CLEVELAND, Feb. 1, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athersys, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATHX - News) today announced positive results from its Phase I clinical trial of MultiStem(R), its cell therapy product, administered to individuals undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) for the treatment of leukemia and related conditions. According to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, there are approximately 25,000 allogeneic HSCT performed annually, globally. The study demonstrated that MultiStem therapy was well tolerated in both the single infusion and repeat infusion arms and also suggested that the therapy may provide benefit to recipients of allogeneic HSCT, such as reducing the incidence and severity of Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD) as compared to historical clinical experience. The results are consistent with previous preclinical studies that show that MultiStem provides multiple benefits in HSCT and other transplant models, such as reducing inflammatory damage and promoting graft acceptance.

Data Suggest MultiStem Provides Longer-Term Benefit in Heart Function in Heart Attack Patients Athersys, Inc. announced positive results from the analysis of one-year follow-up data from its Phase I clinical trial of MultiStem(R), its allogeneic adult stem cell product, administered to individuals following acute myocardial infarction (AMI), more commonly referred to as a heart attack. Dr. Marc Penn, M.D., Ph.D., co-principal investigator of this study and Director of Cardiovascular Cell Therapy at the Cleveland Clinic, and Director of the Skirball Laboratory for Cardiovascular Cellular Therapeutics, presented the results on June 10, 2011 at the Eighth International Symposium on Stem Cell Therapy and Cardiovascular Innovations in Madrid, Spain. The long-term follow-up, based on one year of patient data, suggests that trends observed at four months -- indicating a benefit in heart function from MultiStem treatment -- were continued through twelve months.

Dr. Penn presented new information from the one-year follow-up data collected from patients in the Phase I study, showing benefit in heart function through twelve months in patients treated with MultiStem.

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Athersys, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATHX) announced a joint scientific study on spinal cord injury will be published today in the January issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The study, by leading researchers from the Department of Neurosciences at the School
of Medicine and scientists at Athersys, presents data supporting the potential therapeutic benefit of Athersys' MultiStem® program for spinal cord injury. Researchers observed that administration of Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cells (MAPC) following spinal cord injury in rodent models prevented the retraction of neurons, a process referred to as "axonal dieback," reduced inflammation in the region of injury, and also promoted the regrowth of neurons.

Athersys, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATHX) announced today that it has been granted U.S. patent 7,659,118 that covers non-embryonic multipotent stem cells, their isolation and expansion, and related pharmaceutical compositions. Athersys also announced that it has been granted -- and the opposition period has cleared -- EP patent EP1218489B1 that covers non-embryonic pluripotent stem cells, their isolation, expansion, and usage.

Athersys, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATHX) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Pfizer Inc. (PFE) to develop and commercialize MultiStem(R) for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease ("IBD"). MultiStem is an investigational stem cell therapy currently in development by Athersys for several other conditions, including acute myocardial infarction, bone marrow transplant support, and ischemic stroke.

Athersys, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATHX) today announced top-line results from its Phase 1 clinical trial of ATHX-105, its orally administered drug candidate for the treatment of obesity. ATHX-105 was well- absorbed, providing good drug exposures, well-tolerated up to high doses, and had no negative effect on cardiovascular, hematology or other clinical parameters.

Athersys, Inc. (OTCBB:AHYS) announced today that it has been notified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that its Investigational New Drug, MultiStem(r), can proceed to a Phase I clinical trial evaluating the safety of MultiStem administration in support of bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of certain cancers of the blood and immune system. This study is the first of several planned clinical trials for MultiStem, which the company believes has broad potential in a number of indications based on its multiple mechanisms of action, its ability to be delivered "off-the-shelf" like a pharmaceutical product, and the safety and effectiveness that have been demonstrated in preclinical studies by the company and its collaborators.

Athersys, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BTHC VI (OTC Bulletin Board: BVIC), announced today that it has initiated a Phase I clinical trial in the United Kingdom for ATHX-105, the company’s oral, selective 5HT2c receptor agonist for treating obesity.