LA JOLLA, Calif., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ATIS) today announced recent developments in tissue-engineered
vascular grafts for cardiovascular applications. These findings were
presented today at the Workshop on Tissue Engineering, Gene Delivery and
Regenerative Healing, at Hilton Head, South Carolina. The workshop was
sponsored jointly by Georgia Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, and the University of Washington.
Anthony Ratcliffe, Ph.D., Executive Director, Research, of Advanced
Tissues Sciences, presented "Effects of Scaffold Design on Tissue Formation in
Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts," addressing two critical requirements for
long-term success of vascular grafts. First, Dr. Ratcliffe presented data
showing the development of a tissue-engineered small diameter blood vessel
having specific functional properties, such as elasticity and mechanical
strength, similar to those of normal blood vessels.
Second, data were presented on a human fibroblast-based tissue-engineered
product's ability to secrete vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and
other growth factors, which have been shown to induce angiogenesis and
endothelialization. This work was performed by Advanced Tissue Sciences, and
in collaboration with Professor Keith Harding, M.D., of the University of
Wales College of Medicine. The combined results showed a statistically
significant increase in functional angiogenesis in the chorio-allantoic
membrane assay (p<0.01), and the rat aortic ring assay (p<0.03), and in
endothelialization in the cytodex-2 bead assay (p<0.01). Endothelialization
is critical for blood clot prevention and physiological functioning of grafts
in vivo, while angiogenesis is necessary for tissue integration and growth.
VEGF secretion has also been observed in human tissue-engineered vessels
using smooth muscle cells. Tissue-engineered three-dimensional smooth muscle
cell constructs were shown to produce VEGF four times greater than
corresponding smooth muscle cells in monolayer. Direct association between
the active secretion of VEGF by tissue-engineered products and angiogenesis
has previously been identified since the majority of the angiogenesis activity
could be blocked by the addition of antibodies to VEGF.
Tissue-engineered vascular grafts may potentially address the needs of
patients who have over 380,000 coronary by-pass graft procedures annually in
the U.S. and patients who have over 100,000 peripheral vessel graft
replacements annually in the U.S. These tissue-engineered vascular grafts are
the subject matter of a recently issued patent to Advanced Tissue Sciences for
the tissue engineering of three-dimensional tubular structures including, but
not limited to, blood vessels and living stents. This patent covers tissue-
engineered tubular structures as well as the method of preparing and
implanting these products. This patent extends through 2016.
Advanced Tissue Sciences is a tissue engineering company utilizing its
proprietary core technology to develop and manufacture human-based tissue
products for tissue repair and transplantation. The Company, through its
Dermagraft Joint Venture with Smith & Nephew plc, currently has two products
on the market, TransCyte(TM), a temporary covering for full (third-degree) and
partial-thickness (second-degree) burns, and Dermagraft(R), a living dermal
replacement for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (currently available in
Canada and the United Kingdom). The Company is conducting a multi-center
clinical trial for Dermagraft for diabetic foot ulcers in the United States,
and is pursuing additional indications for Dermagraft in venous and pressure
ulcers through the Dermagraft Joint Venture. The Company is also developing
products for cartilage and cardiovascular applications.
The discussion contained in this press release relating to research,
development, or commercialization of the Company's products involves certain
risks and uncertainties. No assurances can be given that the Company will
successfully develop any such products, complete clinical trials, obtain
regulatory approvals (or that any such approval will be obtained on a timely
basis), be able to manufacture or successfully commercialize such products.
In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company's patents will afford
protection against competitors with similar technologies or processes or that
such patents will not be infringed upon or designed around by others. These
and other risks are detailed in publicly available filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission such as the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1997. Actual results may differ materially from
those currently anticipated as a result of such risks.
SOURCE Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc.
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http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/532975.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 532975
CONTACT:
Cheryl B. Monblatt, Director, Corporate
Communications and Investor Relations of Advanced Tissue
Sciences, Inc., 619-713-7802
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