Tengion Presents New Data Supporting its Organ Regeneration Platform™ at 8th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research

EAST NORRITON, Pa., June 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tengion Inc. (Nasdaq: TNGN) today announced that it has presented new preclinical data at the 8th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) being held June 16-19 in San Francisco.  These data, highlighted during the meeting's poster session on June 16, show the important distinction between adipose-derived smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).  The Tengion data demonstrate that SMC's sourced from adipose tissue, which have been demonstrated to promote regeneration of tubular tissues and hollow organs, have protein and gene expression profiles distinct from those generated by MSCs.  Tengion's Neo-Urinary Conduit™, currently in Phase 1 clinical development, is utilizing the Tengion's proprietary adipose-derived SMC technology.

"Our continued generation of key preclinical data further demonstrates mechanisms of natural regeneration promoted by Tengion's technology platform," stated Tim Bertram, D.V.M., Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Science and Technology for Tengion.  Tengion's lead product candidate, the Neo-Urinary Conduit, is currently in an open-label, single arm Phase I clinical trial in patients with bladder cancer.  The Neo-Urinary Conduit is an autologous – made from a patient's own cells – implant that is intended to catalyze the regeneration of native-like bladder tissue for bladder cancer patients requiring a urinary diversion following bladder removal.

The ISSCR data presentation is available on Tengion's website at http://www.tengion.com/news/documents.cfm.

About Tengion

Tengion, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has pioneered the Organ Regeneration Platform that enables us 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.  Our product candidates 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 March 2010 for its lead product candidate, the Neo-Urinary Conduit, an autologous implant that is intended to catalyze regeneration of native-like bladder issue 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.  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: (i) our plans to develop and commercialize our product candidates, including our Neo-Urinary Conduit; and (ii) our ongoing and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials.  Although the company believes that such statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, the forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and the company's business is subject to significant risk and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that its actual results will not differ materially from its expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: (i) we may have difficulty enrolling patients in our clinical trials, including our Phase I clinical trial for our Neo-Urinary Conduit; (ii) patients enrolled in our clinical trials may experience adverse events related to our product candidates, which could delay our clinical trials or cause us to terminate the development of a product candidate; and (iii) we may be unable to progress our product candidates that are undergoing preclinical testing into clinical trials.  For further information with respect to factors that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from expectations, reference is made to the reports the company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements made in this release are made only as of the date hereof and the company disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating predictions or expectations contained in this release.

SOURCE Tengion Inc.