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<TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
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<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 7, 2009</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Athersys, Inc.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
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<TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TD nowrap align="center" valign="top"><B>Delaware
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>001-33876
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>20-4864095</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD align="center" valign="top">(State or other jurisdiction<BR>
of incorporation)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Commission File Number)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
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<TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>3201 Carnegie Avenue,<BR>
Cleveland, Ohio
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>&nbsp;<BR>44115-2634</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Address of principal executive offices)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Zip Code)</TD>
</TR>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: <B>(216) 431-9900</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B></B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><FONT style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)</FONT></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: </DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio --><!-- /Folio --> </DIV>
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<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">On May&nbsp;7, 2009, Athersys, Inc. issued a press release announcing financial results for its
first quarter ended March&nbsp;31, 2009. A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit
99.1.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">The information contained in Item&nbsp;2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit
99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be
deemed to be &#147;filed&#148; for the purposes of Section&nbsp;18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or
otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. Furthermore, the information contained in
Item&nbsp;2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference
into any registration statement or other document filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933.
</DIV>

<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.</B>
</DIV>



<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; margin-left: 4%">(d)&nbsp;Exhibits.
</DIV>
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    <TD width="77%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit No.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit Description</TD>
</TR>


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</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1px">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Press Release dated May&nbsp;7, 2009</DIV></TD>
</TR>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->2<!-- /Folio -->
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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
</DIV>

<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">Date: May&nbsp;7, 2009
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
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    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="5" valign="top" align="left">ATHERSYS, INC.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1px"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1px">
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">By:</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" valign="top" align="left">/s/ Laura K. Campbell</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Name:
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Laura K. Campbell</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1px">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Title:
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Vice President, Finance</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->3<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="77%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit No.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit Description</TD>
</TR>


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<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1px">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">99.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Press Release dated May&nbsp;7, 2009</DIV></TD>
</TR>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->4<!-- /Folio -->
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Form 8-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 7, 2009
Athersys, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-33876
20-4864095
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
3201 Carnegie Avenue,
Cleveland, Ohio
44115-2634
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(216) 431-9900
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On May 7, 2009, Athersys, Inc. issued a press release announcing financial results for its
first quarter ended March 31, 2009. A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit
99.1.
The information contained in Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit
99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or
otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. Furthermore, the information contained in
Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference
into any registration statement or other document filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No.
Exhibit Description
99.1
Press Release dated May 7, 2009
2
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: May 7, 2009
ATHERSYS, INC.
By:
/s/ Laura K. Campbell
Name:
Laura K. Campbell
Title:
Vice President, Finance
3
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Exhibit Description
99.1
Press Release dated May 7, 2009
4