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Aastrom Biosciences Receives Patent for Device toProduce Human Stem Cells for Therapies
- Patent Increases Coverage for the AastromReplicell(TM) System Product Line -
ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASTM) announced today that it received from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent number 5,994,129 entitled, "Portable Cassette for use in Maintaining and Growing Biological Cells." This patent extends claims for Aastrom's unique approach to facilitating automated, sterilely-closed cell production, designed to enable hospitals to produce a variety of cells for therapeutic applications. With this patent and corresponding technological capability, Aastrom has further expanded its broad coverage for the AastromReplicell(TM) Cell Production System (System) and its technologies for cell-based therapies.
"Aastrom has pioneered techniques for ex vivo production of human cells by inventing technology that mimics certain natural processes of the human body," said R. Douglas Armstrong, Ph.D., President and CEO of Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. "This new patent provides broader coverage around our capabilities to provide hospitals with transportable, sterilely-closed therapeutic cell manufacturing capabilities. This is intended to automate and simplify often complex laboratory procedures," concluded Dr. Armstrong.
The AastromReplicell(TM) System is a first of its kind product that consists of an instrumentation platform designed to operate a family of patient-specific cell therapy kits to produce cells for a broad range of therapeutic applications. Each therapy kit is a single use consumable product that is tailored to the specific cell type desired for therapeutic use. Aastrom is developing two such therapy kits, the SC-I Therapy Kit for the production of bone marrow-derived stem cells and the CB-I Therapy Kit for the production of cord blood cells. The AastromReplicell(TM) System is a platform product designed to operate a wide range of therapy kits, providing a standardized commercialization outlet for a number of emerging cell therapies. With this additional patent, Aastrom now has rights to 21 issued U.S. patents which provide extensive product, process and composition of matter claims required for the replication of human stem cells, genetic alteration of the cells in culture (ex vivo), as well as devices for the production of human stem cells and key blood and immune system cells derived from human stem cells.
Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. is pioneering the development of proprietary clinical systems including the AastromReplicell(TM) System, to enable physicians and patients greater accessibility to cells used for therapy. The AastromReplicell(TM) System product line consists of an instrumentation platform that can operate a growing number of patient-specific therapy kits tailored to each cell therapy application. The AastromReplicell(TM) System is under development, and is not available for sale at this time in the U.S., except for research or investigational use.
This document contains forward-looking statements, including without limitation, statements regarding product development objectives, commercial introduction, and potential advantages and applications of the AastromReplicell(TM) System, which involve certain risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are also identified through use of the words "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "expects," "plans," and other words of similar meaning. Actual results may differ significantly from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that may result in differences are the availability of resources, evaluations and decisions made by potential strategic collaborators or acquirers, the results obtained from clinical trial and development activities, regulatory approval requirements and the degree to which the Company's products achieve market acceptance. These and other significant factors are discussed in greater detail in Aastrom's Annual Report on Form-10K, as amended, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact: Todd E. Simpson, VP Finance & Administration, CFO of Aastrom Biosciences Inc., 734-930-5777; or Lisa Fern, 212-696-4455 ext. 353 (media), or Julio Cantre, 212-696-4455 ext. 237 (investors), both of Noonan/Russo Communications, Inc., for Aastrom Biosciences Inc.
SOURCE Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.
CO: Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.
ST: Michigan
IN: BIO
SU:
03/21/2000 08:03 EST prnewswire.com |
