Aastrom Cell Therapy Reverses Effects of Blocked Leg Arteries

(TheStreet) -- A personalized cellular therapy developed by Aastrom Biosciences(ASTM_) significantly restored damaged tissue in the legs of patients with arteries that are severely blocked, according to results from a mid-stage study presented Monday. Based on Monday's results, Aastrom will soon begin a phase III study to determine whether the cellular therapy, which is custom grown for patients from their own bone-marrow stem cells, can reduce amputations and prolong survival in patients with severe cases of critical limb ischemia (

). Patients with chronic CLI have obstructed arteries and reduced blood flow in the arms and legs, which can lead to open wounds and amputation in the most severe cases. CLI affects about 1 million people in the U.S. each year and leads to about 160,000 limb amputations each year.

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