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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: right">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 23, 2017</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: right">Registration No. 333-_________</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">UNITED STATES</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Washington, D.C. 20549</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">FORM S-8</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 24pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">DELAWARE</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 34%">&#160;</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">46-1047971</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 34%">&#160;</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">&#160;</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">6300 Dumbarton Circle</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Fremont, California 94555</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(Address, including zip code, of registrant&#8217;s principal executive offices)</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">2013 Equity Incentive Plan</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(Full title of the plan)</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Stephen L. Cartt</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Chief Executive Officer</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">6300 Dumbarton Circle</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Fremont, California 94555</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(510) 456-3800</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(Name and address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Copies to:</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Jeffrey A Baumel, Esq.</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Dentons US LLP</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">1221 Avenue of the Americas</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">New York, New York 10020</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(212) 768-6700</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.&#160; See the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer,&#8221; and &#8220;smaller reporting company&#8221; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Large accelerated filer&#160; &#9744;</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 7%">&#160;</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Accelerated filer&#160;&#9744;</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 7%">&#160;</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Non-accelerated filer&#160;&#160;&#160; &#9746; (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 7%">&#160;</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Smaller reporting company&#160;&#9744;</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 48%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 7%">&#160;</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Emerging Growth Company &#9746;</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Title of Securities</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">to be Registered</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Amount to</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">be</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Registered&#160;</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Proposed Maximum</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Offering Price</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Per Share&#160;</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Proposed Maximum</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Aggregate</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Offering Price&#160;</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Amount of</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Registration Fee</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Series A Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 1%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff" valign="bottom">&#160;</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">2,500,000</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">(1)</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">&#160;$</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">3.33</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">(2)</div>
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<td style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left; WIDTH: 1%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left; WIDTH: 1%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff" valign="bottom">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">&#160;$</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 9%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff" valign="bottom">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">8,325,000</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left; WIDTH: 0.98%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">(2)</td>
<td style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: left; WIDTH: 1%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff" valign="bottom" nowrap="nowrap">&#160;</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">&#160;$</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 9%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff" valign="bottom">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">964.87</div>
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<div>&#160;</div>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Represents an additional 2,500,000 shares of Asterias Biotherapeutics' Series A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (&#8220;Series A Common Stock&#8221;), issuable under the Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the &#8220;2013 Plan&#8221;).&#160; Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Securities Act&#8221;), this registration statement shall be deemed to also cover any additional shares that become issuable under the 2013 Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction.</div>
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<td style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 18pt; align: right">(2)</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Estimated in accordance with Rules 457 (c) and (h) solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the basis of $3.33 per share, which is the average of the high and low sales prices per share of the Series A Common Stock as listed on the NYSE MKT on June 19, 2017, which date is within 5 business days prior to the date of filing of this Registration Statement.</div>
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<div>&#160;</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">EXPLANATORY NOTE</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">This registration statement is being filed by Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the &#8220;Registrant&#8221;), to register the issuance of an additional 2,500,000 shares of the Registrant&#8217;s Series A Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the 2013 Plan, plus any additional securities that become issuable under the 2013 Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">The Company previously registered shares of Series A Common Stock for issuance under the 2013 Plan on registration statements on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) on March 12, 2015 (File No. 333-202674), August 7, 2015 (File No. 333-206237) and June 13, 2016 (File No. 333-211995).&#160; Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8 and with respect to the additional shares of Series A Common Stock registered hereunder for issuance under the 2013 Plan, the contents of such registration statements, including all exhibits thereto as applicable, are incorporated herein by reference.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;) and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement indicating that all securities offered have been sold or deregistering all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.&#160; In no event, however, will any information that the Registrant discloses under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K that the Registrant may from time to time furnish to the Commission be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise become a part of, this registration statement.&#160; Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or is deemed to be incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes such statement.&#160; Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this registration statement, except as so modified or superseded.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">PART I</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</div>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><br>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">The documents containing the information specified in Part I, Items 1 and 2, will be delivered to each of the participants in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.&#160; Those documents do not need to be filed with the Commission either as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.&#160; These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this registration statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this registration statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">PART II</div>

