EAST NORRITON, Pa., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ --Tengion, Inc. (Nasdaq: TNGN) presented new research data yesterday in a podium presentation at the 2nd Annual Symposium on Stem Cell Translation of the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) in San Francisco. The presentation highlighted new results from Tengion’s Neo-Kidney Augment development program demonstrating success with an autologous cellular therapy approach to kidney regeneration in a rodent model of obesity, diabetes and hypertension.
“These data demonstrate that our proprietary therapeutic approach using cells from diseased kidney tissue can provide significant improvements in several parameters of kidney function, including filtration, urine concentration, and electrolyte balance, as well as a significant reduction in blood pressure,” stated Sharon Presnell, Ph.D., Vice President of Regenerative Medicine at Tengion. “We used the established ZSF1 rodent model, which develops chronic kidney disease as a result of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension three common co-morbid conditions often seen in patients with renal failure. Although our studies are still active, at one year of age, the treated animals have demonstrated improved kidney function, delayed disease progression and better survival compared to the age- and disease-matched untreated control animals.”
“Following our recently published and peer-reviewed data from a nephrectomized model of renal failure, these new results in a model of natural disease progression further strengthen our confidence in this program,” said Tim Bertram, D.V.M., Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Science and Technology at Tengion. “We look forward to presenting additional data from this development program in the fourth quarter of this year.”
Tengion’s Neo-Kidney Augment product candidate is designed to prevent or delay the need for dialysis or kidney transplant in patients with progressive chronic kidney disease by enhancing functional kidney mass. The Company is developing a product candidate that uses the patient’s own kidney cells, procured by a routine biopsy, and is then implanted into the failing kidney, catalyzing the regeneration of functional kidney tissue. The slide set used in the ISCT presentation is available at http://www.tengion.com/news/documents.cfm . A recently published paper showcasing additional preclinical results and entitled, “A tubular cell-enriched subpopulation of primary renal cells improves survival and augments kidney function in a rodent model of chronic kidney disease,” is available online at the American Journal of Physiology Renal Physiology website - http://ajprenal.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/ajprenal.00221.2010v1 - and will appear in the November 2010 print issue.
About Tengion
Tengion, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has pioneered the Organ Regeneration Platform that enables the Company to create proprietary product candidates that are intended to harness the intrinsic regenerative pathways of the body to produce a range of native-like organs and tissues. Tengion’s product candidates seek to eliminate the need to utilize other tissues of the body for a purpose to which they are poorly suited, procure donor organs or administer anti-rejection medications. Tengion commenced a Phase I clinical trial in the first half of 2010 for its lead product candidate, the Neo-Urinary Conduit, an autologous implant that is intended to catalyze regeneration of native-like bladder tissue for bladder cancer patients requiring a urinary diversion following bladder removal. Tengion has also applied its technology in two Phase II clinical trials for Tengion’s Neo-Bladder Augment for the treatment of neurogenic bladder and is in preclinical development of its Neo-Kidney Augment. Tengion has worldwide rights to its product candidates.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements set forth above may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to the Company’s: (i) plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates, including the Neo-Kidney Augment and the Neo-Urinary Conduit; and (ii) expectations regarding ongoing and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials. Although Tengion believes that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, there are a number of factors that may cause actual results to differ from these statements. For instance there can be no assurance that: (i) the Company will be able to obtain the capital it needs to develop its product candidates or continue as a going concern; (ii) the Company will be able to successfully enroll patients in its clinical trials, including its Phase I clinical trial for the Neo-Urinary Conduit; (iii) patients enrolled in the Company’s clinical trials will not experience adverse events related to the Company’s product candidates, which could delay clinical trials or cause the Company to terminate the development of a product candidate; (iv) the results of the clinical trial for the Neo-Urinary Conduit will support further development of that product candidate; (v) data from the Company’s ongoing preclinical studies will continue to be supportive of advancing its preclinical product candidates; and (vi) the Company will be able to progress its product candidates that are undergoing preclinical testing, including the Neo-Kidney Augment, into clinical trials. For additional factors which could cause actual results to differ from expectations, reference is made to the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward looking statements in this release are made only as of the date hereof and the company disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating predictions or expectations in this release.
SOURCE Tengion, Inc.
