and one-half of the shares on December 31, 2010.  The issuance of such securities is subject to the approval of the NYSE Amex.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this annual report. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this annual report.

The Merger

As reported on our Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 6, 2008, on November 2, 2008 we entered into the Merger Agreement with CBH. On October 30, 2009, the Merger was consummated, the effect of which was our acquisition of CBH’s 51% ownership interest in Erye. In connection with the Merger we established a wholly owned subsidiary through which we acquired our interest in Erye.

Erye was founded more than 50 years ago and represents an established, vertically-integrated pharmaceutical business, focused primarily on antibiotics. Suzhou Erye Economy and Trading Co. Ltd., or EET, owns the remaining 49% ownership interest in Erye. We and EET have negotiated a revised joint venture agreement, or the Joint Venture Agreement and will govern our ownership of Erye.

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Joint Venture Agreement, dividend distributions to EET and Merger Sub will be made in proportion to their respective ownership interests in Erye; provided, however, that for the three-year period commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter after the Joint Venture Agreement becomes effective distributions will be made as follows: (i) the 49% of undistributed profits (after tax) of the joint venture due EET will be distributed to EET and lent back to Erye to help finance costs in connection with their construction of and relocation to a new facility and; (ii) of the net profit (after tax) of the joint venture due Merger Sub, 45% will be provided to Erye as part of the new facility construction fund and will be characterized as paid-in capital for Merger Sub’s 51% interest in Erye, and 6% will be distributed to Merger Sub directly. In 2009 and as of December 31, 2009 distributions totaling approximately $7,158,000 had been deferred and EET has received and lent back approximately $7,688,000.

The Overview

In 2009, through our expansion efforts within China and with the acquisition of a controlling interest in Suzhou Erye Pharmaceuticals Ltd., or Erye, we transitioned into a multi-dimensional international biopharmaceutical company with product and service revenues, global research and development capabilities and operations in three distinct business units: (i) U.S. adult stem cells, (ii) China adult stem cells, and (iii) China pharmaceuticals. These business units are expected to provide platforms for the accelerated development and commercialization of innovative technologies and products in both the U.S. and China.

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U.S. adult stem cells — We will continue to focus on growing our stem cell collection, processing and storage business and expanding our research and development activities for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

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China adult stem cells — We are in the process of launching several stem cell-focused initiatives which include therapeutic applications, as well as related collection, processing and storage.

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China pharmaceuticals — Our ownership interest in Erye, a leading antibiotics producer in China, positions us to take advantage of China’s growth in healthcare spending through Erye’s existing pharmaceutical product portfolio, as well as from products we may develop or license.

NeoStem — Critical Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation : The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NeoStem, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and its wholly-owned and partially owned subsidiaries as listed below:

* Because certain PRC regulations currently restrict foreign entities from holding certain licenses and controlling certain businesses in China , we have created a wholly foreign-owned entity, or WFOE, NeoStem ( China ), to implement our expansion initiatives in China . To c omply with China’s foreign investment regulations with respect to stem cell-related activities, these business initiatives in China are conducted via two Chinese domestic entities, Qingdao Niao Bio-Technology Ltd., or Qingdao Niao, and Beijing Ruijieao Bio-Technology Ltd., or Beijing Ruijieao, that are controlled by the WFOE through various contractual arrangements and under the principles of consolidation we consolidate 100% of their operations .

Noncontrolling interests: Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) accounting standard regarding non-controlling interest in consolidated financial statements. Certain provisions of this accounting standard are required to be adopted retrospectively for all periods presented. Such provisions include a requirement that the carrying value of non-controlling interests (previously referred to as minority interests) be removed from the mezzanine section of the balance sheet and reclassified as equity. Further, as a result of adoption this accounting standard, net income attributable to non-controlling interests is now excluded from the determination of consolidated net income.

Use of Estimates : The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and disclosures. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.

Concentrations of Risk : Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash. Cash includes cash on hand and demand deposits in accounts maintained with banks within the People’s Republic of China and the United States. The Company places its cash accounts with high credit quality financial institutions, which at times may be in excess of the FDIC insurance limit. Total cash in these banks at December 31, 2009 and 2008 amounted to $7,159,369 and $430,786 of which $431,717 and $27,740 deposits are federally-insured, respectively of which $296,989 and 28,955 are covered by such insurance.  The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any risks on its cash in bank accounts. At December 31, 2009 the Company had invested approximately $1,031,000 in money market accounts

As of October 31, 2009 the Company was selling pharmaceutical products to pharmacies and hospitals. There is no sales concentration risk for the Company since there are no sales to one customer individually accounting for more than 10% of the total sales revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 and the two months ended December 31, 2009.

For the two months ended December 31, 2009 as a result of the acquisition of CBH, two major suppliers provided approximately 23.0% of the Company’s purchases of raw materials with each supplier individually accounting for 12% and 11%, respectively. As of December 31, 2009, the total accounts payable to the two major suppliers was $789,000, 10% of the total accounts payable.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 there were no suppliers which supplied more than 10% of the Company’s supplies or raw materials.

