Vital Therapies, Inc. (VTI) Enrolls First Subject From European Site In VTI-208

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - February 18, 2014) - Vital Therapies, Inc., a biotherapeutic company developing a cell-based therapy targeting the treatment of acute liver failure, today announced that it has enrolled the first subject from an European clinical trial site in VTI-208, a Phase 3 randomized, controlled clinical trial in 200 subjects with alcohol-induced liver decompensation, or AILD. The subject was enrolled last month at the Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

As of today, 73 subjects have been enrolled in VTI-208 with 37 clinical sites in the United States, Europe and Australia open for enrollment.

About Vital Therapies, Inc.

Vital Therapies, Inc. is a biotherapeutic company developing a cell-based therapy targeting the treatment of acute liver failure. The company's lead product-candidate, ELAD, is an extracorporeal bio-artificial liver currently in Phase 3 clinical trials. Vital Therapies, Inc. is based in San Diego, California. Vital Therapies® and ELAD® are trademarks of Vital Therapies, Inc.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding Vital Therapies, Inc.'s current and future clinical studies. These statements relate to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These statements are only predictions based on the company's current expectations and projections about future events. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Many factors or events may cause the company's actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Vital Therapies, Inc. does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements. In addition, note historic clinical trial enrollment rates are not necessarily indicative of future enrollment rates. Subject enrollment is affected by numerous factors, many of which fall outside the company's control.