Capricor Therapeutics to Present at the First Regenerative Medicine Forum at BIO International Convention

LOS ANGELES, June 23, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCBB:CAPR), a biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, today announced that Dr. Linda Marbán, President and CEO, will present during a panel at the first, all-day Regenerative Medicine Forum organized by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), in association with the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) and the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). The Regenerative Medicine Forum will take place on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 during the BIO International Convention being held June 23-26, 2014 in San Diego, California.

The panel, titled "Commercializing a New Therapeutic Modality—Case Studies" will be moderated by Randall Mills, President and CEO of CIRM. It will focus on the importance of clinical data in bringing cell-based therapies to market, the role of clinical data at every step of the process, the importance of involving regulators early and often in the pathway to market as well as the players in reimbursement in this field and how are they responding to these new approaches.

During the session, Dr. Marbán will discuss Capricor's unique approaches to research and product development, including strategies leveraged to optimally position Capricor's lead product candidate CAP-1002, an allogeneic, cardiosphere-derived cell (CDC) being investigated in the ALLSTAR Phase II clinical trial for patients who have suffered a large myocardial infarction.

Dr. Marbán, said, "By leveraging our extensive bench-to-beside research expertise, Capricor has accelerated the development of our lead product candidate CAP-1002 into a Phase II clinical study and continues to set the stage for its potential commercialization. We continue developing our product portfolio, and have taken a strategic, opportunistic approach in our academic and corporate partnerships, which are decisions we feel have optimally positioned us for the long-term goal of commercializing our regenerative therapies for cardiac and non-cardiac diseases. We look forward to learning from other innovators in the field and sharing our unique insight with the regenerative medicine community during the first-ever Regenerative Medicine Forum."  

About Capricor Therapeutics

Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. (CAPR), a publicly-traded biotechnology company, is focused on the development of novel therapeutics to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases. Capricor Therapeutics has two leading product candidates: CAP-1002 and Cenderitide. Capricor Therapeutics was formed through the November 2013 merger between Capricor, Inc., a privately-held company whose mission is to improve the treatment of heart disease by commercializing cardiac stem cell therapies for patients, and Nile Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative products for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Capricor Therapeutics' stock began trading under the symbol "CAPR" on December 20, 2013. For additional information, please visit www.capricor.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release regarding the efficacy, safety, and intended utilization of Capricor's product candidates; the conduct, size, timing and results of discovery efforts and clinical trials; plans regarding regulatory filings, future research and clinical trials; plans regarding current and future collaborative activities and the ownership of commercial rights; future royalty streams, and any other statements about Capricor's management team's future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "believes," "plans," "could," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. More information about these and other risks that may impact our business are set forth in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2014, our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15, 2014, and in our Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 23, 2014. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

CONTACT: For more information, please contact:

         Capricor Therapeutics, Inc.
         AJ Bergmann, VP of Finance
         +1-310-358-3200
         abergmann@capricor.com

         The Ruth Group
         Lee Roth (investors)
         lroth@theruthgroup.com
         (646) 536-7012

         Kirsten Thomas (media)
         kthomas@theruthgroup.com
         (646) 536-7014

Released June 23, 2014