SAN DIEGO & MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cytori Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CYTX) announced the initiation of the FDA approved ATHENA clinical trial to investigate Cytori’s cell therapy in patients who suffer from a severe form of refractory (untreatable) heart failure due to chronic myocardial ischemia. Cytori’s cell therapy is based on a patient’s own adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells (ADRCs) processed by the Company’s proprietary Celution® System technology, making this the first FDA approved trial in the U.S. to evaluate ADRCs for cardiovascular disease. This first patient was treated by co-principal investigator Timothy Henry, M.D., Director of Research, at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation in September and has undergone a seven day follow-up assessment. More details on the ATHENA trial may be found at www.theathenatrial.com.
