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Philadelphia (Sept. 15, 2006) – Tissue Repair Cells (TRC), a mixed cell population derived from bone marrow and processed using new technology, showed an increased number of stem and early stage cells can contribute to bone and blood vessel formation in healing severe fractures, according to new data being presented today at the 28th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Previous studies using TRC to regenerate bone marrow in more than 187 cancer patients on high-dose chemotherapy showed safe cell engraftment and no cell-related adverse effects.

In collaboration with Aastrom Biosciences’ researchers, led by Janet Hock, BDS, Ph.D., clinical investigators at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL; Lutheran Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY; William Beaumont Hospital, Detroit, MI; and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI obtained a small amount of bone marrow tissue from 36 patients and cultured these cells in a closed, computer-controlled system for 12 days, before returning them to the patient as TRC during open surgery.

The researchers found the formation of bony callus, which is the first sign of healing and return of blood flow, was observed in 78% of patients at three months and 91% of patients at six months. Of 12 patients who completed one year follow-up, 10 showed bone bridging at the healing fracture site.

ASBMR President-Elect Steve Goldring, M.D., notes: “The cell purification technique used in these studies provides a system for accelerating the rate and efficiency of fracture repair in patients with severe or poorly healing fractures.”

Disclosures: Dr. Hock, Ms. O’Brien and Ms. Douville are employees and stockholders at Aastrom Biosciences, Inc., Dr. Wolff is a consultant and stockholder at Aastrom Biosciences, Inc., and Dr. Armstrong is Chairman of the Board and a stockholder at Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. All other authors have reported no conflicts of interest.

To obtain a copy of the scientific abstract, contact Stephanie West (contact information above).

The ASBMR Annual Meeting is the pre-eminent scientific meeting on bone and mineral metabolism. More than 5,000 delegates are expected to attend the September 15-19 meeting, where nearly 1,800 scientific abstracts are presented. The ASBMR is the premier professional, scientific and medical society established to promote excellence in bone and mineral research and to facilitate the translation of that research into clinical practice. The ASBMR has a membership of nearly 4,000 physicians, basic research scientists, and clinical investigators. To learn more about the Society and the field of bone and mineral research, visit the ASBMR website at www.asbmr.org.

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The ASBMR is the foremost professional, scientific and medical society for the promotion of bone and mineral research and the translation of that research into clinical practice. To learn more, visit the ASBMR website at www.asbmr.org.

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