Restricted Cash: Restricted cash represents cash required to be deposited with banks for the balance of bank notes payable but are subject to withdrawal with restrictions according to the agreement with the bank and saving accounts. The required deposit rate is approximately 30-50% of the notes payable. Given the nature of the restricted cash, it is reclassified as a financing activity in Statement of Cash Flows.

Accounts Receivabl e : Accounts receivable are carried at original invoice amount less an estimate made for doubtful receivables. Management’s judgment and estimates are made in connection with establishing the allowance for doubtful accounts. Specifically, the Company analyzes the aging of accounts receivables balances, historical bad debts, customer concentration and credit-worthiness, current economic trends and changes in the Company’s customer payment terms. Significant changes in customer concentrations or payment terms, deterioration of customer credit-worthiness or weakening economic trends could have a significant impact on the collectability of the receivables and the Company’s operating results. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowance may be required. Management regularly reviews aging of receivables and changes in payment trends by its customers, and records a reserve when they believe collection of amounts due are at risk. There were allowance for doubtful accounts necessary at December 31, 2009 and 2008 in the amount of $273,600 and $0 respectively.

Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out basis. The Company reviews its inventory periodically for possible obsolescence or to determine if any reserves are necessary.

Property and Equipment : The cost of property and equipment is depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the related assets of 3 to 10 years. The cost of computer software programs are amortized over their estimated useful lives of five years. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method. Repairs and maintenance expenditures that do not extend original asset lives are charged to expense as incurred.

Income Taxes : The Company, in accordance with ASC 740-10 (formerly SFAS 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,”) recognizes (a) the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and (b) deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in an enterprise’s financial statement or tax returns. We continue to evaluate under guidance provided by the ASC, the accounting for uncertainty in tax positions.  The guidance requires companies to recognize in their financial statements the impact of a tax position if the position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit. The position ascertained inherently requires judgment and estimates by management.  For the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, we do not believe we have any material uncertain tax positions that would require us to measure and reflect the potential lack of sustainability of a position on audit in our financial statements. We will continue to evaluate our tax positions in future periods to determine if measurement and recognition in our financial statements.

Goodwill: Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination. The Company reviews recorded goodwill for potential impairment annually or upon the occurrence of an impairment indicator. The Company performed its annual impairment tests as of December 31, 2009 and determined no impairment exists. The Company will perform its future annual impairment as of the end of each fiscal year, or earlier if circumstances would indicate. Below is a recap of the changes in Goodwill for the twelve months ended 12/31/2009:

Accounting for Stock Based Compensation: In December 2004, the FASB issued ASC 718-10, 718-20 and 505-50 formerly, (SFAS No. 123(R), "Share-Based Payment" ("SFAS No. 123(R)")). ASC 718-10, 718-20 and 505-50 establish standards for the accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services. This statement focuses primarily on accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. ASC 718-10, 718-20 and 505-50 requires that the fair value of such equity instruments be recognized as an expense in the historical financial statements as services are performed. Prior to ASC 718-10, 718-20 and 505-50, only certain pro forma disclosures of fair value were required. The Company has adopted ASC 718-10, 718-20 and 505-50 effective January 1, 2006. The Company determines value of stock options by the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The value of options issued since January 1, 2006 or that were unvested at January 1, 2006 are being recognized as an operating expense ratably on a monthly basis over the vesting period of each option. With regard to stock options and warrants issued to non-employees the Company has adopted ASC 505-50 formerly (EITF 96-18 “Accounting for Equity Instruments That Are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring or in Conjunction with Selling Goods and Services.”)

Revenue Recognition : The Company initiated the collection and banking of autologous adult stem cells in the fourth quarter of 2006. The Company recognizes revenue related to the collection and cryopreservation of autologous adult stem cells when the cryopreservation process is completed which is generally twenty four hours after cells have been collected. Revenue related to advance payments of storage fees is recognized ratably over the period covered by the advanced payments. The Company earns revenue, in the form of license fees, from physicians seeking to establish autologous adult stem cell collection centers. These license fees are typically billed upon signing of the collection center agreement and qualification of the physician by the Company’s credentialing committee and at various times during the term of license agreement based on the terms of the specific agreement. During the quarter ended June 30, 2009, the Company modified its revenue recognition policy relative to these license fees to recognize such fees as revenues ratably over the appropriate period of time to which the revenue element relates. Previously these license fees were recognized in full when agreements were signed and the physician had been qualified by the Company’s credentialing committee. This modification of our revenue recognition policy did not have a material impact on our results of operations. The Company also receives licensing fees from a licensee for use of our technology and knowledge to operate an adult stem cell banking operation in China, which licensing fees are recognized as revenues ratably over the appropriate period of time to which the revenue element relates. In addition, the Company earns royalties for the use of its name and scientific information in connection with its License and Referral Agreement with Promethean Corporation (see “Related Party Transactions” below), which royalties are recognized as revenue when they are received.

The Company recognizes revenue from product sales when title has passed, the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the customer, the fee is fixed and determinable, and the collection of the related receivable is probable which is generally at the time of shipment.

Revenue was made up of the following product categories.

