ASTM is a good short IMO. they just released the following news, pay particular attention to second last paragraph:
12 Jun 2003 08:04 ET PRESS RELEASE:Aastrom Reports Cord Blood Study Publication
Aastrom Biosciences Announces Publication of Cord Blood Clinical Study Results
in Blood Medical Journal
ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (NasdaqSC: ASTM) announced today that the results of its collaborative study with Duke University Medical Center (Duke) will be published in the June 15, 2003 issue of Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology, Volume 101, Issue 12.
The study covered the Phase I clinical trial that investigated the safety and feasibility of Aastrom's ex vivo-expanded CB-I cell product in the augmentation of umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplants. Banked, unrelated UCB is being investigated as an alternative for patients who lack traditional matched bone marrow donors. The CB-I cells were produced from a small starting sample of banked UCB cells utilizing the unique, patented technology of the AastromReplicell(TM) System. Joanne Kurtzberg, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Pathology, and Director of the Pediatric Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program at Duke, was the lead investigator in the trial, which involved 28 leukemia and genetic disease patients and was conducted between October 1997 and September 1998. Results were based on a median follow-up of 47 months.
The authors of the report, titled "Augmentation of Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB) Transplantation with Ex-Vivo Expanded UCB Cells: Results of a Phase I Trial Using the AastromReplicell System," stated, "Clinical scale ex-vivo expansion of UCB is feasible, and the administration of ex-vivo expanded cells is well tolerated."
While Aastrom has halted its CB-I trials due a current diminished market opportunity, the Company believes these results, along with the recent announcements of an NIH grant award and the strategic alliance with the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation for bone grafting treatments, underscore the value of its proprietary technology in the clinical-scale production of cells for broad use in medical/therapeutic applications.
About Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.
Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (NasdaqSC: ASTM) is a late-stage development company focused on human cell-based therapies. The AastromReplicell(TM) System - a patented, integrated system of instrumentation and single-use consumable kits for the production of patient-specific cells - is the Company's core technology for its Prescription Cell Products (PCP) business and its Cell Production Products (CPP) business. The principal focus of the PCP business is the repair or regeneration of tissue intended for large markets such as bone grafting and severe osteoporosis. The CPP business markets the AastromReplicell(TM) System to researchers and companies for their production of cells for clinical trials. These two businesses are intended to enable Aastrom to generate multiple paths to revenue. The initial commercial phase of the CPP business for dendritic cell production products is underway in Europe and the United States. For more information, visit Aastrom's website at www.aastrom.com.
This document contains forward-looking statements, including without limitation, statements concerning product development objectives, potential product applications, and potential advantages of the AastromReplicell(TM) System, which involve certain risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are also identified through use of the words "intends," "believes" 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 uncertainties inherent in clinical development programs, changes in anticipated demand for products being developed, the availability of resources and the allocation of resources among different potential uses. These and other significant factors are discussed in greater detail in Aastrom's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACTS
Kris M. Maly
or Becky Anderson
Investor Relations Department
Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.
Phone: (734) 930-5777
SOURCE Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. |
