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Thursday August 9, 4:39 pm Eastern Time Press Release SOURCE: Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. Statement Regarding Federal Funding of Stem Cell Research - The Following is a Statement from R. Douglas Armstrong, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. Regarding Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research - ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- R. Douglas Armstrong, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASTM - news) issued the following statement today regarding the issue of federal funding for stem cell research: The subject of federal funding for stem cell research has been highly visible in the media. Aastrom, a cell therapy products company, has often been included -- both correctly and incorrectly -- in these discussions. Given this association, and speculation as to the impact or role that this issue might have on Aastrom, the Company believes it important to clarify these issues. Aastrom`s mission is to develop technology and products to make human cells available for medical procedures. Our efforts to date have focused on using our technology to grow larger quantities of the desired therapeutic cells from small starting amounts of cells or a tissue. Aastrom`s cell production processes are based on using the natural reproductive capabilities of cells outside the body, without various cloning approaches. Aastrom`s lead development efforts to date have used adult bone marrow and umbilical cord blood, which both contain stem cells. These stem cells appear to have some ability to both re-populate themselves and to form multiple types of tissue. Accordingly, they can be an important starting cell source for potential therapies in the treatment of diseases. For example, bone marrow and cord blood stem cells produced using Aastrom`s technology have been able to restore normal blood, immune and marrow systems in some cancer patients. Aastrom has also initiated a clinical trial to evaluate the use of bone marrow stem cells in generating bone tissue in patients with severe osteoporosis. Other types of cell therapy do not require stem cells, but may be derived from more differentiated cell types. For example, immune system cells called dendritic cells, can be grown from blood cells to be used as cancer vaccines. This type of cell therapy is being evaluated in different clinical trials around the world, and Aastrom is also active in this field. The issue of federal support for embryonal research has no direct impact on the current product programs of Aastrom. Our programs use bone marrow, cord blood and blood cells as starting sources of cells. Recent focus on stem cells derived from embryonal tissue has raised public awareness that cells can be used to treat disease. Although there are already some very exciting therapeutic approaches using cells, this is truly only the beginning. Research is needed to understand how to produce specific types of cells with the biological activity necessary for a particular treatment. For example, producing cells to repair a damaged nerve requires a very different approach than producing cells to repair bone. Researchers need to learn more about the biological instructional pathways of cells to optimize these therapies. Funding to support all types of cell therapy research, whether it be bone marrow or cord blood stem cells, or more mature cell types, with or without embryonal stem cells, should lead to exciting new near-term therapies. It is Aastrom`s business to develop products that will allow these important cells to be moved from the research laboratory into standard medical practice. Aastrom is a leader in the development of proprietary cell therapeutics and cell products based on its dual-technology platforms: patented ``single- pass perfusion`` providing cells with enhanced biological function, and patented GMP-compliant system automation facilitating the delivery of cells for therapeutic use into medical practice. These technologies are integrated into the AastromReplicell(TM) System that is designed to uniquely standardize and automate the processes involved in producing high quality therapeutic cells. Aastrom is developing the Dendricell(TM) products for use in the dendritic cell-based cancer vaccine market, and the OC-I bone progenitor cell product for the treatment of degenerative bone diseases such as osteoporosis. The AastromReplicellTM System, the SC-I bone marrow stem cell product and the CB-I cord blood cell product have received CE Mark approval necessary for European marketing and are in late-stage U.S. clinical trials. These products are not available for sale at this time in the U.S., except for research or investigational use. Please visit our website at http://www.aastrom.com. This document contains forward-looking statements, including without limitation, statements regarding product development objectives, and potential advantages and applications of the AastromReplicellTM System, which involve certain risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are also identified through use of the words ``may,`` ``potential,`` 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 results obtained from clinical trial and development activities, the availability of resources, evaluations and decisions made by potential strategic collaborators, regulatory approval requirements, and development of competing technologies. These and other significant factors are discussed in greater detail in Aastrom`s Annual Report on Form-10K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Contact: Todd E. Simpson VP Finance & Administration, CFO of Aastrom Biosciences, Inc., +1- 734-930-5777; or Media - Glenn Silver, +1-212-696-4455, ext. 271, or Investors - David Walsey, +1-212-696-4455, ext. 230 both of Noonan-RussoCommunications, Inc. SOURCE: Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. gruss tb 2 |
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| aus der Diskussion: | SUPERKURSCHANCE NOCH HEUTE UND MORGEN BEI AASTROM |
| Autor (Datum des Eintrages): | thebull 2 (09.08.01 22:50:54) |
| Beitrag: | 5 von 20 (ID:4171017) |
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