Fair Value Measurements :  We follow the provisions of ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures related to financial assets and liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal market at the measurement date (exit price). We are required to classify fair value measurements in one of the following categories:

Level 1 inputs which are defined as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 inputs which are defined as inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3 inputs are defined as unobservable inputs for the assets or liabilities. Financial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may effect the valuation of the fair value of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

The Company determined the fair value of funds invested in short term investments, which are available for sale and included in prepaid and other current assets on the balance sheet at December 31, 2009,  to be level 1 inputs measured by quoted prices of the securities in active markets. The Company determined the fair value of funds invested in money market funds to be level 2 inputs, which does not entail material subjectivity because the methodology employed does not necessitate significant judgment, and the pricing inputs are observed from actively quoted markets. The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2009.

Foreign Currency Translation: As the Company’s Chinese pharmaceutical business is a self-contained and integrated entity, and the Company’s Chinese stem cell business’ future cash flow is expected to be sufficient to service its additional financing requirements, the Chinese subsidiaries’ functional currency is the Renminbi (“RMB”), and the Company’s reporting currency is the US dollar.  Results of foreign operations are translated at the average exchange rates during the period, assets and liabilities are translated at the unified exchange rate as quoted by the People’s Bank of China at the end of each reporting period. Cash flows are also translated at average translation rates for the period, therefore, amounts reported on the statement of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheet.

This quotation of the exchange rates does not imply free convertibility of RMB to other foreign currencies. All foreign exchange transactions continue to take place either through the People’s Bank of China or other banks authorized to buy and sell foreign currencies at the exchange rate quoted by the People’s Bank of China.

Translation adjustments resulting from this process are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated statement of shareholders’ equity and amounted to $67,917 and $0 as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Assets and liabilities at December 31, 2009 were translated at 6.826 RMB to 1 US dollar. The average translation rates applied to income statement accounts and the statement of cash flows for the two months ended December 31, 2009 were 6.818 RMB to 1 US dollar.

Economic and Political Risks: The Company faces a number of risks and challenges since a significant amount of its assets are located in China and its revenues are derived primarily from its operations in China. China is a developing country with a young economic market system overshadowed by the state. Its political and economic systems are very different from the more developed countries and are still in the stage of change. China also faces many social, economic and political challenges that may produce major shocks and instabilities and even crises, in both its domestic arena and its relationship with other countries, including but not limited to the United States. Such shocks, instabilities and crises may in turn significantly and negatively affect the Company’s performance.

Research and Development Costs: Research and development (“R&D”) expenses include salaries, benefits, and other headcount related costs, clinical trial and related clinical manufacturing costs, contract and other outside service fees, and facilities and overhead costs. R&D costs are expensed when incurred.

Under the guidance of the FASB’s accounting standard regarding research and development costs, the Company expenses the costs associated with the research and development activities when incurred.

Results of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2008

Revenue

For the year ended December 31, 2009, total revenues were $11,565,100 compared to $83,500 for the year ended December 31, 2008. Revenues for 2009 were comprised of $11,386,700 of pharmaceutical product sales and $178,400 related to stem cell collections, license fees and royalties. The pharmaceutical product sales of $11,386,700 represents two months’ sales generated by Erye given the Merger closed on October 30, 2009.  The stem cell revenues generated in the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 were derived from a combination of revenues from the collection of autologous adult stem cells and license fees collected from collection centers in our collection center network. For the year ended December 31, 2009, we earned $143,700 from the collection and storage of autologous adult stem cells and $34,700 of license fees. For the year ended December 31, 2008, we earned $51,900 from the collection and storage of autologous adult stem cells and $31,000 from license fees. The increase in stem cell collection and storage revenue in 2009 compared to 2008 was due primarily to our efforts on recruiting clients into the existing network in the Northeast and Southern California. Cost of Sales is comprised of Cost of Goods sold of $7,474,300 related to the sale of our pharmaceutical products, and $112,900 of direct costs related to the cost of collecting autologous stem cells from clients.

Gross margin totaled $3,978,000 of which 98% is attributable to the sale of pharmaceutical products and the balance is attributable to our stem cell collection operations.

Operating Expenses

For the year ended December 31, 2009 operating expenses totaled $27,778,400 compared to $9,285,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008, representing an increase of $18,493,400 or 199%.

Historically, to minimize our use of cash, we have used a variety of equity and equity-linked instruments to pay for services and to incentivize employees, consultants and other service providers. The use of these instruments has resulted in significant charges to the results of operations. In general, these equity and equity-linked instruments were used to pay for employee and consultant compensation, director fees, marketing services, investor relations and other activities. For the year ended December 31, 2009 the use of equity and equity-linked instruments to pay for such expenses resulted in charges to selling, general, administrative and research expenses of $12,324,000 representing an increase of $8,434,800 over the year ended December 31, 2008.

