For immediate release
Contact: Gary Sender
Chief Financial Officer
Tengion, Inc.
gary.sender@tengion.com
East Norriton, PA - November 1, 2007 — Tengion, Inc., a leader in regenerative medicine, announced today that the company and its proprietary, clinical stage approach to the development of neo-organs, neo-tissues and neo-vessels has been featured in the October 15, 2007 issue of The Gray Sheet (Vol. 33, No. 042). The article is available here. Tengion's approach follows academic pre-clinical research and human clinical experience undertaken by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston, the long term human follow-up data for which was reported in the April 2006 issue of The Lancet. A Press Release on Tengion's pre-clinical data was issued on October 29, 2007.
The article, titled, "Paving A Path To A Regenerative Medicine Industry - A Conversation With Tengion CEO Steven Nichtberger" provides an overview of regenerative medicine, focuses on the Company's strategy for succeeding and discusses the promise of Tengion's novel approach to harnessing the body's own ability to regenerate.
Following an interactive 'Question and Answer' session format with Dr. Nichtberger, the feature story also discusses Tengion's ongoing clinical trials - two Phase 2 trials of the Tengion Neo-Bladder Augment™ - the company's robust pipeline and its proprietary processes.
About the Tengion Neo-Bladder Augment™
Tengion's most advanced regenerative medicine program is the autologous Tengion Neo-Bladder Augment. There are currently two Phase 2 clinical trials ongoing evaluating the Neo-Bladder Augment: one in pediatric patients with neurogenic bladder due to spina bifida, and the other in adult patients with neurogenic bladder due to spinal cord injuries. The Neo-Bladder Augments for both Phase 2 clinical trials are being developed at Tengion's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility using cells taken from a small biopsy of each patient's bladder. Each Neo-Bladder Augment consists of a biodegradable scaffold seeded with cells cultured by Tengion scientists from the patient's own (i.e., autologous) healthy cells. A surgeon implants the Neo-Bladder Augment in the patient's body, where it is designed to harness the body's inherent regenerative capabilities resulting in a regenerated bladder with improved functionality.
About Tengion
Tengion Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company, is a leader in developing autologous neo-organs and tissues, such as bladders, that are derived from the patient's own (autologous) cells. Tengion's proprietary approach to regenerative medicine has the potential to enable people with organ and tissue failure to lead healthier lives without donor transplants or the side effects of current therapies. Headquartered in East Norriton, PA, Tengion also has research and pilot manufacturing facilities located in Winston-Salem, NC. For more information, visit Tengion online at: http://www.tengion.com.