Tengion presents data on Neo-Kidney Augment at Transplantation's Annual Scientific Exchange

Tengion, Inc. (Nasdaq: TNGN), a leader in regenerative medicine, presented new data on Saturday, October 23, 2010 in a podium presentation at the American Society for Transplantation's Annual Scientific Exchange in Orlando, FL. The presentation highlighted new early data from Tengion's Neo-Kidney Augment™ development program demonstrating promising improvements in kidney function with an autologous cellular therapy approach to kidney regeneration in a canine model of chronic kidney disease. Specifically, the presented data showed improvements in kidney filtration, protein balance, and weight gain in treated animals compared to a control group.  Effects in a pilot study have persisted through the first three months after treatment.  A follow-up study has demonstrated efficacy as early as seven weeks after implantation.  The studies are designed to monitor progression over a six-month period and both studies are ongoing.  

"These early data in a large mammal model are very encouraging and consistent with the early effects that we have seen in other small animal studies where six-month and one-year durable improvements in kidney function have been recently published and reported by our scientists," stated Sharon Presnell, Ph.D., senior vice president of regenerative medicine at Tengion. "These studies are active, but the interim results continue to underscore our confidence in the Neo-Kidney Augment program as this is the fourth preclinical model in which we have been able to demonstrate positive effect."

Tengion's Neo-Kidney Augment product candidate is designed to prevent or delay the need for dialysis or kidney transplant by enhancing functional kidney mass in patients with progressive chronic kidney disease. The Company is developing a product candidate that uses the patient's own kidney cells, procured by a routine biopsy, and is then implanted into the failing kidney, catalyzing the regeneration of functional kidney tissue.

Tengion's presentation at AST is available at http://www.tengion.com/news/documents.cfm.

A recently published paper showcasing additional preclinical results from this development program is now available online at the American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology website- http://ajprenal.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/ajprenal.00221.2010v1 - and will appear in the November 2010 print issue.  In September 2010, Tengion announced the publication of this study in which rodents with chronic kidney disease were treated with healthy kidney cells to catalyze the regeneration of functional kidney tissue and delay disease progression, as evidenced by extended survival, improved kidney filtration, and reduced severity of kidney tissue pathology.