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Cytori Awarded NIH Grant to Develop Cell-Based Treatments for Vascular Disease

Posted on: Wednesday, 19 September 2007, 09:02 CDT

Cytori Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CYTX) was awarded a $250,000 NIH (National Institutes of Health) Grant to develop adipose-derived regenerative cells as a treatment for vascular disease.

Regenerative cells within adipose (fat) tissue include adult stem cells and other cell types that have been shown to increase blood flow in and around damaged and oxygen deprived tissues. As a result, these cells hold exciting potential for the treatment of vascular conditions such as peripheral arterial disease, atherosclerosis, and critical limb ischemia, which impact millions of patients each year worldwide.

"This grant allows Cytori to expand the number of therapeutic applications for adipose-derived regenerative cells," said Marc H. Hedrick, M.D., President, Cytori Therapeutics. "Due to the shared mechanism of these cells in vascular and heart disease, this research will complement and provide valuable insight into our clinical-stage development of treatments for cardiovascular disease."

The grant work will study adipose-derived regenerative cells in preclinical vascular disease models. This will involve looking into which cells within adipose tissue are optimal for remodeling and promoting growth of both small and larger blood vessels. In addition, the research will explore the capacity of adipose-derived regenerative cells in patients with a history of smoking, hypertension, and diabetes.

"We look forward to this grant building on the success of our earlier NIH grant," said John K. Fraser, Principal Scientist, Cytori Therapeutics. "That research led to the clinical trials we are now performing in cardiovascular disease. Successful completion of the new grant may potentially qualify us for additional funding at a higher level that we believe will lead to similar clinical opportunities in other disease states."

Cytori Therapeutics

Cytori Therapeutics is a global leader in the development and commercialization of regenerative medicine products. The company is developing therapeutic applications for its Celution™ System to enable real-time regenerative cell therapy in conjunction with breast reconstruction surgery, cardiovascular disease, and other unmet medical needs. The Company's StemSource™ Cell Bank, which is based on Cytori's innovative Celution™ System, is being commercialized in Japan to hospitals and clinics to enable regenerative cell banking. www.cytoritx.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding events, trends and prospects of our business, which may affect our future operating results and financial position. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and financial position to differ materially. Some of these risks and uncertainties include our history of operating losses, the need for further financing, regulatory uncertainties, dependence on performance of third parties, and other risks and uncertainties described (under the heading "Risk Factors") in Cytori Therapeutics' Form 10-K annual report for the year ended December 31, 2006. We assume no responsibility to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events, trends or circumstances after the date they are made.

Source: Business Wire

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