CLEVELAND, Jan. 27, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athersys, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATHX) today announced that William (B.J.) Lehmann, President and Chief Operating Officer, will present at the 4th Annual Stem Cell Summit on Tuesday, February 17, 2009, at Bridgewaters, in New York City. The annual Stem Cell Summit is the premier gathering of stem cell company executives, scientists and investors. During this intensive one-day event, attendees explore the therapeutic applications of adult and embryonic stem cells, the successful path to stem cell product commercialization, and the latest investment opportunities.
Athersys was recently selected by Frost & Sullivan, a global research and consulting firm, to receive the 2008 North American Product Innovation of the Year Award in recognition of its novel stem cell product, MultiStem(r), a therapeutic product candidate in clinical and preclinical development for multiple disease indications, including the treatment of cardiovascular disease, cancer, ischemic stroke, and a range of other conditions involving ischemic injury or immune system function.
MultiStem is a proprietary, non-embryonic stem cell product that may be derived from bone marrow or other tissue sources, and has the demonstrated ability to form a wide range of cell types. In addition, based on extensive preclinical work conducted by the Company and its collaborators, Athersys believes MultiStem may be administered "off-the-shelf" like other drugs and biologics, and has the potential to deliver benefits through several mechanisms, including the production of multiple therapeutic proteins and factors produced in response to inflammation and tissue damage.
Recently, Athersys announced that it received authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin a Phase I clinical trial evaluating the safety of administration of MultiStem in the treatment of ischemic stroke. This represented the third IND authorized for MultiStem in a year, and the trial would represent the first clinical study in the U.S. of an off-the-shelf stem cell therapy product candidate in the area of ischemic stroke.
About Athersys, Inc.
Athersys is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of therapeutic product candidates designed to extend and enhance the quality of human life. The company is developing MultiStem(r), a patented, adult-derived "off-the-shelf" stem cell product platform for multiple disease indications, including damage caused by myocardial infarction, bone marrow transplantation/oncology support, ischemic stroke and other indications. The company is also developing a portfolio of other therapeutic programs, including orally active pharmaceutical product candidates for the treatment of metabolic and central nervous system disorders, utilizing proprietary technologies, including Random Activation of Gene Expression (RAGE). More information is available at www.athersys.com.
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