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SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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[Aastrom Logo]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CONTACTS:
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Kris M. Maly or Kimberli OMeara
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Kevin McGrath |
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Investor Relations
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Cameron & Associates (Investors) |
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Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.
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Phone: (212) 245-4577 |
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Phone: (734) 930-5777
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Stephen Zoegall |
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Berry & Company (Media) |
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Phone: (212) 253-8881 |
NASDAQ HEARINGS PANEL GRANTS EXCEPTION PERIOD TO AASTROM BASED
ON REQUEST TO REMAIN LISTED ON THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET
Ann Arbor, Michigan, December 9, 2009 Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASTM), a leading
developer of autologous cell products for the treatment of severe, chronic cardiovascular diseases,
announced today that the NASDAQ Hearings Panel (Panel) has granted the Companys request to remain
listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ) until March 31, 2010, subject to certain conditions.
The Panels determination letter, dated December 8, 2009, states that Aastrom must meet the $1.00
minimum closing bid price requirement for a minimum of ten consecutive business days prior to March
31, 2010 in order to remain listed after such date. The Panel may, in its discretion, require the
Company to maintain a minimum closing bid price of at least $1.00 per share for a period in excess
of ten consecutive business days (but generally no more than 20 consecutive business days) before
determining that Aastrom has demonstrated the ability to maintain long-term compliance. In the
determination letter, the Panel also acknowledged: 1) the Companys commitment to implement a
reverse stock split, assuming that is necessary to regain compliance, and 2) that with unanimous
consent of the Board of Directors, the Company has filed a definitive proxy that includes a
proposal seeking shareholder approval to effect a reverse stock split. The Panel has reserved the
right to reconsider its decision at any time and Aastrom must provide the Panel notice of any
significant events during the exception period.
The Company also announced that Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (ISS), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of RiskMetrics Group, Inc., one of the nations leading proxy advisory firms, has
recommended that Aastrom shareholders vote FOR all of the proposals included in the definitive
proxy at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for December 14, 2009.
Aastrom and its Board of Directors encourage all shareholders to vote their shares FOR all of the
proposals promptly by phone or Internet. If shareholders have any questions or need assistance in
voting their shares, they may contact MacKenzie Partners toll-free at (800) 322-2885 or collect at
(212) 929-5500, or Aastroms Investor Relations Department collect at (734) 930-5777.
About Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.
Aastrom is a leader in regenerative medicine developing autologous cell products for the treatment
of severe, chronic cardiovascular diseases. The Companys proprietary Tissue Repair Cell (TRC)
technology expands the numbers of stem and early progenitor cells from a small amount of bone
marrow collected from the patient. Bone marrow provides a rich source of diverse cell populations,
is easily accessible and allows Aastrom to produce a personalized treatment for site-specific
delivery to the patients diseased tissues. Aastrom has treated more than 350 patients in various
clinical trials over 10 years without any product safety issues. The Company is currently
conducting a Phase II cardiac regeneration clinical trial (the IMPACT-DCM trial) in patients with
dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM severe chronic heart failure) and a Phase IIb vascular regeneration
clinical trial (the RESTORE-CLI trial) in patients with critical
limb ischemia (CLI the most severe form of peripheral arterial disease). Aastrom has also
recently announced that the Company will initiate its U.S. Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the
catheter delivery of CRCs for the treatment of DCM.
For more information, visit Aastroms website at www.aastrom.com.
This document contains forward-looking statements, including without limitation, statements
concerning 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, potential,
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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