LA JOLLA, Calif., May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ATIS) announced today the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 5,902,741
entitled "Three-Dimensional Cartilage Cultures." This patent covers three-
dimensional cartilage compositions and methods of growing living cartilage in
vitro by inoculating cartilage-producing cells onto biocompatible, non-living
scaffolds. The cartilage-producing cells claimed include precursor cells such
as mesenchymal stem cells, chondroprogenitor cells, and umbilical cord cells
as well as mature chondrocytes and fibroblasts. This patent extends through
March 2016.
The newly issued patent is complementary to the Company's patent
No. 5,842,477 entitled "Method for Repairing Cartilage," which issued in
December of 1998. This method patent covers use of a three-dimensional
scaffold along with cartilage-producing cells and a periosteal flap to repair
a defect in vivo. The Company's current patent position now includes
50 issued U.S. patents directly owned by or licensed to Advanced Tissue
Sciences.
"The issuance of our cartilage patents is timely as we advance toward
clinical trials," said Gail K. Naughton, Ph.D., President and Chief Operating
Officer. "Two-year follow-up on our preclinical trials on small animal
models, preclinical studies in a large animal model, and our strengthened
patent position make us, together with our joint venture partner, Smith &
Nephew, well poised to advance the orthopedic products."
On April 15, 1999 Advanced Tissues Sciences was awarded a Small Business
Innovation Research Program (SBIR) grant from the Department of Health and
Human Services, Public Health Services. This grant, entitled "Enhancing In
Vitro Cartilage Synthesis for Human Therapy," will fund development of a
bioreactor that applies mechanical stresses to growing cartilage. The
bioreactor is designed to stimulate matrix deposition to affect the
organizational, structural, and functional properties of cartilage growth.
Work funded by this grant is directed at the development of cartilage products
for reconstructive applications.
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, currently has two products on
the market, TransCyte(TM), a temporary covering for third-degree (full-
thickness) and second-degree (partial-thickness) 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 trial for Dermagraft for treating diabetic foot ulcers in the
United States and is pursuing additional indications for Dermagraft, including
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. 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. No assurances can be given that the Company will successfully
develop any such products, complete clinical trials, obtain regulatory
approval (or that any such approval will be obtained on a timely basis), be
able to manufacture or successfully commercialize such products. 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, 1998. Actual results may differ materially from those
currently anticipated as a result of such risks.
SOURCE Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc.
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CONTACT:
Cheryl B. Monblatt, Director, Corporate
Communications and Investor Relations of Advanced Tissue
Sciences, Inc., 619-713-7802
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