ANN ARBOR, Mich. and MALVERN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 2006--Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASTM) and Orthovita, Inc. (Nasdaq:VITA) jointly announced today they have signed an agreement to develop products for the orthopedics market using Orthovita's synthetic ceramic matrices and ceramic-collagen matrices (VITOSS) and Aastrom's proprietary bone marrow-derived cells - Tissue Repair Cells (TRCs). The Companies anticipate that negotiations and planning for the expansion of this collaboration into a longer-term relationship will be finalized during calendar year 2006.
