PharmaCyte Biotech Announces Appointment of International Diabetes Expert to Scientific Advisory Board
November 19 2015 - 10:41AM
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 Prof. Hans-Peter
Hammes, M.D., has accepted an appointment to PharmaCyte’s
Scientific Advisory Board. Prof. Hammes is recognized
internationally as a preeminent figure in the treatment of diabetes
and its complications. In addition to his appointment to the Board,
Prof. Hammes has agreed to become a member of PharmaCyte’s
international Diabetes Consortium and to serve as a consultant to
PharmaCyte.
The Chief Executive Officer of PharmaCyte, Kenneth L. Waggoner,
commented, “We are honored that Prof. Hammes has agreed to join our
Scientific Advisory Board and to serve as a consultant to the
company. Prof. Hammes was appointed to the Board because he is one
of Europe’s leading authorities in all aspects of diabetes and is
well versed on the types of studies that will be needed to develop
an effective treatment for the disease. It is indeed a privilege to
have him join our team. Prof. Hammes’ enthusiasm for the work being
done by the international Diabetes Consortium was shown by his
active participation at this year’s annual meeting of the
Consortium recently held in Vienna, Austria. Every member of the
Consortium felt that Prof. Hammes’ contributions were invaluable.
Prof. Hammes has already demonstrated he is going to be a major
resource to Pharmacyte, as we develop our treatment for
insulin-dependent diabetes.”
Prof. Hans-Peter Hammes, M.D., is a Professor of Internal
Medicine and Endocrinology at the University Medical Center
Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany. Prof. Hammes received
his medical degree from Westfälische Wilhelm-University in Münster,
Germany. Since graduating in 1980, Prof. Hammes has held several
positions in the field of diabetes, with emphasis on the
biochemistry of diabetic complications, diabetic retinopathy,
angiogenesis and predictors of vascular complication from diabetes.
Prof. Hammes is recognized worldwide for his work on the
retinopathy (damage to the eyes) that can result from diabetes.
Prof. Hammes was trained in diabetes by the one of the world’s
most recognized authorities on the treatment of diabetes, Prof.
Konrad Federlin, at the University of Giessen, Germany. In 1996,
Prof. Hammes was named “Diabetologist” by the German Diabetes
Association. Prof. Hammes is a member of several professional
organizations, including the German Society of Internal Medicine,
the German Society of Endocrinology and the European Association
for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Prof. Hammes was this year’s
recipient of the prestigious Camillo Golgi Prize awarded by EASD at
its annual meeting. He has co-authored over 200 scientific articles
and books involving diabetes.
“I am very much looking forward to contributing to this exciting
field on which so many patients with type 1 diabetes put a lot of
hope. Since the early days of clinical training by Konrad Federlin,
islet replacement therapy was on the agenda, and the prevention of
diabetic microvascular complications by islet transplantation was
among my earliest experimental studies,” said Prof. Hans-Peter
Hames.
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 and diabetes are being
developed.
PharmaCyte’s treatment for cancer involves
encapsulating genetically modified live cells capable of converting
an inactive chemotherapy drug (ifosfamide) into its active or
“cancer-killing” form. These encapsulated live cells are placed as
close to a cancerous tumor as possible. Once implanted in a
patient, ifosfamide is then given intravenously at one-third the
normal dose. The ifosfamide is carried by the circulatory system to
where the encapsulated cells have been placed. When ifosfamide,
which is normally activated in the liver, comes in contact with the
encapsulated live cells, activation of the drug takes place at the
source of the cancer without any side effects from the
chemotherapy. This “targeted chemotherapy” has proven remarkably
effective and safe to use in past clinical trials.
In addition to developing a novel treatment for
cancer, PharmaCyte is developing a treatment for Type 1 diabetes
and Type 2 insulin-dependent diabetes. PharmaCyte plans to
encapsulate a human cell line that has been genetically engineered
to produce, store and secrete insulin 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 or its management, are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. Important factors,
many of which are beyond the control of PharmaCyte, 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’s
intellectual property and PharmaCyte’s continued ability to raise
capital. PharmaCyte does not assume any obligation to update any of
these forward-looking statements.
More information about PharmaCyte 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