INDUSTRY NEWS Aastrom Announces Treatment of Final Patient in RESTORE-CLI Clinical Trial Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. reported that the final patient has been treated in the company’s ongoing multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled U.S. Phase IIb clinical trial designated RESTORE-CLI. [Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. Press Release] CryoLife Withdraws Its Proposal to Acquire Medafor Based on the limited information that Medafor has made available to its shareholders, CryoLife continues to believe that the Medafor board’s stated strategic rationale for entering into the Magle transaction does not justify the significant dilution suffered by Medafor shareholders. [CryoLife, Inc. Press Release] Bioheart Announces Cell Therapies Program in Latin America for Congestive Heart Failure and Peripheral Arterial Disease Patients Bioheart, Inc., announced plans for establishing five Centers of Excellence in Latin America to provide its cell therapy procedures to patients suffering from congestive heart failure and peripheral arterial disease beginning, April 2010. [PRNewswire] Garnet BioTherapeutics Announces First Patient Treated in Trial of New Therapy for Improvement in Scar Appearance Garnet BioTherapeutics announced that the first patient has been treated in a Phase II multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of its lead product candidate GBT009 at Unity Hospital in Rochester, New York. [Garnet BioTherapeutics Press Release] The Automation Partnership (TAP) and AVISO Sign Second Distribution Agreement for TAP to Exclusively Market CellCelector™ in the UK and Ireland The Automation Partnership announced it has entered into a second distribution agreement with AVISO GmbH, a major German manufacturer of automation for the stem cell market. [The Automation Partnership Press Release] Funding for Cardiovascular Regeneration Research Research into cardiovascular regeneration has been given a boost with a grant of over £550,000 by the British Heart Foundation. [Bristol Heart Institute Press Release] Newly Established Firm Aims to Speed Development of Stable Cell Lines and Primary Cells for R&D A new service company focused on the development of customized cells for drug discovery and development applications has been spun-out from Germany’s Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research. [Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News] Biotechs, Venture Capitalists Shoot, Score with Reform Looking for a couple of winners out of the House’s historic passage of so-called health care reform – otherwise known as March Madness? Consider the biotech industry and its venture capital backers. [San Francisco Business Times] Abbreviated Trials Yield Misleading Results: Study Many positive treatment effects are exaggerated in clinical trials that are stopped early due to encouraging results, a new study has found. [HealthDay News] BloodCenter to Operate Organ, Tissue Bank Two groups that procure organs, veins, heart valves and other tissue have been consolidated into the BloodCenter of Wisconsin, making it the only organization in the country that specializes in all types of donation. [Journal Sentinel] Health Reform Will Set Off Biotech Tax Credit Rush New research credit, capped at $1 billion, should be a bonanza for some small and medium-sized firms and their investors. [Forbes]
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