From Concept to Company, Naughton's 'Human-Based' Approach Has Been
Critical in Defining the Tissue Engineering Industry
LA JOLLA, Calif., June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Gail K. Naughton, Ph.D.,
President and Chief Operating Officer of Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc.,
(Nasdaq: ATIS), was awarded the 27th annual National Inventor of the Year
Award today by the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) in honor of
her pioneering work in the field of tissue engineering.
As the first individual woman to earn this award, Dr. Naughton is being
honored for the process she invented to produce human tissues and organs
outside of the human body. Her invention utilizes stromal cells, which are
the cells that form the surrounding matrix of a tissue. These cells are
seeded onto a three-dimensional scaffolding and placed in a specially designed
"bioreactor" that simulates the body. There the cells multiply in layers,
secreting proteins and numerous cellular factors, ultimately forming a tissue
matrix. Her pioneering work in tissue engineering has helped define a new
industry dedicated to helping the millions of people who suffer tissue loss or
end-stage organ failure.
"We are proud of Gail's achievements and delighted that she is being
recognized for the patent which has resulted in the successful development of
an exciting portfolio of human-based products," said Arthur J. Benvenuto,
Chairman and CEO of Advanced Tissue Sciences. "Her ingenuity has shown us all
that some of the best inventions come about simply by mimicking nature. By
observing and learning from the human body, we have been able to develop new
tissue engineering technology that may ease suffering and help the body heal
itself."
Dr. Naughton co-founded Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc. in order to realize
her vision of bridging the gap between patient need and the shortage of
tissues and organs for transplantation. Since that time, significant
advancements have been made and numerous scientific challenges have been
overcome. The first commercial product using her technology, TransCyte(TM),
is used to treat patients with second and third degree burns. A second
product for diabetic foot ulcer patients, Dermagraft(R), is being used in
parts of Europe and is in a pivotal clinical trial in the U.S. These products
represent advancements in bioengineering, manufacturing and cryopreservation
in an emerging industry that has had to create its own solutions. In
addition, cartilage, heart tissue and other organs can be bio-engineered with
this unique human-based technology and have the potential of addressing the
significant shortage of worldwide donor organs.
The National Inventor of the Year award is the oldest and best-known award
for current American inventors from all fields of technology. Winners receive
a $5,000 award and Dr. Naughton has chosen to donate this award, along with a
matching amount from Advanced Tissue Sciences, to the Association of Women in
Science (AWIS) in order to provide undergraduate and graduate scholarships.
Founded in 1971, this non-profit organization is dedicated to achieving equity
and full participation of women in all fields of science and technology.
"I am extremely honored to receive this prestigious award," said Dr.
Naughton. "I am equally honored to donate the prize money to AWIS so that
more women can excel and achieve in the sciences."
"Our inventors are a national resource," said IPO President Ronald E.
Myrick. "We should support them in their efforts to develop a constant stream
of new products which serve to strengthen the economy and improve our standard
of living."
"When a child suffers a serious burn injury, you worry not only about the
immediate pain, but also the long-term physical and mental scarring that can
occur as a result," said Dr. Martin R. Eichelberger, M.D., Director of Burn
Services at Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C. "TransCyte,
which has resulted from Dr. Naughton's invention, truly has improved the lives
of burn victims."
Dr. Naughton received an MS and Ph.D. from New York University and
completed postdoctoral training at NYU. She holds 26 U.S. patents and has
published extensively in the field of tissue engineering. More information
about her and Advanced Tissue Sciences can be found on the Internet at
http://www.advancedtissue.com.
The Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) is a Washington, DC
trade group that honors recent American inventors. The IPO Web site is
located at http://www.ipo.org.
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 has two joint
ventures with Smith & Nephew. The first covers the application of Advanced
Tissue Sciences' tissue engineering technology for skin wounds and includes
Dermagraft for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, TransCyte for the
temporary covering of second and third-degree burns, and future developments
for venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, burns and other non-aesthetic wound care
treatments. The second joint venture is developing tissue-engineered
orthopedic cartilage, initially focusing on the repair of cartilage in knee
joints. The Company also has a strategic alliance with Inamed Corporation for
the development and marketing of several of Advanced Tissue Sciences' human-
based, tissue-engineered products for aesthetic and certain reconstructive
applications. In addition, the Company is developing products for
cardiovascular applications.
A cybercast of the press conference will be available online at the
Advanced Tissue Sciences Web site (http://www.advancedtissue.com), beginning at
9AM ET with replays available afterward.
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical may be
"forward-looking" statements which involve risks and uncertainties. No
assurances can be given that the Company will successfully implement its
business strategy, develop its products, complete clinical trials, obtain
regulatory approvals (or that any such approvals will be obtained on a timely
basis), or be able to manufacture or successfully commercialize such products.
In addition, no assurances can be given that the Company's patents will
survive if challenged, that the patents will provide a competitive advantage,
or that the patents will be effective if asserted against infringers. Actual
results may differ materially from those currently anticipated as a result of
such risks. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the
results of any revision to these forward-looking statements to reflect events
or circumstances arising after the date hereof.
SOURCE Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.advancedtissue.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/532975.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 532975
CONTACT:
Jana Stoudemire of Advanced Tissue Sciences,
Inc., 858-713-7802, or Greg Stanko of Ogilvy Public Relations,
202-452-7809, for Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc.
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