The composition of our charges for the use of equity and equity linked instruments are as follows:

·	$6,263,600 relate to nonrecurring expenses associated with the vesting of stock options and issuance of common and restricted stock related to employees, directors and consultants which were tied to the completion of the Merger and related events;

·	$4,230,400 relate to recurring expenses associated with options issued to employees and consultants that vest over time;

·	$102,800 relate to expenses associated with options issued to employees and consultants that vest upon achievement of certain business milestones;

·	$1,458,100 relate to expenses associated with the issuance of common stock and the vesting of restricted stock to consultants for providing services; and

·	$269,100 relate to expenses associated with warrants issued to consultants for the payment of business services.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, our selling, general, administrative were $23,459,600 compared to $8,492,800 for the year ended December 31, 2008, representing an increase of $14,966,800, which was the result of:

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The activities related to our merger with CBH totaled $1,578,000 and increased our expenses by $771,900 primarily from the legal and professional services utilized to prepare for public filings and stockholder approval of our merger and related matters.

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Our efforts to establish a stem cell operation in China to provide advanced therapies, related processing and storage, as well as research and development capabilities totaled $5,209,500. Such expenses included expenditures for the rental of laboratory space, legal expenses associated with establishing our subsidiary company and related operations in China, consultants retained to support our implementation and introduction of advanced therapies in China, recruiting fees for identifying senior managers for our operation in China and travel. In addition these operating expenses reflect charges resulting from issuing various equity instruments to incentivize staff members and consultants totaling $2,163,900.

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Administrative expenses increased by approximately $8,213,600 Approximately $850,000 of this increased operating expense was the result of the Merger with Erye and the attendant operating expenses of this operation  and amortization costs associated with amortizing intangible assets that were capitalized as part of  accounting for the Merger. The Company’s US administrative operating expenses increased by $7,363,200. The use of equity instruments to incentivize staff , compensate directors and pay for services totaled $7,521,700, an increase of $4,404,200 over 2008. Salaries and wages increased by $1,586,900 as the result of increased staffing levels required to absorb the acquisition of Erye, contractual salary increases and tax payments and tax withholdings we paid on behalf of certain executive and other staff members in connection with common stock grants made during year. Professional fees, including legal and accounting fees increased by $603,500 as the result of our expanded operations in China and related professional services required to evaluate the Company’s internal controls and preparation work for the common stock offering that closed in February 2010. Investor relations services increased by $165,300, fees for preparing documents for various SEC filings and production of reports and materials needed for  shareholder meetings in connection with the Merger  together increased operating expenses by $212,900.  Additionally, travel and entertainment increased by $121,900 primarily as a result of the Company’s expanded operations in China, rent increased by $22,700 as a result of the leasing of office space in New York , franchise taxes increased  $155,000 and the majority of the balance of the increase in administrative expense resulted from increases and decreases in office expenses, insurance and other expenses. Sales and marketing expenses increased by $772,000 over 2008. Approximately $373,300 of this increased operating expense was the result of the Merger with Erye and the attendant sales and marketing  expenses of the Erye operation.  The use of equity instruments to incentivize staff, and pay for services totaled $897,700 an increase of $360,900 over 2008 and other  US sales and marketing costs increased by approximately $37,800. For the year ended December 31,2009, our research and development expenses totaled  $4,318,800 compared to $792,200 for the year ended December 31, 2008, representing an increase of $3,526,600, which was the result of: The use of equity instruments to incentivize research staff totaled $1,374,300, an increase of $1,138,000 over 2008. Research related to our VSEL TM technology increased operating expenses by $1,376,500. In particular, the operation of our Cambridge research laboratory and related staff increased operating expenses by $859,300, fees paid to consultants to support our research efforts increased VSEL TM technology research expense by $168,000, clinical studies initiated during the period increased our operating expenses by $162,000, patents and other legal expenses increased our research expense by $159,000, and increases in a variety of other areas increased our research expenses by $28,200.  During 2009 we initiated efforts to create a research facility in China and incurred fees and expenses totaling $773,000 related to this effort. Our acquisition of Erye added $132,000 of research and development expense to our operating expenses. The balance of the increase in research and development expense is related to costs associated with our wound healing research.

Dividends on Convertible Redeemable Series C Preferred Stock.

In connection with the Merger, the Company issued 8,177,512 shares of Convertible Redeemable Series C Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock”) which calls for annual dividend of 5% based on the stated value of the preferred stock. For the year 2009 we recorded a dividend of $69,500 as the prorated dividend due at December 31, 2009. In addition in connection with the issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock a dividend of $5,542,500 was recognized as the value of the beneficial conversion feature of the Series C Preferred Stock. The conversion feature does not require any minimum holding period or vesting before the preferred stock is converted. Because the preferred shareholder is not required to hold the preferred stock for any length of time before conversion we have accreted the value of the beneficial conversion feature as a dividend of $5,542,500.

Non-Controlling Interests

When the Company acquired China Biopharmaceutical Holdings, Inc it acquired a 51% interest in Erye Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.(“Erye”).  In preparing our financial statements the full operations of  Erye are reflected in these results as of October 30, 2009. We account for the 49% minority shareholder share of Erye’s net income with a charge to Non-Controlling Interests. For the year ended December 31, 2009 Erye’s minority shareholders’ share of net income (for the two months ended December 31, 2009) totaled $1,088,700.

