SILVER SPRING, MD, July 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB: PMCB), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing targeted treatments for cancer and diabetes using its signature live-cell encapsulation technology, Cell-in-a-Box®, announced today that Dr. Manuel Hidalgo, one of Europe’s leading clinical and laboratory investigators in the field of pancreatic cancer, has joined PharmaCyte Biotech’s Scientific Advisory Board.
The Chief Executive Officer of PharmaCyte Biotech, Kenneth L. Waggoner, commented on Dr. Hidalgo’s appointment, “We are truly honored that Dr. Hidalgo, one of the world’s leading oncologists, will play a major role in the development of our treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer. His interest in our novel treatment is particularly rewarding to all of us and strongly supports our steadfast belief that it will ultimately become a breakthrough in the future treatment of pancreatic cancer. In addition, Dr. Hidalgo’s interest in using our Cell-in-a-Box® technology to develop treatments for other solid tumors, like liver cancer, means that his addition to our Scientific Advisory Board could well pave the way towards a fruitful future for PharmaCyte Biotech.”
Dr. Hidalgo offered this about his decision to join PharmaCyte Biotech’s Scientific Advisory Board, “I believe that the Cell-in-Box® plus low dose ifosfamide combination chemotherapy may well prove to be of great value for the development of new treatments for pancreatic and other solid tumor cancers. The technology has broad application, and I look forward to working with PharmaCyte Biotech to develop the technology and expand its application.”
In 2009, Dr. Manuel Hidalgo joined the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) where he currently heads the Gastrointestinal Cancer Clinical Research Unit. He is the Director of CNIO’s GI Cancer Clinical Research Unit and the Vice Director of Translational Research. Dr. Hidalgo is also currently the Director of the Clara Campal Oncology Center in Madrid and a professor of Oncology at the University CEU San Pablo, in Madrid. Prior to joining CNIO, Dr. Hidalgo was the Co-Director of both the Drug Development and Gastrointestinal Oncology Programs at Johns Hopkins University from 2001 to 2009.
Dr. Hidalgo is a co-founder and Chairman of the international Pancreatic Cancer Research Team (PCRT) along with co-founder Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, the Chief Development Officer of Translational Drug Development. The PCRT is group of preeminent researchers dedicated to organizing and accelerating the clinical development of new agents for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer. Dr. Hidalgo has participated in the clinical development of more than 30 novel anticancer agents, including studies for the current gold standard for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer, the combination chemotherapy of gemcitabine and Abraxane®. Dr. Hidalgo also led the early clinical trials of temsirolimus (Torisel™), approved for use against advanced kidney cancer, and erlotinib (Tarceva®), approved for use against advanced non-small cell lung cancer as well against advanced pancreatic cancer when used in combination with gemcitabine.
Dr. Hidalgo’s work has contributed to the incorporation of molecular endpoints in early clinical trials. His group pioneered the utilization of personalized xenograft (transplantation of a human tumor into mice) models for drug screening, biomarker development and personalized cancer treatment. He has published more than 220 papers in peer-reviewed journals. His work has been funded by numerous sources, including the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Dr. Hidalgo received an AACR
Clinical Research Fellowship and an ASCO Career Development Award for his work on the development of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors; erlotinib is a shining example of an EGFR inhibitor. His most recent efforts are focused on the development of novel therapeutics for pancreatic cancer.
Born in Antequera, Malaga, Spain, in 1968, Dr. Hidalgo received his M.D. from the University of Navarra, in Pamplona in 1992 and his Ph.D. from the University Autonoma of Madrid in 1997. He specialized in Medical Oncology at the University Hospital “12 de Octubre” in Madrid where he obtained his license in 1996. He completed his training in drug development at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, where he was also an Assistant Professor of Medicine with Dr. Daniel Von Hoff.
About PharmaCyte Biotech
PharmaCyte Biotech is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing and preparing to commercialize treatments for cancer and diabetes based upon a proprietary cellulose-based live cell encapsulation technology known as “Cell-in-a-Box®” This unique and patented technology will be used as a platform upon which treatments for several types of cancer, including advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer and its symptoms, and diabetes are being developed.
PharmaCyte Biotech’s treatment for pancreatic cancer involves encapsulating modified live cells capable of converting the prodrug ifosfamide into its active or “cancer-killing” form. These encapsulated live cells are placed as close to the tumor as possible to enable the delivery of the highest levels of the cancer-killing drug at the source of the cancer. Ifosfamide is then given intravenously at one third the normal dose to eliminate adverse side effects. When the ifosfamide comes in contact with the encapsulated live cells through the circulatory system, the activation of the drug takes place at or near the tumor. This “targeted chemotherapy” has proven remarkably effective and safe to use in past clinical trials.
PharmaCyte Biotech is also developing treatments for cancer based upon chemical constituents of the Cannabis plant. It is examining ways to exploit the benefits of Cell-in-a-Box® technology in optimizing the anticancer effectiveness of Cannabis, while minimizing or outright eliminating the debilitating side effects usually associated with cancer treatments.
In addition to developing treatments for pancreatic and other cancers, PharmaCyte Biotech is developing a treatment for Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 insulin-dependent diabetes. PharmaCyte Biotech plans to encapsulate a human cell line which has been genetically engineered to produce, store and secrete insulin on demand at levels in proportion to the levels of blood sugar in the human body. The encapsulation will be done using the Cell-in-a-Box® technology.
Safe Harbor
This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding PharmaCyte Biotech and its future events and results that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions, as they relate to PharmaCyte Biotech or its management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Important factors, many of which are beyond the control of PharmaCyte Biotech, could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. They include PharmaCyte’s ability to continue as a going concern, delays or unsuccessful results in preclinical and clinical trials, flaws or defects regarding its product candidates, changes in relevant legislation or regulatory requirements, uncertainty of protection of PharmaCyte Biotech’s intellectual property and PharmaCyte Biotech’s continued ability to raise capital. PharmaCyte Biotech does not assume any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.
More information about PharmaCyte Biotech can be found at www.PharmaCyte.com. It can also be obtained by contacting Investor Relations.
Investor Relations:
PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc.
Investor Relations Department
Telephone: 917.595.2856
Email: [email protected]
