PharmaCyte Biotech Appoints Renowned Oncologist Dr. Manuel Hidalgo to Scientific Advisory Board
July 16 2015 - 9:10AM
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 BiotechPharmaCyte 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: Info@PharmaCyte.com