Company Profile

Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. is a leader in the development of novel cell therapy technology and products for immunotherapy and tissue regeneration. These competencies are based on dual-technology platforms: patented "single-pass perfusion" providing cells with excellent biological function, and patented GMP-compliant system automation facilitating the delivery of cells for therapeutic use into medical practice. These technologies are integrated into the AastromReplicell(TM) System, to uniquely standardize and automate the processes involved in producing high quality Tissue Repair Cells (TRCs) and Therapeutic Cells (TCs).

Aastrom's growing pipeline of TRC products, derived from bone marrow and cord blood, target the reconstruction of normal tissues. These TRCs are intended for use in stem cell transplants, the treatment of severe osteoporosis and in bone grafting procedures. Aastrom also has an expanding line of potential TC products. These TCs are intended to function similar to drugs in causing a therapeutic action. Aastrom's TC products under development include the Dendricell(TM) dendritic cell products for the cancer vaccine market.

In addition, Aastrom has developed a proprietary cell manufacturing device, the AastromReplicell(TM) System. These products are not available for sale at this time in the U.S., except for research or investigational use. The SC-I, CB-I, DC-I, DCV-I cell production products and the AastromReplicell(TM) System are CE Mark approved for European marketing and sales, and the System is also available to clinical research programs and companies developing cell therapies.

On May 22, 2002 Aastrom announced that it entered into an agreement with Azienda Unita Sanitaria Locale di Ravenna, Oncologia Medica (AUSL Ravenna) for the purchase and use of Aastrom's bone marrow stem cell therapy product for an experimental clinical approach in the treatment of breast cancer. Under the agreement, AUSL Ravenna will use the AastromReplicell(TM) System to generate bone marrow stem cells (Aastrom SCs) in the adjuvant treatment of high-risk breast cancer patients. The clinical study is being supported with funding from the Italian government, and follows AUSL Ravenna's recent purchase agreement for the AastromReplicell(TM) System platform and associated SC-I Therapy Kits.