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TheraVitae Presents Positive Stem Cell Trial Results at American Heart...

TheraVitae, an international biotechnology company and the producer of VesCell adult stem cell therapy for heart disease, presented the final results from its first clinical study at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions this week in Chicago. The results of the study show that the therapy has a high safety profile and is effective in alleviating severe angina pectoris in patients without any other therapeutic option. The study, evaluating the safety and efficacy of intracoronary administration of VesCell to patients suffering from severe angina pectoris, was conducted in conjunction with Her Majesty'ss Cardiac Center at Siriraj Medical Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.



By using sophisticated tissue culture technology facilitating the isolation, expansion and differentiation of angiogenic cell precursors (ACPs) to an amount sufficient to induce blood vessel formation in the heart, the scientists at TheraVitae have developed VesCell, which is used now by doctors in Thailand and Singapore for patients suffering from severe heart disease. Cells are isolated from the blood, processed outside the body and then administered to the patient into regions of the heart suffering from reduced blood supply.



Prof. Damras Tresukosol MD Director of Cardiology at the Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University in Bangkok and the Principal Investigator of the trial, presented the results which showed significant improvement in most patients at six month follow-up:



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Over 90% of patients reported subjective improvement of their physical condition and ability to perform physical exercise

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Over 70% showed improvement in treadmill exercise capacity

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Over 75% of patients showed objective improvement in the perfusion defect of the ischemic region



The results are a major step toward proving the safety and efficacy of VesCell therapy, and demonstrate the reliability of TheraVitae'ss cell manufacturing process. Moreover, they illustrate the considerable benefits and low risk that VesCell therapy provides to patients.



Professor Tresukosol said: These results are extremely encouraging and reaffirm our belief that VesCell can make a substantial and positive difference in the lives of patients suffering from severe angina pectoris.



Valentin Fulga, MD, CEO of TheraVitae, added: Working on this landmark study with our Thai colleagues has been both exciting and fruitful. By presenting these encouraging results together at the American Heart Association meeting, we hope to have added our small contribution to the medical community'ss knowledge about the utilization of adult stem cell therapies. Together with the recent publication of our scientific article in the British Journal of Hematology, we hope that our technology is starting to become acknowledged by the medical and scientific communities.



About TheraVitae



TheraVitae is a private, multinational company focused on using stem cells from the patient'ss own blood in order to treat a variety of disorders, especially cardiovascular diseases. The company has developed a proprietary stem cell technology, 'sVesCell's, that is currently being used by hospitals in Thailand and Singapore to treat patients with heart disease.



VesCell -- A Natural Treatment for Heart Disease



The body has natural ways of healing itself and the cardiovascular system is no exception. Angiogenic Cell Precursors (ACPs) originate in bone marrow and then circulate in the blood vessels. To manufacture VesCell, TheraVitae expands a small number of ACPs harvested from about 250cc of blood into a therapeutic quantity. VesCell is injected either through a coronary artery via catheter, or during surgery, directly into the heart muscle.



A key aspect of VesCell therapy is the advanced cell isolation and expansion technique that allows for the ACPs to be harvested from blood collected in a procedure similar to a common blood donation. VesCell uses a patient'ss own adult stem cells to treat Heart Disease and is a viable therapeutic possibility for heart patients without any other treatment option.



TheraVitae Corporate Web Site: http://www.theravitae.com

VesCell Web Site: http://www.VesCell.com



TheraVitae Thailand

36/72 PS Tower, 21/Fl., Sukhumvit 21, Klongtoey Nua, Bangkok 10110

Phone: 02-664-4290

Fax: 02-664-4289



Theravitae Israel

7 Pinhas Sapir Street P.O. Box 4049, Ness Ziona 74140, Israel

Phone: +972-8-9409170

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