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Cytori Therapeutics Demonstrates Adipose Stem and Regenerative Cells Reduce Incidence of Arrhythmia After Heart Attacks in Preclinical Study

Posted on: Friday, 21 April 2006, 09:00 CDT

Cytori Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CYTX) (Frankfurt:XMPA) announced today preclinical data demonstrating that adipose stem and regenerative cell-based therapy following a heart attack in pigs is not associated with an increased risk of irregular heart rhythms, which can result in potentially life threatening complications from heart attacks. The data indicate that adipose stem and regenerative cells may reduce the incidence of these potentially fatal arrhythmias. The results of the study, conducted in collaboration with Tulane University, were presented at the German Cardiac Society Annual Conference, held April 20-22, 2006 in Mannheim, Germany.

"In addition to the improved functional benefit consistently observed in preclinical heart attack studies, this data suggest adipose stem and regenerative cells are not associated with increased risk of arrhythmias," said Marc H. Hedrick, M.D., President of Cytori Therapeutics. "This is an important finding due to the reported incidence of arrhythmias observed in clinical cardiac cell therapies derived from alternate cell sources. Additionally, it further supports our evaluation of this novel treatment in human clinical trials, which we intend to initiate this year."

As part of this study, adipose stem cells or a saline control injection were administered into infarcted subjects. The improvement in ejection fraction, capillary density and perfusion defect were reported earlier. In addition to these measured parameters, heart rhythms were constantly monitored throughout the eight week study period. At no point during this time was a difference in irregular heart beats between both groups observed, indicating that cell treated animals do not show an increase in potentially fatal arrhythmias. On the contrary, at the end of the study period, an electrophysiologic stimulation that artificially induces arrhythmias showed a significant longer cycle length, a measure of the electrical activity controlling heart contractions, in the cell treated group which is indicative of a more organized and stable heart rhythm compared to the control group.

About Cytori Therapeutics

Cytori Therapeutics, Inc., (NASDAQ:CYTX) (Frankfurt:XMPA) is discovering and developing proprietary cell-based therapeutics utilizing adult stem and regenerative cells derived from adipose tissue, also known as fat. The Company's investigational therapies target cardiovascular disease, spine and orthopedic conditions, gastrointestinal disorders and new approaches for aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. To facilitate processing and delivery of adipose stem and regenerative cells, Cytori has developed its proprietary Celution(TM) System to isolate and concentrate a patient's own stem and regenerative cells in about an hour. This system will dramatically improve the speed in which personalized cell-based therapies can be delivered to patients.

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 and expected continuing losses, the need for further financing, our ability to develop and commercialize regenerative cell-based therapies, our dependence on third parties, our ability to obtain, defend and enforce our intellectual property, 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, 2005 and subsequent SEC filings, which will be available through our web site. 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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