Arbios Presents Preclinical Data on its Novel Bioartifical Liver LIVERAID; At the Hong Kong-Shanghai International Liver Congress 2004.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 2004

Arbios Systems, Inc. (PINK SHEETS:ABOS) announced today that it presented preclinical data at the Hong Kong-Shanghai International Liver Congress 2004 indicating that its proprietary and innovative bioartificial liver ("BAL") device therapy, LIVERAID(TM), improved hemodynamic status, clearance of ammonia and ICG (a liver function test) and prolonged survival time of pigs with total liver ischemia.

The preclinical study design involved induction of liver ischemia and necrosis (liver cell death) in 10 pigs. Twelve hours after induction of liver necrosis, five of the pigs underwent a six-hour treatment with LIVERAID(TM) utilizing cryopreserved porcine hepatocytes and sorbents. A LIVERAID(TM) cartridge was attached to a standard kidney dialysis unit to provide the therapy. The remaining five control pigs received "Sham" extracorporeal, outside the body, therapy (cartridges that did not contain cells and sorbents). The results of the study showed that the treated pigs maintained arterial blood pressure at higher levels and survived longer than the untreated group (32 vs. 25 hours, p less than .006). The ammonia levels in the treated group, both at termination of therapy and 4 hours later, were lower than in the untreated group (p less than .01), and the treated group was able to maintain oxygen consumptions rates at the same levels throughout the treatment period.

Commenting on the study Dr. Jacek Rozga, the Company's CEO, stated "Our data provide strong experimental evidence that an extracorporeal liver support system utilizing cryopreserved porcine liver cells has an important clinical potential in the treatment of patients with liver failure. To date, a device such as LIVERAID(TM) has not been available to patients suffering from this debilitating and ultimately fatal disease."

Arbios Systems, Inc. is a biomedical device company that, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Arbios Technologies, Inc., is engaged in the discovery, acquisition and development of proprietary liver assist devices and new technologies useful in the diagnosis and treatment of acute liver failure. Arbios' two lead products in development include SEPET(TM), a novel blood purification therapy employing selective plasma exchange and LIVERAID(TM), a second-generation BAL in which liver cell therapy and sorbent-based hemodiafiltration are integrated in the company's proprietary three-compartment cartridge with fiber-in-fiber geometry.

The Company is in the process of developing its clinical and regulatory strategies for SEPET(TM) and LIVERAID(TM). Dr. Rozga stated, "Our scientific and regulatory advisors are currently designing clinical trials for SEPET(TM) and we currently plan on commencing clinical trials for SEPET(TM) in 2004."

Acute Liver Failure In The U.S.

The total market opportunity for extracorporeal liver support is substantial and not presently being served. According to the American Liver Foundation and the National Center for Health Statistics, liver failure is the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S. In 2001, nearly 700,000 Americans were diagnosed with liver disease and over 250,000 liver patients were hospitalized due to acute liver failure. Of those, more than 40,000 died because a donor liver was not available or because these patients had contraindications to liver transplantation.

Arbios Systems, Inc., is an early-stage company organized to develop, manufacture and market liver assist devices to meet the urgent need for therapy that facilitates recovery from liver failure.

This press release contains forward-looking statement, that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including risks or uncertainties related to the accuracy and value of its preclinical data, the design and implementation of clinical trials for SEPET(TM), the need for subsequent substantial additional financing to complete clinical development of Arbios' products, and the Company's ability to successfully develop and market Arbios' products and technologies. These statements represent the judgment of the Company's management as of this date and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could materially affect the Company. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SEPET and LIVERAID are trademarks of Arbios Technologies, Inc.