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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">
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<td style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; WIDTH: 67.5pt; align: right">Item 3.</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: left; WIDTH: auto">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>

<div><br>
</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this registration statement the following documents previously filed with the Commission:</div>

<div><br>
</div>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">
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<td style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 36pt; align: right">1.</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: left; WIDTH: auto">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The Registrant&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, filed by the Registrant with the Commission on March 28, 2017;</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>

<div><br>
</div>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">
<table id="z59d55bd96dc44041a20cd35ee76c9c78" class="DSPFListTable" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; WIDTH: 100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
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<td style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 36pt; align: right">2.</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: left; WIDTH: auto">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 11, 2017;</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>

<div><br>
</div>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">
<table id="z7b5b3efda79a40a4bbc67db8818495c0" class="DSPFListTable" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; WIDTH: 100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
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<td style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 36pt; align: right">3.</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: left; WIDTH: auto">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February 3, 2017, May 23, 2017 and June 16, 2017; and</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>

<div><br>
</div>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">
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<td style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 36pt; align: right">4.</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: left; WIDTH: auto">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The description of the Registrant's Series A Common Stock contained in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on September 26, 2014.</div>
</td>
</tr>
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</div>

<div><br>
</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement indicating that all securities offered have been sold or deregistering all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.&#160; In no event, however, will any information that the Registrant discloses under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K that the Registrant may from time to time furnish to the Commission be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise become a part of, this registration statement.&#160; Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or is deemed to be incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes such statement.&#160; Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this registration statement, except as so modified or superseded.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</div>

<div><br>
</div>

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<td style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; WIDTH: 67.5pt; align: right">Item 8.</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: left; WIDTH: auto">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Exhibits.</div>
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</table>
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<div><br>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Exhibit</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Number</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 5%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 88%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">Exhibit Title</div>
</td>
</tr>

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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 7%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 5%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%">&#160;</td>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 7%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">5.1*</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 5%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Opinion of Dentons US LLP, legal counsel.</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 7%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 5%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;</td>
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<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 7%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">23.1*</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 5%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Consent of Dentons US LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).</div>
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<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 7%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 5%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 7%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">23.2*</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 5%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Consent of OUM &amp; Co. LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.</div>
</td>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 7%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 5%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 7%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">24.1*</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 5%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this registration statement).</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><br>
</div>

<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">
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<td style="WIDTH: 9pt">&#160;</td>
<td style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 9pt; align: right">*</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Filed herewith.</div>
</td>
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<div>&#160;</div>

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</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">SIGNATURES</div>

<div><br>
</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Fremont, State of California, on this 23rd<sup style="vertical-align: text-top; line-height: 1; font-size: smaller">&#160;</sup>day of June, 2017.</div>

<div><br>
</div>

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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 50%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" colspan="3">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: left">ASTERIAS BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.</div>
</td>
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<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 50%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" colspan="3">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">(Registrant)</div>
</td>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 50%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" colspan="3">&#160;&#160;</td>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; WIDTH: 3%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">By:</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; WIDTH: 20%">&#160; /s/&#160; Stephen L. Cartt</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; WIDTH: 27%">&#160;</td>
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<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 50%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" colspan="3">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Name: Stephen L. Cartt</div>
</td>
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<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 50%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top" colspan="3">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Title: Chief Executive Officer</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>

<div><br>
</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">POWER OF ATTORNEY</div>

<div><br>
</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Stephen L. Cartt and Russell L. Skibsted, and each of them acting alone, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign this registration statement on Form S-8 of Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc., and any or all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission and any applicable securities exchange or securities self-regulatory body, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.</div>

