Athersys to Present at 2018 Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa


CEO invited to provide corporate overview and speak in two workshops focusing on innovative development initiatives in Japan and advanced manufacturing technologies

CLEVELAND, Ohio, Sept. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athersys, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHX) announced today that Gil Van Bokkelen, Chairman and CEO, will present at the annual Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa to be held October 3rd-5th in La Jolla, California.

Dr. Van Bokkelen will provide a brief overview of the Athersys’ clinical pipeline, focusing on the ongoing Phase 3 trial of MultiStem® cell therapy for the treatment of ischemic stroke that has received Fast Track and RMAT designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, positive scientific advice from the European Medicines Agency, and is being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA). 

In addition, Dr. Van Bokkelen has been invited to speak at two conference workshops, where he will describe the Company’s progress working in collaboration with Healios K.K. under the innovative regenerative medicine regulatory framework implemented in Japan as part of the “Doing Business in Japan” workshop. During the “Readiness Strategies for Cell Therapy – Commercial Manufacturing” workshop, Dr. Van Bokkelen will discuss commercial manufacturing approaches and technologies for cellular therapies.

This conference is the largest partnering meeting organized specifically for the cell and gene therapy sector, providing the opportunity for participants to establish key relationships and accelerate business development. Organized by the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine and the Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center at the University of California-San Diego, the Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa is a three-day conference featuring three distinct parts, the program’s two-day Partnering Forum, a Public Forum lecture and a full-day Scientific Symposium. The event’s Partnering Forum on October 3rd-4th features more than 70 dedicated company presentations in addition to over 90 panelists and featured speakers.

The following are specific details regarding Athersys’ presentations at the conference:

Event:                 Doing Business in Japan Workshop: Development of an “Off the Shelf” Cell Therapy for Ischemic Stroke and Other Indications Under the Regenerative Medicine Regulatory Framework in Japan
Date:October 3, 2018
Time:7:50 – 8:05 am Pacific Time
Location:Magnolia Room at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, 9700 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037


Event:Athersys Corporate Overview
Date:October 3, 2018
Time:5:30 – 5:45 pm Pacific Time
Location:Ballroom 1 at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, 9700 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037


Event:     Readiness Strategies for Cell Therapy – Commercial Manufacturing Workshop, Section 3 Technology
Date:October 4, 2018
Time:8:10 – 8:35 am Pacific Time
Location:Learning Theater at the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, 9700 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037

A live video webcast of all company presentations and workshops will be available at: http://www.meetingonthemesa.com/webcast and will also be published on the conference website shortly after the event.

Please visit www.meetingonthemesa.com for full information including registration. Complimentary attendance at this event is available for credentialed investors and members of the media only. Investors should contact Laura Parsons at lparsons@alliancerm.org and interested media should contact Lyndsey Scull at lscull@alliancerm.org.

About MultiStem

MultiStem cell therapy is a patented regenerative medicine product in clinical development that has shown the ability to promote tissue repair and healing in a variety of ways, such as through the production of therapeutic factors produced in response to signals of inflammation and tissue damage. MultiStem’s potential for multidimensional therapeutic impact distinguishes it from traditional biopharmaceutical therapies that are typically focused on a single mechanism of benefit. The therapy represents a unique “off-the-shelf” stem cell product that can be manufactured in a scalable manner, may be stored for years in frozen form, and is administered without tissue matching or the need for immune suppression. Based upon its efficacy profile, its novel mechanisms of action, and a favorable and consistent safety profile demonstrated in clinical studies, MultiStem therapy could provide a meaningful benefit to patients, including those suffering from serious diseases and conditions with unmet medical need.

About Athersys

Athersys is an international biotechnology company engaged in the development of therapeutic products designed to extend and enhance the quality of human life. The Company is developing its MultiStem® cell therapy product, a patented, adult-derived "off-the-shelf" stem cell product, initially for disease indications in the neurological, cardiovascular, and inflammatory and immune disease areas, and has several ongoing clinical trials evaluating this potential regenerative medicine product. Athersys has forged strategic partnerships and a broad network of collaborations to further advance MultiStem cell therapy toward commercialization. More information is available at www.athersys.com. Follow Athersys on Twitter at www.twitter.com/athersys.

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Contact:

William (B.J.) Lehmann                      
President and Chief Operating Officer                        
Tel: (216) 431-9900
bjlehmann@athersys.com

Karen Hunady
Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
Tel: (216) 431-9900
khunady@athersys.com

David Schull   
Russo Partners, LLC
Tel: (212) 845-4271 or (858) 717-2310
David.schull@russopartnersllc.com