PharmaCyte Biotech Appoints Dr. Mark Rabe Director of Cannabis Program Development
April 03 2017 - 9:20AM
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 the appointment of Mark
L. Rabe, MD, as Director of Cannabis Program Development. In his
new role, Dr. Rabe will be tasked with leading strategic planning,
management and development of PharmaCyte’s Cell-in-a-Box®
cannabinoid-based therapy, which is currently in the preclinical
research phase. He will also provide operational support to the
Chief Executive Officer and executive management team. Dr. Rabe
will continue as a member of PharmaCyte’s Medical and Scientific
Advisory Board.
PharmaCyte has a license to utilize the
Cell-in-a-Box® technology with cannabinoids (constituents of
Cannabis) to treat diseases and their related symptoms.
PharmaCyte’s “Cannabis Therapy Program” is currently focused on
bio-engineering a human cell line that is suitable for
Cell-in-a-Box® live-cell encapsulation and capable of producing an
enzyme to convert a cannabinoid “prodrug” into its active
cancer-killing form. This research seeks to leverage the documented
anti-cancer properties of cannabinoid molecules, such as THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
“We are very pleased to expand Dr. Rabe’s
presence at PharmaCyte,” commented PharmaCyte’s Chief Executive
Officer, Kenneth L. Waggoner. “Dr. Rabe has been superlative in his
role as a member of our Medical and Scientific Advisory Board, and
now he will be leading our efforts to develop and/or license a
marketable Cell-in-a-Box®/cannabinoid therapy. His impressive
background in operations, management and educational content
development--in addition to his experience as a physician--will
also be quite helpful in our planned pivotal clinical trial
involving locally-advanced, non-metastatic pancreas cancer.”
Dr. Rabe has worked with PharmaCyte since 2013,
when he was appointed as founding member and Chairman of the
Medical and Scientific Advisory Board. In this role, he was
instrumental in building the Board, designing PharmaCyte’s
cannabinoid-based therapy and establishing PharmaCyte’s current
Cannabis research program with the University of Northern Colorado.
In his new role, Dr. Rabe will assume management of the Cannabis
Therapy Program, with the goal of developing a marketable product.
With broad experience in business operations, Dr. Rabe will also
assist the company in a variety of other areas.
Dr. Rabe’s professional background spans three
decades, during which time he has worked as a highly regarded
clinical physician, founded and grown several successful
healthcare-related businesses, served as Chief Medical Officer of
the largest network of physician-owned alternative care centers in
the country and served as Medical Director of an e-Learning company
that developed educational content for MDs and PhDs at major
pharmaceutical companies, such as Eli Lilly, Celgene, Genentech,
Amgen and others. Dr. Rabe has also delivered numerous scientific
presentations and has served as a Superior Court-approved expert
witness in the emerging area of cannabinoid medicine.
Dr. Rabe attended Northwestern University
Medical School and he is a diplomate of the American Board of
Integrative Holistic Medicine (ABIHM). He received his
undergraduate training at Benedictine University, where he earned a
summa cum laude degree in biochemistry. Dr. Rabe’s integrative
holistic medical practice, Centric Wellness, is in San Diego,
California.
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 flows
through 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 because 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 due to the impact of numerous 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