UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):  January 4, 2016

Vericel Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (734) 418-4400

Not Applicable

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On January 4, 2016, Vericel Corporation issued a press release announcing its submission of a Biologics License Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for MACI™ (matrix applied characterized autologous cultured chondrocytes). A copy of this press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

The information in this Report on Form 8-K and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto is intended to be furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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Exhibit Index

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Exhibit 99.1

Vericel Submits Biologics License Application to the FDA for MACI for the Treatment of Cartilage Defects in the Knee

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 4, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ: VCEL), a leading developer of patient-specific expanded cellular therapies for the treatment of severe diseases and conditions, today announced that it has submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for MACI™ (matrix applied characterized autologous cultured chondrocytes), the company’s investigational autologous cellular product intended for the treatment of symptomatic cartilage defects of the knee in adult patients.

“The BLA submission for MACI represents an important step toward our goal of providing a new treatment option for the repair of symptomatic cartilage defects of the knee in adult patients,” said David Recker, MD, chief medical officer of Vericel.  “We look forward to continuing to work closely with the FDA during the BLA filing and review process for MACI in the United States.”

About MACI

MACI (matrix applied characterized autologous cultured chondrocytes) is a third-generation autologous chondrocyte implant (ACI) product intended for the treatment of symptomatic cartilage defects in the knee in adult patients.  MACI is an autologous implant consisting of autologous cultured chondrocytes seeded onto a resorbable Type I/III collagen membrane.  Autologous cultured chondrocytes are human-derived cells which are obtained from the patient’s own cartilage for the manufacture of MACI.

MACI is an investigational product that was studied in the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial SUMMIT (“Superiority of MACI Implant to Microfracture Treatment”) and the three-year SUMMIT Extension trial.  SUMMIT was a two year, prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MACI to reduce pain and improve function compared with arthroscopic microfracture in the treatment of patients (n = 144) with symptomatic Outerbridge Grade III or IV focal cartilage defects.  The SUMMIT Extension trial evaluated the safety of both treatments for an additional three years.

About Vericel Corporation

Vericel Corporation (formerly Aastrom Biosciences, Inc.) is a leader in developing patient-specific expanded cellular therapies for use in the treatment of patients with severe diseases and conditions.  The company markets two autologous cell therapy products in the U.S.: Carticel® (autologous cultured chondrocytes), an autologous chondrocyte implant for the treatment of cartilage defects in the knee, and Epicel® (cultured epidermal autografts), a permanent skin replacement for the treatment of patients with deep-dermal or full-thickness burns comprising greater than or equal to 30% of total body surface area.  Vericel is also developing MACI™, a third-generation autologous chondrocyte implant for the treatment of cartilage defects in the knee, and ixmyelocel-T, a patient-specific multicellular therapy for the treatment of advanced heart failure due to ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.  For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.vcel.com.

The Vericel Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=29189.

Epicel® and Carticel® are registered trademarks and MACI™ is a trademark of Vericel Corporation.  © Vericel Corporation.  All rights reserved.

This document contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements concerning anticipated progress, objectives and expectations regarding the commercial potential of our products, intended product development, clinical activity timing and regulatory pathway and timing, and objectives and expectations regarding our company described herein, 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,” “can continue,” “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 competitive developments, integration of the acquired business, clinical trial and product development activities, regulatory approval requirements, the availability and allocation of resources among different potential uses, estimating the commercial potential of our products and product candidates and growth in revenues and improvement in costs, market demand for our products, and our ability to supply or meet customer demand for our products. These and other significant factors are discussed in greater detail in Vericel’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 25, 2015, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s current views and Vericel does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release except as required by law.

CONTACT:

Chad Rubin

The Trout Group

crubin@troutgroup.com

(646) 378-2947

or

Lee Stern

The Trout Group

lstern@troutgroup.com

(646) 378-2922

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