Dr. Brian Salmons Indispensable for Development of Cannabis-based Cancer Treatments
SILVER SPRING, MD, March 11, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB: NVLX), an international biotechnology company providing cell and gene therapy solutions for the treatment of deadly diseases, announced today that its subsidiary, Medical Marijuana Sciences, Inc., has appointed Brian Salmons, Ph.D., CEO and President of PharmaCyte Biotech’s partner Austrianova, to its Scientific Advisory Board.
Dr. Salmons, together with Professor Dr. Walter H. Günzburg, invented and developed the live-cell encapsulation technology now known as Cell-in-a-Box™ which has been licensed by PharmaCyte Biotech for the development of treatments for cancer and diabetes. It is expected that, given his expertise in this and other aspects of the development of disease treatments, Dr. Salmons will play a pivotal role as Medical Marijuana Sciences goes forward with its cannabis-based cancer treatments.
Dr. Brian Salmons received his Ph.D. in London. After research positions in the U.S.A., Switzerland and at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany, Dr. Salmons became the Scientific Director of the European biotech/vaccine company, Bavarian Nordic, and was intricately involved in taking the company to an IPO. Bavarian Nordic was sponsor of the Phase1/2 clinical trial in patients with advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer that involved the use of the combination of live-cell encapsulation and the anti-cancer prodrug ifosfamide. The results of this trial showed that the combination was safe and efficacious. These results were reported in reputable scientific literature and can be viewed by clicking here (please scroll down and click on blue title opposite “121-131”).
In 2002, Dr. Salmons co-founded the biotech company, Austrianova, originally a “spin-off” from the Veterinary Medicine University in Vienna. He was instrumental in obtaining orphan drug status from the European Medicines Agency for its lead cell encapsulation product. In 2007, Dr. Salmons co-founded and became the CEO and President of Austrianova Singapore Pte. Ltd., an independent company established in Singapore to further develop the live-cell encapsulation technology as products for a variety of indications such as various forms of cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and infectious diseases. Dr. Salmons is the author or co-author of over 120 peer-reviewed scientific articles and inventor of 8 patent families.
Dr. Mark L. Rabe, Chairman of Medical Marijuana Sciences’ Scientific Advisory Board, commented, “Dr. Salmons’ acceptance of his appointment as a member of the Medical Marijuana Sciences Scientific Advisory Board is a major coup for PharmaCyte Biotech. His complete knowledge of the Cell-in-a-Box™ encapsulation technology, and its many possible applications, will be invaluable as we strive to develop treatments for the deadliest of all cancers employing Cell-in-a-Box™ technology in combination with cannabis-based compounds.”
About PharmaCyte Biotech:
PharmaCyte Biotech is a biotechnology company focused on developing and preparing to commercialize treatments for cancer and diabetes based upon a proprietary cellulose-based live-cell encapsulation technology, called Cell-in-a-Box™. This unique technology will be used as a platform upon which treatments for several types of cancer, including advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer, and diabetes are being built. The Company’s treatment for pancreatic cancer involves the use of the widely used anticancer prodrug, ifosfamide, together with encapsulated live cells that convert ifosfamide into its active or “cancer-killing” form. PharmaCyte Biotech’s subsidiary, Medical Marijuana Sciences, Inc., is dedicated to the development of cancer treatments based upon chemical constituents of marijuana known as cannabinoids. To do so, it will examine ways to exploit the benefits of Cell-in-a-Box™ technology in optimizing the anticancer effectiveness of cannabinoids against cancers while minimizing or outright eliminating the debilitating side effects usually associated with cancer treatments. This provides Medical Marijuana Sciences a unique opportunity to develop “green” approaches to fighting deadly cancers, such as those of the pancreas, brain, breast and prostate, that affect hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide every year.
Safe Harbor:
This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding PharmaCyte Biotech and its future events and results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding PharmaCyte Biotech’s financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations and business conditions are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Important factors, many of which are beyond the control of PharmaCyte Biotech, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements include general economic or business conditions, changes in legislation or regulatory requirements, conditions of the securities markets, PharmaCyte Biotech’s ability to raise capital, changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines, financial or political instability and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technical factors affecting the plans, operations, products and services of PharmaCyte Biotech and its subsidiaries.
PharmaCyte Biotech has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions about future events. While management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of PharmaCyte Biotech. PharmaCyte Biotech does not assume any obligations to update any of these forward-looking statements.
More information about PharmaCyte Biotech and Medical Marijuana Sciences can be found at www.nuvilex.com and www.medicalmarijuanasciences.com. It can also be obtained by contacting Investor Relations.
Contact:
Investor Relations Contacts:
Marlin Molinaro
Marmel Communications, LLC
Phone: 702.434.8692
[email protected]