Other Income and Expense

Interest expense increased $79,600 primarily due accrued interest on dividends paid to Erye’s minority shareholder in 2009 which were loaned back to Erye to provide funds to continue the construction of Erye’s new production facility. This loan calls for interest to accrue at rate of 5% annually and at December 31, 2009 this loan totaled approximately $7,954,443, including accrued interest. Interest accrued on this loan was offset by capitalization of interest on construction of approximately $61,000

Provision for taxes

The provision for taxes of $344,200 represents income taxes due on income of Erye for the two months ended December 31, 2009.

Year Ended December 31, 2008 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2007

For the year ended December 31, 2008, total revenues were $83,500 compared to $232,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007. The revenues generated in the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 were derived from a combination of revenues from the collection of autologous adult stem cells, license fees collected from collection centers in our collection center network and additionally, for the year ended December 31, 2007, the recognition of fees received in prior years from the sale of extended warranties and service contracts via the Internet, which were deferred and recognized over the life of such contracts. For the year ended December 31, 2008, we earned $52,500 relating to the collection and storage of autologous adult stem cells and $31,000 of license fees. For the year ended December 31, 2007, we earned $41,000 from the collection and storage of autologous adult stem cells and $189,000 from start-up fees. The reduction in start-up fees from 2007 to 2008 was due primarily to reduced activity in establishing collection centers and a concentration of our efforts on recruiting clients into the existing network in the Greater New York area, Southern California and Coral Gables, Florida. In addition, license fees were reduced because we opted to help support the launch of our new centers by waiving or reducing start-up fees. We recognized revenues from the sale of extended warranties and service contracts via the Internet of $1,700 for the year ended December 31, 2007. Since we had not been in the business of offering extended warranties since 2002, this revenue source declined and the recognition of these revenues ended in March 2007.

Direct costs are comprised of the cost of collecting autologous stem cells from clients and, as it relates to the prior business of offering extended warranties, the pro-rated cost of reinsurance purchased at the time an extended contract was sold to underwrite the potential obligations associated with such warranties. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the direct costs of collecting autologous stem cells were $32,000. For the year ended December 31, 2007, the direct costs of collecting autologous stem cells were $24,000 and $1,000 was associated with the pro-rata cost of reinsurance purchased for associated extended warranties.

Our selling, general and administration expenses for the year ended December 31, 2008 decreased by $2,153,200 or 20% over the year ended December 31, 2007, from $10,646,000 to $8,492,800. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an overall decrease in operating expenses as we made a concerted effort to reduce staff and trim expenses.

In an effort to preserve cash in 2008 and 2007, we continued to utilize our common stock, common stock options and warrants to pay for certain services. In 2008, we incurred $3,654,400 of expense related to the use of various equity and equity-linked instruments compared to 2007 when we incurred $4,619,000 of expense from such use, an overall reduction of $964,400. Equity and equity-linked instruments have been used for compensation purposes for management and other staff, consultants and directors and to pay for investment banking fees, investor relations, marketing expenses as well as other expenses. The compensatory element of the vesting of stock options and common stock granted to staff and directors was reduced by $1,553,400 in 2008 principally because the fair value of the options and common stock vesting in 2008 was significantly lower in comparison to 2007. Our use of equity and equity-linked instruments to pay for investment banking fees, investor relations, marketing expense as well as other expenses increased by $589,000. Other selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $1,191,400, or 11%, when compared to 2007. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses funded by cash in 2008 was primarily related to a decrease in legal expense of $646,000, investor relations expense of $312,000, consulting fees of $326,800, salary and benefits of $338,000, travel and entertainment of $108,000, validation expenses required for New York licensing of $60,000, the conclusion of severance payments to a former staff member of $54,000, stock exchange fees, filing fees and other related fees of $42,800, reduced attendance at conferences of $29,500 and laboratory expenses of $14,000. These decreases were offset by increases in expenses and activities associated with the Merger of $806,000 changes in other expenses resulted in an overall reduction of $66,300.

In 2007 we licensed our VSEL TM technology from the University of Louisville. As a result we started a Research and development initiative to develop this technology. Overall  for 2008 our research and development expenditures totaled  $792,100.  There were no similar efforts in 2007.  The use of equity instruments to incentivize staff totaled $236,200, salary and benefits were $237,400 and consulting fees totaled $143,400. Expenditures related to fees due the University of Louisville in connection with our VSEL TM technology license totaled $50,000 and expenses for applying for scientific grants and other activities to support VSEL TM technology research totaled  $18,000 and  expenses for rent, intangible asset amortization, and laboratory expenses account for the balance of research and development expenses in 2008.

NeoStem — Liquidity and Capital Resources

At December 31, 2009 we had a cash balance of $7,159,369, working capital of $6,305,658 and stockholders’ equity of $24,800,051.

