Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ELAD®Vital
Therapies Appoints Liver Transplant Expert to Board of
Directors
Dr. J. Michael Millis Brings Hospital and Clinical Research
Expertise to Company’s Bioartificial Liver Treatment
San Diego, January 29, 2006 – Vital
Therapies, Inc. announced today that J. Michael Millis,
M.D., has been appointed to the company’s Board of
Directors. Dr. Millis is professor of Surgery and chief,
Section of Transplantation at the University of Chicago
Hospitals. As an expert in adult and pediatric transplant
surgery, he has performed more liver transplants than any
other surgeon in the region. With a history of pioneering
new techniques of operating on the liver, his innovations
have helped the University of Chicago perform more liver
transplants than any other program in the region during the
past 15 years.
Dr. Millis additionally sits on the Board of Directors for
the Gift of Hope, American Liver Foundation of Illinois and
Facilities Solution Group, and the editorial boards of the
American Journal of Transplantation, Transplantation, Liver
Transplantation and the World Journal of Gastroenterology.
He is member of the leading liver and transplant societies,
including the American Association of the Studies of Liver
Disease, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American
Society of Transplantation and The Transplantation Society.
With clinical interests in liver transplantation and
hepatobiliary surgery, Dr. Millis's current research
explores the application of cellular technology on patient
care. For example, he is investigating how hepatocyte
transplantation, extracorporeal assist technology and stem
cells can assist in the care of patients with liver disease
or liver tumors.
Dr. Millis has been associated with Vital Therapies’ ELAD®
(Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device) since 1994, and he was
an investigator on the Phase I clinical trial. He became
the chairman of the Vital Therapies Clinical Advisory Board
in 2003 and chair of the China Clinical Advisory Board in
2004. “During the past 13 years, I have seen the
significant improvements in ELAD and its performance,” said
Dr. Millis.
“Dr. Millis has been a leader in the clinical direction and
evolution of ELAD and has contributed significantly to the
successful interim analysis of the China pivotal study,
which we reported on earlier this month,” said Terry
Winters, chairman and CEO of Vital Therapies. “The entire
management team welcomes Dr. Millis and his clinical
perspectives to broaden our view on both the clinical and
commercial applications for ELAD.”
Dr. Millis will continue his roles as chairman of the U.S.
and China Clinical Advisory Boards in addition to his new
role on the Board of Directors. He added, “This additional
role will enable me to act as an important link between the
business decisions being contemplated by the board and the
clinical realities of ELAD that are critical for the
Clinical Advisory Boards. My experience in the world of
transplantation surgery at a major academic medical center
will provide additional insights on both the clinical and
economic issues that hospitals will be considering.”
This year, Vital Therapies plans to complete its pivotal
clinical trial in China and prepare for the initiation of a
Phase III registration trial in the United States.
Jan Barker, VTI board member and partner with MedVenture
Associates, the lead investor in the latest round of
financing, said, “The board welcomes Dr. Millis’
involvement on the board. New markets are created by
technology, which by its nature is constantly changing. Dr.
Millis brings technical knowledge and physician insight to
Vital Therapies to allow the company to adapt to the
opportunities at hand.”
– end –
About ELAD®The
ELAD® system provides important metabolic support for
patients with severe liver failure, thereby enabling a
bridge to recovery or transplant depending on the type and
severity of liver disease. The system consists of four
cartridges containing cells that function like a normal
human liver by metabolizing toxins and removing waste
products while delivering essential proteins back into the
plasma. These cartridges are incorporated into a blood
pumping system at the patient’s bedside and enable
continuous patient treatment for up to 12 days. The key to
the performance of ELAD is its utilization of a proprietary
human hepatocyte cell line, C3A, an immortalized cell line
that can be grown, stored and shipped worldwide.
About Vital Therapies. Inc.Vital
Therapies, Inc. (VTI) is a private San Diego-based liver
therapy company. VTI is developing the first human-liver
cell-based system, ELAD® (Extracorporeal Liver Assist
Device), which provides important metabolic support for
patients with severe liver failure.
CONTACTS:Investors:
Aron Stem
Vital Therapies, Inc.
858-673-6840
Email:
astern@vitaltherapies.com
MEDIA:Kelly
McKenna
MS&L
415-293-2808
Email:
kelly.mckenna@mslpr.com
