Vital Therapies Announces Presentation of ELAD® “Artificial Liver� Data at

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Vital Therapies Announces Presentation of ELAD® “Artificial

Liver†Data at American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

2007 Annual Meeting

Boston, MA., Nov. 7, 2007 /PRNewswire/- /- Vital Therapies, Inc.

(VTI), announced today data from two studies of the company's ELAD®

(Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device) System were presented at the

2007 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)

Annual Meeting, which was held November 2-6 in Boston, Mass.

o Abstract (#91), “Interim results of Randomized Controlled Trial

of ELAD® in Acute on Chronic Liver Disease,†was presented in a

parallel session on Monday, November 5th. This controlled, randomized

(2:1) clinical trial enrolled 69 patients with acute-on-chronic liver

failure in two protocols at two centers in Beijing, China. The first

49 patient protocol resulted in a 30 day transplant-free survival

rate of 50% in the controls and 87% in the treated group (p<0.01).

The second protocol, which had a shorter ELAD® treatment time, did

not reach statistical significance. Initial conclusions from this

trial demonstrated ELAD® is safe and effective in this patient

population when used with the longer treatment time.

o Abstract (#855), “ELAD® Cellular and System Performance

Improvements,†was a poster presentation detailing the metabolic

characteristics of the ELAD® cartridges in order to optimize

performance.

Terry Winters, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO said, “These data are

consistent with our previous research and experience. ELAD is helping

patients and the technology continues to be refined for optimum

benefit. These are positive developments as we apply for marketing

approval in China and advance our U.S. clinical program.â€

To date, only liver transplantation has been shown to increase

survival. However, demand for liver transplantation far exceeds the

supply of donor livers, creating a need for an alternative,

lifesaving therapy such as ELAD®. In China alone, an estimated 160

million people suffer from chronic liver infections such as Hepatitis

B and C.

About ELAD® (Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device)

The ELAD® system provides important metabolic support for patients

with liver failure, enabling a bridge-to-transplant or recovery,

depending on the type and severity of liver disease. The system

consists of four cartridges containing cells that function like a

normal human liver. The cells metabolize toxins and remove waste

products while delivering essential proteins into the plasma. These

cartridges are incorporated into a blood pumping system at the

patient's bedside and enable continuous treatment for up to 12 days.

The key to ELAD's® performance is a proprietary human hepatocyte

cell line that can be grown, stored and shipped worldwide.

About Vital Therapies. Inc.

Vital Therapies, Inc. (VTI) is a private San Diego-based liver

therapy company that was founded in 2003. It is developing the first

human liver cell-based system which provides important metabolic

support for patients with severe liver failure. The company's

manufacturing facility meets cGMP specifications to produce ELAD®

cartridges for patient treatment.

CONTACTS:

Jan Barker

VP Marketing of Vital Therapies, Inc.

1-415-710-0288 Cell

MEDIA:

Knight

1-972-385-9384 Office

1-214-732-9392 Cell