Vital Therapies, Inc. (VTI) Appoints Liver Transplant Expert To Board Of Directors

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Vital Therapies, Inc. announced today that J. Michael Millis, M.D., has been appointed to the company's Board of Directors. Dr. Millis is professor of Surgery and chief, Section of Transplantation at the University of Chicago Hospitals. As an expert in adult and pediatric transplant surgery, he has performed more liver transplants than any other surgeon in the region. With a history of pioneering new techniques of operating on the liver, his innovations have helped the University of Chicago perform more liver transplants than any other program in the region during the past 15 years.

Dr. Millis additionally sits on the Board of Directors for The Gift of Hope, American Liver Foundation of Illinois and Facilities Solution Group, and the editorial boards of the American Journal of Transplantation, Transplantation, Liver Transplantation and the World Journal of Gastroenterology. He is member of the leading liver and transplant societies, including the American Association of the Studies of Liver Disease, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Society of Transplantation and The Transplantation Society.

With clinical interests in liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery, Dr. Millis's current research explores the application of cellular technology on patient care. For example, he is investigating how hepatocyte transplantation, extracorporeal assist technology and stem cells can assist in the care of patients with liver disease or liver tumors.

Dr. Millis has been associated with Vital Therapies' ELAD(R) (Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device) since 1994, and he was an investigator on the Phase I clinical trial. He became the chairman of the Vital Therapies Clinical Advisory Board in 2003 and chair of the China Clinical Advisory Board in 2004. "During the past 13 years, I have seen the significant improvements in ELAD and its performance," said Dr. Millis.

"Dr. Millis has been a leader in the clinical direction and evolution of ELAD and has contributed significantly to the successful interim analysis of the China pivotal study, which we reported on earlier this month," said Terry Winters, chairman and CEO of Vital Therapies. "The entire management team welcomes Dr. Millis and his clinical perspectives to broaden our view on both the clinical and commercial applications for ELAD."

Dr. Millis will continue his roles as chairman of the U.S. and China Clinical Advisory Boards in addition to his new role on the Board of Directors. He added, "This additional role will enable me to act as an important link between the business decisions being contemplated by the board and the clinical realities of ELAD that are critical for the Clinical Advisory Boards. My experience in the world of transplantation surgery at a major academic medical center will provide additional insights on both the clinical and economic issues that hospitals will be considering."

This year, Vital Therapies plans to complete its pivotal clinical trial in China and prepare for the initiation of a Phase III registration trial in the United States.

Jan Barker, VTI board member and partner with MedVenture Associates, the lead investor in the latest round of financing, said, "The board welcomes Dr. Millis' involvement on the board. New markets are created by technology, which by its nature is constantly changing. Dr. Millis brings technical knowledge and physician insight to Vital Therapies to allow the company to adapt to the opportunities at hand."

About ELAD(R)

The ELAD(R) system provides important metabolic support for patients with severe liver failure, thereby enabling a bridge to recovery or transplant depending on the type and severity of liver disease. The system consists of four cartridges containing cells that function like a normal human liver by metabolizing toxins and removing waste products while delivering essential proteins back into the plasma. These cartridges are incorporated into a blood pumping system at the patient's bedside and enable continuous patient treatment for up to 12 days. The key to the performance of ELAD is its utilization of a proprietary human hepatocyte cell line, C3A, an immortalized cell line that can be grown, stored and shipped worldwide.

About Vital Therapies, Inc.

Vital Therapies, Inc. (VTI) is a San Diego-based liver therapy company. VTI is developing the first human-liver cell-based system, ELAD(R) (Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device), which provides important metabolic support for patients with severe liver failure. For more information, please visit: www.vitaltherapies.com.

CONTACT: investors, Aron Stern, of Vital Therapies, Inc., +1-858-673-6840,or astern@vitaltherapies.com; or media, Kelly McKenna, of MS&L,+1-415-293-2808, or Kelly.mckenna@mslpr.com, for Vital Therapies, Inc.

Web site: http://www.vitaltherapies.com/