Cytori Therapeutics is developing cell therapies based on autologous adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) to treat cardiovascular disease and other medical conditions. Data suggest that ADRCs improve blood flow, moderate the inflammatory response, and keep tissue at risk of dying alive.

The company today announced the appointment of Steven Kesten, MD, as executive vice-president and chief medical officer. In this role, Dr. Kesten will lead Cytori’s global clinical development operations and its Medical Affairs activities. His job will be to strengthen the company’s clinical program, starting with its cardiovascular business and then expanding into other therapeutic areas.

Dr. Kesten is a seasoned physician executive with more than 30 years’ experience in medicine. He recently served as vice-president and CMO at Uptake Medical. While in those positions, Dr. Kesten oversaw the completion of the VAPOR trial and had medical responsibility for the application that led to the CE Mark approval of Uptake Medical’s device, InterVapor.

Prior to that stint, Dr. Kesten served for more than 10 years at Boehringer Ingelheim, most recently as Vice President in Medicine for Marketed Products for respiratory disease. While in that role, he was responsible for the development and execution of multiple large-scale clinical trials and was at the point in the global registration and branding of the $3 billion drug Spiriva.

Additionally, Dr. Kesten held the position of medical director of the Rush Advanced Lung Disease and Lung Transplant program to Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical College in Chicago. He received his medical degree and specialty training in internal medicine and pulmonary medicine at the University of Toronto and has more than 160 peer-reviewed publications.

For further information about Cytori Therapeutics, visit www.cytori.com

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