Twelve months ended December 31, 2009

We incurred a net loss of $24,183,850 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009. The following chart represents the net funds provided by or used in operating, financing and investment activities for each period indicated:

Operating Activities

Our cash used for operating activities in the twelve months December 31, 2009 totaled $8,648,022, which is the sum of (i) our net loss, adjusted for non-cash expenses totaling $12,901,040 which includes common stock, common stock options and common stock purchase warrants issued for services rendered in the amount of $12,323,997 and depreciation and amortization of $577,043; (ii) an increase in cash provided from unearned revenue from advance payments from customers and licensees of $1,991,816, increases in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $1,274,621, a reduction in accounts receivable of $571,689, a reduction in prepaid and other current assets $1,796,691; (iii) cash used for payments of other assets of $238,941 and increases in inventory of $2,427,095.

In November 2007, we acquired the exclusive, worldwide rights to the VSEL TM technology developed by researchers at the University of Louisville. Concurrent with acquiring these rights, we also entered into a sponsored research agreement, or SRA, with the University of Louisville Research Foundation, or ULRF, which has been amended from time to time. Under the license agreement, we agreed to engage in a diligent program to develop the VSEL TM technology. Certain license fees, milestone payments and royalties, and specified payments in the event of sublicensing are to be paid to ULRF, and we are responsible for all payments for patent filings and related applications. Under the SRA, NeoStem will support additional research relating to the VSEL TM technology to be carried out in the laboratory of Mariusz Ratajczak, M.D., Ph.D., a co-inventor of the VSEL TM technology and head of the Stem Cell Biology Program at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville. In return, NeoStem will receive the exclusive first option to negotiate a license to the research results. The cost of the research to NeoStem is $120,859, although we are receiving a credit towards these costs in the amount of approximately $25,000. NeoStem is also supporting the costs of a post doctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Ratajczak. Through December 31, 2009, we have paid a total of $181,337 under the license agreement and the SRA.

Investing Activities

In 2009, we opened a research laboratory in Cambridge, MA to support the research and development requirements of our VSEL TM technology as well as our other research efforts regarding adult stem cells. The outfitting of this laboratory required us to purchase approximately $592,700 of laboratory equipment during the period. As development projects expand, the need for additional capital expenditures for our research laboratory will increase. Erye is building a new production facility and during the two months ended December 31, 2009 $1,057,000 was spent on construction.  This plant is expected to be fully operational in 2011. Our expansion into China also resulted in the purchase of several specialized medical instruments and office equipment totaling approximately $82,600 of capital expenditures that will be used to deliver advanced therapies in China. The balance of our capital expenditures was spent on scaling the company’s internal infrastructure to accommodate the CBH acquisition and integration of the additional offices in China and Boston.

Financing Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2009, we met our immediate cash requirements through existing cash balances, short-term loans, the Funding Agreement with RimAsia and offerings of preferred stock and warrants, in addition to the use of equity and equity-linked instruments to pay for services and compensation.

During the first quarter of 2009, we issued promissory notes to RimAsia, or the RimAsia Notes, which aggregated $1,150,000. In April 2009, we completed a private placement financing totaling $11 million, or the April 2009 Private Placement, of which approximately $1,162,000 was used to repay the RimAsia Notes and accrued interest. The April 2009 Private Placement consisted of the issuance of 880,000 units priced at $12.50 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of our Series D Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, or Series D Stock (convertible into 10 shares of our common stock) and ten warrants, or the Series D Warrants, with each Series D Warrant to purchase one share of our common stock. In June 2009, and with a final closing on July 6, 2009, we completed an additional private placement financing with net proceeds of $4,679,220, or the June 2009 Private Placement. The June 2009 Private Placement consisted of the issuance of 400,280 Series D Units priced at $12.50 per unit. A total of 400,280 Series D Preferred Stock and 4,002,800 Series D Warrants were issued. We paid $324,280 in fees and issued 12,971 Series D Units to agents that facilitated the June 2009 Private Placement. The Series D Units issued to the selling agents were comprised of 12,971 shares of Series D Stock and 129,712 Series D Warrants. In total, in the April 2009 and June 2009 Private Placements, the number of shares of Series D Stock issued was 1,293,251 and the number of Series D Warrants issued was 12,932,512. Upon the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of our common stock, the Series D Stock was automatically converted into 12,932,510 shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $1.25 per share. The Series D Warrants have a per share exercise price equal to $2.50 and are callable by us if our common stock trades at a price greater than or equal to $3.50 for a specified period of time. Upon the affirmative vote of our stockholders and in accordance with the rules of the NYSE Amex, the Series D Warrants became exercisable for five years.

In July of 2009, in order to facilitate working capital requirements in China, NeoStem (China) issued a promissory note to China Xingye Bank in the amount of RMB 1,000,000, or $146,700. The note is due on January 1, 2010 and bears an interest rate of 4.86%. The note was paid off in December 2009 and replaced with a promissory note to the Bank of Rizhao Qingdao Branch in the amount of RMB 4,400,000 ($643,700). The note is due on June 21, 2010 and bears an interest rate of 4.05%. The loan is collateralized by cash in a restricted bank account totaling 5,189,400 RMB (approximately $759,200).

