PharmaCyte Biotech Names Dr. Leonard Makowka as Senior Strategic Advisor
March 13 2017 - 9:00AM
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®, today announced that it has named
Leonard Makowka, M.D., Ph.D. as Senior Strategic Advisor to the
Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors. Dr. Makowka will
serve as a major resource to PharmaCyte in developing therapies
that utilize the Cell-in-a-Box® technology. He will also assist the
company in developing strategic and scientific plans, identifying
and introducing potential business collaborators and clinical
partners and facilitating joint ventures, licensing arrangements
and other strategic transactions with PharmaCyte.
“We are thrilled and fortunate to have Dr.
Makowka join PharmaCyte’s leadership team," said PharmaCyte’s Chief
Executive Officer, Kenneth L. Waggoner. "His experience and
expertise will be a tremendous asset in the development of our
therapies for cancer and diabetes using PharmaCyte’s live-cell
encapsulation technology. Dr. Makowka’s skills as a medical doctor
translate well into our current life-cycle, and his business
experience and contacts will place PharmaCyte in good stead.”
Dr. Makowka commented, “It is with tremendous
enthusiasm that I join PharmaCyte's senior management team and
Board as a senior strategic advisor. What drew me to
PharmaCyte was its novel and profound delivery platform technology
for cellular therapy in numerous areas of human disease. I am
excited to aid in the further development of these treatment
strategies and to help guide these therapies thru the clinical
process.”
Dr. Makowka formerly served as the Chairman of
the Department of Surgery and Director of Transplantation Services
at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He also
served as Professor of Surgery at the UCLA School of Medicine. Dr.
Makowka later became Executive Director of the Comprehensive Liver
Disease Center at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Los Angeles,
California, where he created a multiple disciplinary approach to
the treatment of liver disease. Dr. Makowka has since retired from
the active practice of medicine and has experienced a successful
career in developing investment and business strategies for
companies in the healthcare, life sciences, finance, and other
industries.
Over the past 30 years, Dr. Makowka has
transitioned himself as a distinguished clinical and
transplantation surgeon and medical researcher to a successful
entrepreneur, advisor and board member in a wide range of
industries. Since receiving his M.D. degree from the University of
Toronto Medical School in 1977 and his Ph.D. from the University of
Toronto in Pathology in 1982, he has published over 400 articles
and chapters in both clinical and basic scientific research
publications.
About PharmaCyte Biotech
PharmaCyte Biotech is a clinical stage
biotechnology company developing therapies for cancer and diabetes
based upon a proprietary cellulose-based live cell encapsulation
technology known as “Cell-in-a-Box®.” This technology will be used
as a platform upon which therapies for several types of cancer and
diabetes are being developed. PharmaCyte’s therapy for cancer
involves encapsulating genetically engineered human cells that
convert an inactive chemotherapy drug into its active or
“cancer-killing” form. These encapsulated cells are implanted as
close to the patient’s cancerous tumor as possible. Once implanted,
a chemotherapy drug that is normally activated in the liver
(ifosfamide) is given intravenously at one-third the normal dose.
The ifosfamide is carried by the circulatory system to where the
encapsulated cells have been implanted. When the ifosfamide comes
in contact with the encapsulated cells they act as an artificial
liver and activate the chemotherapy drug at the source of the
cancer. This “targeted chemotherapy” has proven effective and safe
to use in past clinical trials and results in no side effects.
In addition to developing a novel therapy for
cancer, PharmaCyte is developing a treatment for Type 1 diabetes
and insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes. PharmaCyte plans to
encapsulate a human cell line that has been genetically engineered
to produce, store and release insulin in response to the levels of
blood sugar in the human body. The encapsulation will be done using
the Cell-in-a-Box® technology. Once the encapsulated cells are
implanted in a diabetic patient they will function as a
“bio-artificial pancreas” for purposes of insulin production.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking
statements, which are generally statements that are not historical
facts. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words
"expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates,"
"plans," "will," "outlook" and similar expressions. Forward-looking
statements are based on management's current plans, estimates,
assumptions and projections, and speak only as of the date they are
made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking
statement in light of new information or future events, except as
otherwise required by law. Forward-looking statements involve
inherent risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to
predict and are generally beyond our control. Actual results or
outcomes may differ materially from those implied by the
forward-looking statements as a result of the impact of a number of
risk factors, many of which are discussed in more detail in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
More information about PharmaCyte Biotech can be
found at www.PharmaCyte.com. It can also be obtained by contacting
Investor Relations.
Contact:
Investor Relations:
PharmaCyte Biotech, Inc.
Investor Relations Department
Telephone: 917.595.2856
Email: Info@PharmaCyte.com