Nuvilex Announces the Formation of a Diabetes Consortium for the Development of Its Treatment for Insulin-Dependent Diabetes
November 24 2014 - 9:20AM
InvestorsHub NewsWire
SILVER SPRING, MD
- November 24, 2014 - InvestorsHub NewsWire - Nuvilex,
Inc. (OTCQB: NVLX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company
providing cell therapy solutions for the treatment of diseases,
announced today that it has formed a “Diabetes Consortium” that
will be tasked with the development of Nuvilex’s treatment for
insulin-dependent diabetes.
The composition of the Diabetes Consortium has evolved over many
months. In addition to key personnel from Nuvilex, it consists of
principals from Austrianova - Prof. Dr. Walter H. Günzburg, the
Chief Technical Officer of Austrianova and Nuvilex’s Chief
Scientific Officer, Dr. Brian Salmons, the CEO of Austrianova (Drs.
Günzburg and Salmons co-developed the Cell-in-a-Box®
technology) and Prof. Ann Simpson of the University of Technology
Sydney (UTS) who, along with her professional colleagues at UTS,
developed the insulin-producing cells known as Melligen cells. The
plan is for these cells to be used as part of Nuvilex’s diabetes
treatment.
The Diabetes Consortium will also include scientists from the
University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (UVMV) where many of the
preclinical studies will be done to develop Nuvilex’s diabetes
treatment. This research will be led by Prof. Dr. Walter H.
Günzburg, who is a member of the faculty at the UVMV. Other members
of the Diabetes Consortium are renowned researchers Prof. Eckhard
Wolf and Prof. Rüdiger Wanke from the Ludwig-Maximillians
University of Munich (UOM) who have developed unique animal models
for insulin-dependent diabetes, as well as the former Chief
Scientist of Austrianova, Dr. Eva Maria Brandtner, who conducted
much of the early research on encapsulated Melligen cells and is
now at the VIVIT Research Institute in Austria.
Noted European gastroenterologist and oncologist Dr. Matthias Löhr,
who is experienced in the treatment of diabetes and who also serves
as the Chairman of Nuvilex’s Scientific Advisory Board, will play a
major role in overseeing the research to be done within the
Diabetes Consortium.
Kenneth L. Waggoner, the CEO and President of Nuvilex, commented,
“We believe that, within the Diabetes Consortium, we have assembled
a world-class group of scientists who have a keen and laser-focused
interest in developing a treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes.
The establishment of the Diabetes Consortium will allow for the
free flow of critically important scientific information between
all parties in the Diabetes Consortium as well as the collaboration
between major research institutions from around the globe. This
should serve to optimize the overall development time as we strive
to create an entirely new treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes
- a debilitating and dangerous disease that affects so many around
the world.”
Pivotal for the treatment will be the encapsulation of live
insulin-producing Melligen cells using the proprietary,
cellulose-based live cell encapsulation technology known as
Cell-in-a-Box®. These cells and the models at both
the UVMV and the UOM will be used for the preclinical studies
needed in preparation for clinical trials of Nuvilex’s diabetes
treatment.
Nuvilex’s Chief Scientific Officer, Prof. Dr. Walter H. Günzburg,
said, “The formation of this Diabetes Consortium by Nuvilex is very
timely and vitally important. Its existence should greatly
facilitate our overall efforts as Nuvilex works to develop a unique
treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes based on the
Cell-in-a-Box® live cell encapsulation technology. In
doing so, we believe that we will be able to develop a true
“bio-artificial pancreas” that is both long-lived and effective in
treating this devastating disease.”
About Nuvilex
Nuvilex (OTCQB: NVLX) 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 diabetes are being built.
Nuvilex's treatment for pancreatic cancer involves the well-known
anticancer prodrug ifosfamide, together with encapsulated live
cells, which convert ifosfamide into its active or "cancer-killing"
form. Nuvilex is also working towards improving the quality of life
for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and on treatments for
other types of solid cancerous tumors. In addition, Nuvilex is
developing treatments for cancer based upon chemical constituents
of marijuana known as cannabinoids. Nuvilex is examining ways to
exploit the benefits of Cell-in-a-Box® technology in
optimizing the anticancer effectiveness of cannabinoids, while
minimizing or outright eliminating the debilitating side effects
usually associated with cancer treatments. This provides Nuvilex a
unique opportunity to develop “green” approaches to fighting deadly
cancers, such as those of the pancreas, brain and breast, which
affect hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide every
year.
Safe
Harbor
This press release may
contain forward-looking statements regarding Nuvilex 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 Nuvilex or its
management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Important factors, many of which are beyond the control of Nuvilex,
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set
forth in the forward-looking statements include Nuvilex's ability
to continue as a going concern, delays or unsuccessful results in
clinical trials or flaws or defects regarding its product
candidates, changes in relevant legislation or regulatory
requirements, uncertainty of protection of Nuvilex's intellectual
property and Nuvilex's continued ability to raise capital. Nuvilex
does not assume any obligation to update any of these
forward-looking statements.
More information about Nuvilex can be found at www.nuvilex.com. It can also be obtained by contacting
Investor Relations.
Investor Relations Contacts:
Clare Matschullat
Blueprint Life Science Group
Telephone: 415.375.3340 Ext. 106
cmatschullat@bplifescience.com