LA JOLLA, Calif., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ATIS) announced today the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 5,962,325
entitled "Three-Dimensional Stromal Tissue Cultures." This patent covers
three-dimensional stromal tissue cultures containing mesenchymal stem cells
and methods for preparing these cultures. Human mesenchymal stem cells are a
specialized type of stem cell and are believed to be the progenitor, or parent
cells, responsible for the formation of cartilage, bone, muscle, tendon,
ligament and other connective tissues. The patent covers culturing
mesenchymal stem cells in vitro on any biodegradable or non-biodegradable
three-dimensional framework, including a mesh or sponge. Mesenchymal stem
cells may be derived from sources that are generally discarded such as
umbilical cord cells and placental cells and therefore do not have to be
isolated from embryonic or fetal tissue.
This newly issued patent expands the Company's patent portfolio to include
the growth of mesenchymal stem cells on a three-dimensional framework. It
also complements the Company's previously issued U.S. Patent No. 5,902,741,
"Three-Dimensional Cartilage Cultures," which covers the growth of living
cartilage from mesenchymal stem cells. The Company's current patent position
now includes 53 U.S. patents directly owned by or licensed to Advanced Tissue
Sciences.
"Mesenchymal stem cells are known as the body's building blocks," said
Gail K. Naughton, Ph.D., President and Chief Operating Officer. "Technically,
they are pluripotent cells, which means they have the developmental capability
to grow into different types of tissues. The ability of these cells to
differentiate into various tissues including cartilage, bone and muscle makes
them ideal for tissue engineering, with one cell bank potentially being used
to generate multiple tissue products."
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(R) for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, TransCyte(TM) 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.
The discussion contained in this press release 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
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 products incorporating such technologies or
processes. 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 and the Company's
most recent Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on July 12, 1999, as
amended. 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:
Jana Stoudemire, Senior Director, Corporate
Communications of Advanced Tissue Sciences, 858-713-7802
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