Tengion Presents New Data Supporting Key Urologic and Kidney Programs at 16th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Cellular Therapy

EAST NORRITON, Pa., May 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tengion Inc. (Nasdaq: TNGN) today announced that its scientists have presented new research data in three podium presentations at the 16^th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) which was held May 23-26 in Philadelphia.  These presentations highlighted key findings in Tengion's Neo-Urinary Conduit and Neo-Kidney Augment programs and provided further information about the company's work with various cell types -- adipose-derived smooth muscle cells and human kidney cells -- that support its current and planned clinical development programs.

"Our scientists and discovery team continues to build a robust base of scientific data and technology support that we feel strongly positions these programs for success. We look forward to additional preclinical and clinical data presentations this year," stated Tim Bertram, D.V.M., Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Science and Technology for Tengion.  Scientific data presented at ISCT successfully demonstrate that an adipose tissue -- or fatty tissue -- biopsy could be a source of healthy smooth muscle cells which are then used in Tengion's manufacturing process to manufacture an autologous neo-organ.  This method eliminates the need to procure cells from a failing or cancerous organ.  These research findings support Tengion's lead product candidate, the Neo-Urinary Conduit, which is currently utilizing the adipose tissue biopsy method 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 surgical bladder removal.

Additionally, new research data were presented for the first time demonstrating that bio-active renal cells, like those used in Tengion's Neo-Kidney Augment program, can reduce the rate of loss of functional kidney mass in a chronic kidney disease model.  Finally, new research data were also presented at ISCT confirming that renal cells being used in Tengion's preclinical models are present in diseased human tissue in patients with chronic kidney disease.

The Neo-Kidney Augment is Tengion's lead discovery program and is designed to prevent or delay the need for dialysis or kidney transplant by increasing functional renal mass in patients with advanced chronic renal disease, a significant unmet medical need.  Tengion expects to announce further data for this program in the second half of this year.  

These data presentations are 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 catalyzes 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 its 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 financial expectations contained in this release.

SOURCE Tengion Inc.