SAN DIEGO, Jan. 13, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Organovo Holdings, Inc. (NYSE MKT:ONVO) (“Organovo” or the “Company”), a three-dimensional biology company focused on delivering scientific and medical breakthroughs using its 3D bioprinting technology, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Samsara Sciences, Inc. (“Samsara”), has launched commercial operations.  Samsara’s core mission is the provision of high-quality primary human liver cells for a wide variety of in vivo and in vitro research applications.

Samsara is expected to serve as a key source of primary human liver cells for Organovo’s needs in the preclinical safety and therapeutic tissues markets, allowing the Company to optimize its supply chain and operating expenses related to cell sourcing and procurement.  Organovo sought to establish Samsara as a cell provider in part to support the needs of high-quality cell supply for use in the research and development of bioprinted liver tissue as a potential therapeutic product.  Samsara will also provide such cells to life science customers through typical commercial channels.

Samsara will offer a comprehensive selection of human hepatic stellate cells – a key cell type in the liver that plays a major role in the development of prevalent diseases such as fatty liver disease and fibrosis.  In addition to receiving detailed culture and cryopreservation protocols with each lot of cells, Samsara’s customers will have access to a full portfolio of companion services including the provision of tissue sections, nucleic acids and gene expression data. Human hepatocytes will also be made available through established distribution channels.  To achieve its goals, Samsara works closely with key collaborator and liver cell biology expert, Dr. Tatiana Kisseleva and her laboratory at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.

“The Samsara team shares a passion for cells and is dedicated to providing the high-quality, well-characterized cellular reagents that are required to support the future of biological research and tissue products," said Dr. Sharon Presnell, President, Samsara Sciences and Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Research & Development, Organovo.  “Our ultimate vision is to supply a comprehensive portfolio of tissue-specific cells that are tailored for use in the production of the multi-cellular 3D tissues that are poised to change the landscape of drug discovery and regenerative medicine.”

“Cell supply and quality are critical to meeting Organovo’s goal to change the shape of medical research and practice, including our desire to create a bioprinted liver patch for transplant,” said Keith Murphy, CEO, Organovo.  “I’m grateful to the team at Samsara and its key collaborators and scientific advisors for enabling us to develop this high-quality cell source, and to offer it to other researchers through Samsara’s commercial efforts.”

About Organovo Holdings Inc.

Organovo designs and creates functional, three-dimensional human tissues for use in medical research and therapeutic applications.  The Company develops 3D human disease models through internal development and in collaboration with pharmaceutical and academic partners.  Organovo's 3D human tissues have the potential to accelerate the drug discovery process, enabling treatments to be developed faster and at lower cost.  The Company recently launched its initial product of the planned exVive3D^TM portfolio offering, the exVive3D Human Liver Tissue for use in toxicology and other preclinical drug testing.  Additional products are in development, with the anticipated release of the exVive3D Human Kidney Tissue scheduled for the third quarter of calendar year 2016.  The Company also actively conducts early research on specific tissues for therapeutic use in direct surgical applications.  In addition to numerous scientific publications, the Company's technology has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, The Economist, and numerous other media outlets.  Organovo is changing the shape of medical research and practice.  Learn more at www.organovo.com.    

About Samsara Sciences, Inc.

Samsara is dedicated to the provision of high-quality primary human liver cells for use in pharmaceutical and academic research focused on liver health and disease.  The Company’s first products, primary human hepatic stellate cells are available now at www.samsarasciences.com.  Primary human hepatocytes will be distributed by a third party distributor.  Samsara is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Organovo Holdings, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations, but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.  The factors that could cause the Company's actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's ability to develop, market and sell products and services based on its technology; the expected benefits and efficacy of the Company's products, services and technology; the market acceptance of the Company's products and services; the Company's business, research, product development, regulatory approval, marketing and distribution plans and strategies; the Company's ability to successfully complete the contracts and recognize the revenue represented by the contracts included in its previously reported total contract bookings; and Samsara’s ability to commercialize its products and Organovo’s ability to achieve the anticipated supply chain benefits.  These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 9, 2015 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 9, 2015.  You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they were made.  These cautionary statements should be considered with any written or oral forward-looking statements that the Company may issue in the future.  Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, the Company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to reflect actual results, later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Investor Contact:
Steve KunszaboOrganovo Holdings, Inc.
+1 (858) 224-1092
skunszabo@organovo.com

Press Contact:
Jessica YinglingLittle Dog Communications
+1 (858) 480-2411
jessica@litldog.com