<div><br>
</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.</div>

<div>&#160;</div>

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<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 35%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Signature</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Title</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Date</div>
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 35%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%">&#160;</td>
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<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 35%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">/s/ Stephen L. Cartt</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Chief Executive Officer and Director</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%"></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 35%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Stephen L. Cartt</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-STYLE: italic">(Principal Executive Officer)</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">June 23, 2017</div>
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 35%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%">&#160;</td>
</tr>

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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 35%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">/s/ Ryan D. Chavez</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Chief Financial Officer</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%"></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 35%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Ryan D. Chavez</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-STYLE: italic">(Principal Financial&#160; Officer)</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">June 23, 2017</div>
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 35%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%">&#160;</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 35%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">/s/ Alfred D. Kingsley</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%"></td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%"></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 35%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Alfred D. Kingsley</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Director</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">June 23, 2017</div>
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 35%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%">&#160;</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 35%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">/s/ Richard T. LeBuhn</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Richard T. LeBuhn</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Director&#160;</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">June 23, 2017</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">/s/ Don M. Bailey</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Don M. Bailey</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Chairman of the Board of Directors&#160;</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">June 23, 2017</div>
</td>
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<tr>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">/s/ Michael D. West</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Michael D. West, Ph.D.</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Director&#160;</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">June 23, 2017</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">&#160;/s/ Andrew Arno</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Andrew Arno</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Director</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">June 23, 2017</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">/s/ Natale S. Ricciardi</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Natale S. Ricciardi</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Director</div>
</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">June 23, 2017</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">/s/ Aditya Mohanty</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Aditya Mohanty</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Director&#160;</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; TEXT-ALIGN: right; WIDTH: 25%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">June 23, 2017</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">&#160;</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">/s/ Dr. Howard I. Scher</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Dr. Howard I. Scher, M.D.</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 36%">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Director</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 2%">&#160;</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">June 23, 2017</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">INDEX TO EXHIBITS</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">EXHIBIT INDEX</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Number</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a href="ex5_1.htm">5.1*</a></div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 5%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Opinion of Dentons US LLP, legal counsel</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">23.1*</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 5%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Consent of Dentons US LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 5%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;</td>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a href="ex23_2.htm">23.2*</a></div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 5%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Consent of OUM &amp; Co. LLP, independent registered public accounting firm</div>
</td>
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<tr>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 5%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;</td>
</tr>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">24.1*</div>
</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 5%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">&#160;</td>
<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; WIDTH: 88%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cceeff">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this registration statement)</div>
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<td style="VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; TEXT-ALIGN: left">
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Filed herewith.</div>
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[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "forms8.htm", "description": "S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 59179}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.", "cik": "0001572552", "assigned-sic": "2836", "irs-number": "461047971", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-218951", "film-number": "17928340"}, "business-address": {"street1": "6300 DUMBARTON CIRCLE", "city": "FREMONT", "state": "CA", "zip": "94555", "phone": "510-456-3805"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "6300 DUMBARTON CIRCLE", "city": "FREMONT", "state": "CA", "zip": "94555"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 23, 2017
Registration No. 333-_________
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
46-1047971
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