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Joint Venture Agreement, dividend distributions to EET and Merger Sub will be made in proportion to their respective ownership interests in Erye; provided, however, that for the three-year period commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter after the Joint Venture Agreement becomes effective distributions will be made as follows: (i) the 49% of undistributed profits (after tax) of the joint venture due EET will be distributed to EET and lent back to Erye to help finance costs in connection with their construction of and relocation to a new facility and; (ii) of the net profit (after tax) of the joint venture due Merger Sub, 45% will be provided to Erye as part of the new facility construction fund and will be characterized as paid-in capital for Merger Sub’s 51% interest in Erye, and 6% will be distributed to Merger Sub directly and at December 31, 2009 this loan totaled approximately $7,954,443, including accrued interest.

The Company’s subsidiary Erye has 62,457,000 RMB ($9,793,700) of notes payables as of December 31, 2009. Notes are payable to the banks who issue bank notes to Erye’s creditors. Notes payable are interest free and usually mature after a three to six months period.  In order to issue notes payable on behalf of the Company, the banks required collateral, such as cash deposit which was approximately 30%-50% of notes to be issued, or properties owned by companies. At December 31, 2009, 26,999,300 RMB (approximately $3,955,400) of restricted cash were put up for collateral for the balance of notes payable, respectively, which was approximately 40.0% of the notes payable the Company issued, and the remaining of the notes payable is collateralized by pledging the land use right the Company owns. The use of notes payable to pay creditors is a feature of the money and banking system of China and we expect these types of notes to be a continuing feature of  Erye’s capital structure.

Liquidity and Capital Requirements Outlook

With our acquisition of a controlling interest in Erye and expansion into China, we have transitioned from being a one-dimensional U.S. service provider with nominal revenues to being a multi-dimensional international biopharmaceutical company with current revenues and operations in three distinct business units — U.S. adult stem cells, China adult stem cells and China pharmaceuticals. The following is an overview of our collective liquidity and capital requirements.

Erye is constructing a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility and began transferring its operations in January 2010.  The relocation will continue as the new production lines are completed and receive cGMP certification through 2011. The new facility is estimated to cost approximately $30 million, of which approximately $16 million has been paid for through December 31, 2009. To date, construction has been self-funded by Erye and EET, the holder of the minority joint venture interest in Erye. The remaining $14 million is expected to be funded from a combination of proceeds from the Company’s February 2010 common stock offering in which it raised net proceeds of approximately $7.1 million, the proceeds from the exercise by RimAsia in March 2010 of a warrant to purchase 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock at a per share purchase price of $1.75 resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of $1,750,000 (in each of the prior two cases such funding would be in the form of a loan from the Company), an Erye line of credit and the reinvestment of certain dividends by Erye’s shareholders. We have agreed for a period of three years to reinvest in Erye approximately 90% of the net earnings we would be entitled to receive under the Joint Venture Agreement by reason of our 51% interest in Erye.

We are also engaged in other initiatives to expand our operations into China including with respect to technology licensing, establishment of stem cell processing and storage capabilities and research and clinical development. In June 2009 we established NeoStem (China) as our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary. To comply with PRC’s foreign investment regulations regarding stem cell research and development, clinical trials and related activities, we conduct our current stem cell business in the PRC through two domestic variable interest entities. We have incurred and expect to continue to incur substantial expenses in connection with our China activities..  In order to implement the establishment of the Beijing Facility, as of December 31, 2009, our Company, our WFOE  subsidiary NeoStem (China), and PCT entered into the PCT Agreement, whereby NeoStem and NeoStem (China) engaged PCT to perform the services necessary (1) to construct the Beijing Facility, consisting of a clean room for adult stem cell clinical trial processing and other stem cell collections which will have the processing capacity on an annual basis sufficient for at least 10,000 samples, research and development laboratory space, collection and stem cell storage area and offices, together with the furnishings and equipment, and (2) to effect the installation of quality control systems consisting of materials management, equipment maintenance and calibration, environmental monitoring and compliance and adult stem cell processing and preservation which comply with cGMP standards and regulatory standards that would be applicable in the United States under GTP standards, as well as all regulatory requirements applicable to the program under the laws of the PRC.  The aggregate cost of the program, including the Phase 1 equipment purchases, is expected to be approximately $3,000,000. The project will commence on April 1, 2010, and is anticipated to take approximately seven months to complete. We have the option to terminate the PCT Agreement without cause upon providing no less than 60 days written notice to PCT, subject to our obligation to pay for any services performed up to the date of termination and certain costs and expenses incurred by PCT.

We expect to rely partly on dividends paid to us under the Joint Venture Agreement, attributable to our 51% ownership interest in Erye, to meet our future cash needs. However, there can be no assurance that the WFOE in China will receive payments uninterrupted or at all as arranged under our contracts with the VIEs. In addition, pursuant to the Joint Venture Agreement that governs the ownership and management of Erye, for the next three years: (i) 49% of undistributed profits (after tax) will be distributed to EET and loaned back to Erye for use in connection with its construction of the new Erye facility; (ii) 45% of the net profit after tax will be provided to Erye as part of the new facility construction fund, which will be characterized as paid-in capital for our 51% interest in Erye; and (iii) only 6% of the net profit will be distributed to us directly for our operating expenses.

