[LOWENSTEIN
SANDLER PC LETTERHEAD]
May 19,
2010
NeoStem,
Inc.
420
Lexington Avenue, Suite 450
New York,
New York 10170
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Re:
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Shelf Registration
Statement on Form S-3
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Ladies
and Gentlemen:
We have
acted as counsel for NeoStem, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in
connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (File No. 333-166169) (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, and the prospectus, dated May 19, 2010 filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the
Securities Act (the “Prospectus”), relating to the issuance and sale by the
Company of 63,792 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the
Company (the "Commitment Shares").
We
understand that the Commitment Shares are to be issued and sold to Commerce
Court Small Cap Value Fund., Ltd. ("Commerce Court"), as described in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, pursuant to a Common Stock Purchase
Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2010, between the Company and Commerce Court
filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K to
which this opinion is attached as Exhibit 5.1 (the "Purchase
Agreement").
In
connection with this opinion, we have examined the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus. We have also examined such corporate records,
certificates and other documents and such questions of law as we have considered
necessary or appropriate for the purpose of this opinion. We have assumed: (A)
the genuineness and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals
and (B) the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies
thereof. As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon certificates of
officers of the Company and have not sought independently to verify such
matters.
Based on
the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications
set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the issuance and sale of the Shares
has been duly authorized and, when issued and sold in the manner described in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and in accordance with the
Purchase Agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
Our
opinion is limited to the federal laws of the United States and to the Delaware
General Corporation Law. We express no opinion as to the effect of the law
of any other jurisdiction. Our opinion is rendered as of the date hereof, and we
assume no obligation to advise you of changes in law or fact (or the effect
thereof on the opinions expressed herein) that hereafter may come to our
attention.
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NeoStem,
Inc.
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May
19, 2010
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We hereby
consent to the inclusion of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration
Statement and to the references to our firm therein and in the Prospectus and in
any Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Legal Matters.” In
giving our consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose
consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the
rules and regulations thereunder.
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Very
truly yours,
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/s/
LOWENSTEIN SANDLER PC
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