Cytori Therapeutics, a biotech firm developing stem and regenerative cell therapies for cardiovascular diseases treated their first patient in a hospital in Spain as part of Cytori's randomized clinical trial investigating the safety and feasibility of using adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells as a therapy for chronic myocardial ischemia, a severe form of end-stage coronary artery disease.

For the PRECISE study, stem and regenerative cells are obtained at the bedside from the patients' own adipose tissue and made available in real-time using Cytori's Celution™ System. The Celution™ System automates and standardizes the complex process that releases stem and regenerative cells locked within adipose tissue. Adipose tissue is removed from the patient using a minor liposuction-like procedure, placed into the system and, with the touch of a button, processed. About an hour later, a prescribed dose of stem and regenerative cells are delivered to the patient.

The 35-patient study aims to determine whether the stem cells from the Celution™ System can be safely introduced into the heart. Further details of the clinical trials are described in Cytori's press release and on the company website.