ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 10, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASTM), a leading developer of autologous cell products for the treatment of chronic cardiovascular diseases, today announced that the Company will initiate its second clinical trial for the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a severe disease associated with chronic heart failure, after a positive 30-day review of Aastrom's Investigational New Drug (IND) submission by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). This second trial is a 24 patient U.S. Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the catheter delivery of Cardiac Repair Cells (CRCs) for the treatment of DCM. The new trial expands the Company's cardiovascular program that includes a U.S. Phase II IMPACT-DCM clinical trial evaluating the direct surgical delivery of CRCs. The FDA previously granted CRCs an Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of DCM.
