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SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
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Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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On April 8, 2008, Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. issued the following press release announcing the
adjournment of its Special Meeting of Shareholders to May 6, 2008.
[Aastrom Biosciences Letterhead]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CONTACTS:
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Kris M. Maly
Investor Relations Department
Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.
Phone: (734) 930-5777
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Cameron Associates
Kevin McGrath
Phone: (212) 245-4577 |
AASTROM BIOSCIENCES ADJOURNS SPECIAL MEETING UNTIL MAY 6, 2008;
BOARD URGES SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL
CONSIDERED CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF THE COMPANY
Additional Time Provided for Greater Shareholder Turnout
to Support Reverse Split Authorization Proposal
Ann Arbor, Michigan, April 8, 2008 Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASTM), a leading
regenerative medicine company, today announced that the Companys Special Meeting of Shareholders
was adjourned and will reconvene on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 9:00am (EDT), at Aastroms office, 24
Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Lobby K, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. The purpose of the meeting was to
consider a proposal to authorize the Companys Board of Directors to effect a reverse stock split.
Aastrom reported that a quorum was present at the meeting and that the reverse stock split
proposal received FOR votes in excess of 58% of the outstanding shares; however, the Company had
not yet achieved the two-thirds (66-2/3%) vote required by the Companys charter for the proposal.
Aastroms Board of Directors considers this proposal, which is intended to assure the
preservation of the Companys Nasdaq Capital Market listing, critical to the future of the
Company. Therefore, the Board determined it was essential to provide additional time to continue
to obtain greater shareholder turnout and achieve the necessary two-thirds vote for this proposal.
More than ever, we are excited about Aastroms business prospects. The reverse split proposal is
vital to the future of the Company and merits shareholder support. Being delisted from the Nasdaq
Capital Market would have serious consequences and a reverse stock split represents an important
strategic option to avoid delisting, said Nelson M. Sims, Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Aastrom. The Board urges all shareholders to vote FOR this proposal so that together we continue
to build on the accomplishments of our clinical development programs, advance the interests of our
Company, and enhance the potential of significant long-term value for our shareholders.
Aastrom reported that its proposal has received a FOR recommendation from Institutional
Shareholder Services, Inc. (ISS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of RiskMetrics Group, Inc. ISS issued
its recommendation report on March 10, 2008, recognizing that the reverse split is necessary to
maintain compliance with Nasdaq Capital Market listing standards. Therefore, we believe that this
proposal warrants shareholder approval.
We plan to take advantage of the meeting adjournment period to reach out to our shareholders to
reemphasize the importance of this vote, stated George Dunbar, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Aastrom.
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Shareholders can review the Special Meeting Proxy Statement for additional details regarding this
process and the purpose. The Special Meeting Proxy Statement is available via Aastroms website
at www.aastrom.com; click on the Investors section, click on Annual Reports/Proxy, then click
on the Special Meeting Proxy Statement. The direct URL is: http://www.aastrom.com/annuals.cfm.
Additional proxy materials will be sent to shareholders of record as of February 26, 2008 during
the coming week.
About Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.
Aastrom is a leading regenerative medicine company engaged in the development of autologous cell
products for the repair or regeneration of human tissue. The Companys proprietary Tissue Repair
Cell (TRC) technology involves the use of a patients own cells to manufacture products to treat a
range of chronic diseases and serious injuries affecting vascular, bone, cardiac and neural
tissues. Aastroms 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.
Currently, the Company has a vascular regeneration product in clinical development for the
treatment of critical limb ischemia (called the RESTORE-CLI trial), a bone regeneration product in
Phase III development for the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (called the ON-CORE
trial), a cardiac regeneration product in clinical development for dilated cardiomyopathy and a
preclinical research program targeting unmet needs in neural health. Aastrom product candidates
to treat osteonecrosis of the femoral head and dilated cardiomyopathy have been designated for
orphan drug status by the FDA. For more information, visit Aastroms website at www.aastrom.com.
(astmc)
This document contains forward-looking statements, including without limitation, statements
concerning the Nasdaq Capital Market listing, clinical trial plans and expectations, clinical
activity timing, intended product development and commercialization objectives, adequacy of
existing capital to support operations for a specified time, future capital needs, and potential
advantages and application of Tissue Repair Cell (TRC) Technology, all of which involve certain
risks and uncertainties. These statements are often, but are not always, made through the use of
words or phrases such as anticipates, intends, estimates, plans, expects, we believe,
we intend, and similar words or phrases, or future or conditional verbs such as will, would,
should, could, may, or similar expressions. Actual results may differ significantly from the
expectations contained in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that may result in
differences are the inherent uncertainties associated with clinical trial and product development
activities, regulatory approval requirements, competitive developments, and the availability of
resources and the allocation of resources among different potential uses. These and other
significant factors are discussed in greater detail in Aastroms Annual Report on Form 10-K and
other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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