6300 Dumbarton Circle
Fremont, California 94555
(Address, including zip code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
2013 Equity Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Stephen L. Cartt
Chief Executive Officer
Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.
6300 Dumbarton Circle
Fremont, California 94555
(510) 456-3800
(Name and address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Jeffrey A Baumel, Esq.
Dentons US LLP
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
(212) 768-6700
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 the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer  ☐
Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer    ☒ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging Growth Company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Securities
to be Registered
Amount to
be
Registered
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
Amount of
Registration Fee
Series A Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
2,500,000
(1)
$
3.33
(2)
$
8,325,000
(2)
$
964.87
(1)
Represents an additional 2,500,000 shares of Asterias Biotherapeutics' Series A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share ("Series A Common Stock"), issuable under the Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the "2013 Plan").  Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), this registration statement shall be deemed to also cover any additional shares that become issuable under the 2013 Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction.
(2)
Estimated in accordance with Rules 457 (c) and (h) solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the basis of $3.33 per share, which is the average of the high and low sales prices per share of the Series A Common Stock as listed on the NYSE MKT on June 19, 2017, which date is within 5 business days prior to the date of filing of this Registration Statement.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement is being filed by Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Registrant"), to register the issuance of an additional 2,500,000 shares of the Registrant's Series A Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the 2013 Plan, plus any additional securities that become issuable under the 2013 Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction.
The Company previously registered shares of Series A Common Stock for issuance under the 2013 Plan on registration statements on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on March 12, 2015 (File No. 333-202674), August 7, 2015 (File No. 333-206237) and June 13, 2016 (File No. 333-211995).  Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8 and with respect to the additional shares of Series A Common Stock registered hereunder for issuance under the 2013 Plan, the contents of such registration statements, including all exhibits thereto as applicable, are incorporated herein by reference.
All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement indicating that all securities offered have been sold or deregistering all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.  In no event, however, will any information that the Registrant discloses under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K that the Registrant may from time to time furnish to the Commission be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise become a part of, this registration statement.  Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or is deemed to be incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this registration statement, except as so modified or superseded.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The documents containing the information specified in Part I, Items 1 and 2, will be delivered to each of the participants in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.  Those documents do not need to be filed with the Commission either as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.  These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this registration statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this registration statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
PART II
Item 3.
Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this registration statement the following documents previously filed with the Commission:
1.
The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, filed by the Registrant with the Commission on March 28, 2017;
2.
The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 11, 2017;
3.
The Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February 3, 2017, May 23, 2017 and June 16, 2017; and
4.
The description of the Registrant's Series A Common Stock contained in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on September 26, 2014.
All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement indicating that all securities offered have been sold or deregistering all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.  In no event, however, will any information that the Registrant discloses under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K that the Registrant may from time to time furnish to the Commission be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise become a part of, this registration statement.  Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or is deemed to be incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this registration statement, except as so modified or superseded.
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 8.
Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Title
5.1*
Opinion of Dentons US LLP, legal counsel.
23.1*
Consent of Dentons US LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2*
Consent of OUM & Co. LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.
24.1*
Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this registration statement).
*
Filed herewith.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Fremont, State of California, on this 23rd
day of June, 2017.
ASTERIAS BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Registrant)
By:
/s/  Stephen L. Cartt
Name: Stephen L. Cartt
Title: Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Stephen L. Cartt and Russell L. Skibsted, and each of them acting alone, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign this registration statement on Form S-8 of Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc., and any or all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission and any applicable securities exchange or securities self-regulatory body, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Stephen L. Cartt
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Stephen L. Cartt
(Principal Executive Officer)
June 23, 2017
/s/ Ryan D. Chavez
Chief Financial Officer
Ryan D. Chavez
(Principal Financial  Officer)
June 23, 2017
/s/ Alfred D. Kingsley
Alfred D. Kingsley
Director
June 23, 2017
/s/ Richard T. LeBuhn
Richard T. LeBuhn
Director
June 23, 2017
/s/ Don M. Bailey
Don M. Bailey
Chairman of the Board of Directors
June 23, 2017
/s/ Michael D. West
Michael D. West, Ph.D.
Director
June 23, 2017
/s/ Andrew Arno
Andrew Arno
Director
June 23, 2017
/s/ Natale S. Ricciardi
Natale S. Ricciardi
Director
June 23, 2017
/s/ Aditya Mohanty
Aditya Mohanty
Director
June 23, 2017
/s/ Dr. Howard I. Scher
Dr. Howard I. Scher, M.D.
Director
June 23, 2017
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Title
5.1*
Opinion of Dentons US LLP, legal counsel
23.1*
Consent of Dentons US LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2*
Consent of OUM & Co. LLP, independent registered public accounting firm
24.1*
Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this registration statement)
*
Filed herewith.