ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 3, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASTM), a leading developer of autologous adult stem cell treatments for severe chronic cardiovascular diseases, today announced that George Dunbar, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Elmar Burchardt, MD, PhD, Vice President, Medical Affairs, will present at the BMO Capital Markets 9th Annual Focus on Healthcare Conference. The conference will be held on Wednesday, August 5th at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City. Aastrom will present at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Time).

A live audio webcast of Aastrom's presentation can be accessed by logging onto the web at http://audability.com/AudabilityAdmin/Clients/BMO/10709_85200980000AM/lobby.aspx?Event_ID=709. After the presentation, a replay will be archived for approximately three months at the same site. For more information, please visit the conference website at http://www.bmocm.com/conferences/2009healthcare/default.aspx.

About Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.

Aastrom is a leader in the development of autologous cell products for the repair or regeneration of human tissue. The Company's proprietary Tissue Repair Cell (TRC) technology involves the use of a patient's own cells to manufacture products to treat a range of chronic diseases and serious injuries. Aastrom's TRC-based products contain increased numbers of stem and early progenitor cells, produced from a small amount of bone marrow collected from the patient. The TRC technology platform has positioned Aastrom to advance multiple products into clinical development. TRC-based products have been used in over 325 patients with over 10 years of positive safety data. The Company's ongoing development activities focus on applying TRC technology to cardiac and vascular tissue regeneration. The Company is currently focused on cardiovascular regeneration through a Phase II clinical trial with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients (the IMPACT-DCM trial) and a Phase IIb clinical trial with critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients (the RESTORE-CLI trial).

The Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3663

For more information, visit Aastrom's website at www.aastrom.com.

This document contains forward-looking statements, including without limitation, statements concerning planned clinical trials and activities and anticipated timing of clinical events, product development objectives, and potential product applications, which involve certain risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are also identified through use of the words "expected," "anticipated," "planned," and other words of similar meaning. Actual results may differ significantly from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that may result in differences are potential patient accrual difficulties, clinical trial results, potential product development difficulties, the effects of competitive therapies, regulatory approval requirements, the availability of financial and other resources and the allocation of resources among different potential uses. These and other significant factors are discussed in greater detail in Aastrom's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:  Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.
          Investor Relations Department
          Kris M. Maly
          Kimberli O'Meara
          (734) 930-5777

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          Investors
          Kevin McGrath
          (212) 245-4577

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