Aastrom Suspends Trial Following Death Of Patient

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Stem cell drug developer Aastrom Biosciences Inc. said Friday it suspended a clinical trial after received a report that a patient died some time after treatment.

Aastrom is testing autologous adult stem cells, or stem cells taken from a patient's own body, as a treatment for congestive heart failure. It said the patient's cause of death has not been determined, but the death occurred after the patient was treated in the trial and released from the hospital.

Enrollment and treatment in the mid-stage trial were suspended by Aastrom, and the Food and Drug Administration placed the trial on temporary clinical hold for investigation.

In premarket trading, Aastrom shares dropped 10 cents, or 23.8 percent, to 32 cents. The stock closed at 42 cents on Thursday.