The payment of dividends by entities organized under PRC law to non-PRC entities is subject to limitations. Regulations in the PRC currently permit payment of dividends by our WFOE and Erye only out of accumulated distributable earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with accounting standards and regulations in China. Moreover, our WFOE and Erye will be required to set aside a certain percentage of their accumulated after-tax profit each year, if any, to fund certain mandated reserve funds (for our WFOE, such percentage is at least 10% each year until its reserves have reached at least 50% of its registered capital), and these reserves are not payable or distributable as cash dividends. In addition, Erye is also required to reserve a portion of its after-tax profits for its employee welfare and bonus fund, the amount of which is subject to the discretion of the Erye board of directors. In addition, if Erye incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict Erye’s or the joint venture’s ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us. This may diminish the cash flow we receive from Erye’s operations, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Our interests in China will be subject to China’s rules and regulations on currency conversion. In particular, the initial capitalization and operating expenses of the two VIEs are funded by our WFOE. In China, the State Administration for Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE, regulates the conversion of the Chinese Renminbi into foreign currencies. Currently, foreign investment enterprises are required to apply to the SAFE for Foreign Exchange Registration Certificates, or IC Cards of Enterprises with Foreign Investment. Foreign investment enterprises holding such registration certificates, which must be renewed annually, are allowed to open foreign currency accounts including a “basic account” and “capital account.” Currency translation within the scope of the “basic account,” such as remittance of foreign currencies for payment of dividends, can be effected without requiring the approval of the SAFE. However, conversion of currency in the “capital account,” including capital items such as direct investments, loans, and securities, require approval of the SAFE. According to the Notice of the General Affairs Department of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises promulgated on August 29, 2008, or the SAFE Notice 142.  To apply to a bank for settlement of foreign currency capital, a foreign invested enterprise shall submit the documents certifying the uses of the RMB funds from the settlement of foreign currency capital and a detailed checklist on use of the RMB funds from the last settlement of foreign currency capital. It is stipulated that only if the funds for the settlement of foreign currency capital are of an amount not more than US$50,000 and are to be used for enterprise reserve, the above documents may be exempted by the bank. This SAFE Notice 142, along with the recent practice of Chinese banks of restricting foreign currency conversion for fear of “hot money” going into China, have limited and may continue to limit our ability to channel funds to the two VIE entities for their operation. We are exploring options with our PRC counsels and banking institutions in China as to acceptable methods of funding the operation of the two VIEs, including advances from Erye, but there can be no assurance that acceptable funding alternatives will be identified.

Neither Erye nor our other expansion activities into China are expected to generate sufficient excess cash flow to support our platform business or our initiatives in China in the near term.

In October 2008, we were advised that we would receive Federal funding from the Department of Defense to evaluate the potential use of adult stem cell therapy for wound healing. Our budget for the project must not exceed $681,000 and the funds must be distributed to us by October 2010. No funds have been received to date.  In January 2010, we received a Grand Opportunities grant in the amount of $108,746 from the National Institutes of Health to fund research at the University of Michigan to evaluate bone defect repair.

On February 18, 2010, the Company completed a public offering of 5,750,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share, (the "Common Stock"), at a price of $1.35 per share for aggregate proceeds of approximately $7,089,125 (net of underwriting discounts, commissions, fees and expenses).

We believe that we will need to raise additional capital to fund the development of advanced stem cell technologies and therapies in the U.S. and China, including the VSEL TM technology licensed from the University of Louisville and other regenerative technologies. In the U.S., we currently intend to fund our operating activities through additional financings, including potentially additional warrant and option exercises, the 6% of net profits to which we are entitled from Erye, and, ultimately, the growth of our revenue generating activities in China. In addition, we will continue to seek grants for scientific and clinical studies from the National Institutes of Health and other governmental agencies, but there can be no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining such grants. Our history of losses and liquidity problems may make it difficult to raise additional funds. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining additional funding on terms acceptable to us or otherwise. Any equity financing may be dilutive to stockholders and debt financing, if available, may involve significant restrictive covenants.  If we are not able to raise additional capital we will need to cut back on certain current planned intiatives.

At October 31, 2009 Erye had a statutory reserve of $1,126,300.  The laws  and  regulations  of the PRC  require  that  before  foreign  invested enterprise  can  legally  distribute  profits,  it must  first  satisfy  all tax liabilities,  provide for losses in previous  years,  and make  allocations,  in proportions  determined at the  discretion of the board of directors,  after the statutory reserves.  To fund its statutory reserve requirement Erye is required to set aside a certain percentage of their accumulated after-tax profit each year, if any, to fund certain mandated reserve funds of at least 10% each year until its reserves have reached at least 50% of its registered capital, The statutory reserves include the surplus reserve fund and the common welfare fund. The amount of statutory reserve at December 31, 2009 was determined to be $1,126,300 and no further allocations were required.

The following table reflects a summary of NeoStem’s contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2009:

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The financial statements and notes thereto required to be filed under this Item are presented commencing on page F-1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.