Matinas BioPharma Appoints Hui Liu, Ph.D., M.B.A. as Chief Technology Officer
December 01 2020 - 7:00AM
Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc. (NYSE AMER: MTNB), a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing next
generation therapeutics to advance standards of care in areas of
significant unmet medical need, today announced the appointment of
Hui Liu, Ph.D., M.B.A. as Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Liu joins
Matinas with extensive experience in pharmaceutical formulation and
delivery technologies, including lipid nanoparticle formulations of
mRNA, siRNA and vaccines. In this new role, Dr. Liu will work
closely with Raphael Mannino, Ph.D., Matinas’ Chief Scientific
Officer, and lead efforts to further strengthen the Company’s
proprietary lipid nanocrystal (LNC) drug delivery platform and
accelerate its potential applications for both internal programs
and external collaborations.
“Dr. Liu has spent his career studying,
developing, and optimizing drug delivery technologies. His
substantial expertise and technical depth complement our existing
internal team and fills an essential role in our organization as we
look to capitalize upon our proprietary, unique and differentiated
LNC delivery platform,” commented Jerome D. Jabbour, Chief
Executive Officer of Matinas. “Hui’s accomplishments, especially
within the biologics and gene therapy fields, should serve us well
as we continue to advance our product candidates and collaborations
with an aim to transform the current paradigm for the delivery of
innovative medicines.”
“I am honored to join the Matinas team and to
help accelerate the growth of the Company’s LNC delivery platform,”
commented Dr. Liu. “I am very excited by the possibilities of this
potentially disruptive technology and I look forward to working
closely with the team to deliver our ambitious vision.”
Dr. Liu has more than two decades of experience
in the formulation of small molecules, biologics, and gene
therapies. Dr. Liu joins Matinas directly from Seqirus, a global
leader in influenza and pandemic response, where he served as
Director of Formulation and Delivery. At Seqirus, Dr. Liu built and
led development of lipid nanoparticle technology platforms for next
generation gene therapy products. Earlier in his career, Dr. Liu
held positions at Cellics Therapeutics, Alcon (a spinoff of
Novartis) and Allergan. Dr. Liu is a named inventor on 19 patents
related to drug delivery technologies and biodegradable polymers.
Dr. Liu holds a Ph.D. in polymer chemistry from the University of
Michigan, an M.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst,
and a B.S. from The University of Science and Technology of
China.
About Matinas BioPharma
Matinas BioPharma is a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on developing next generation
therapeutics to advance standards of care for patients in areas of
significant unmet medical need. Company leadership has a deep
history and knowledge of drug development and is supported by a
world-class team of scientific advisors.
MAT9001, the Company’s lead product candidate
for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, is a
prescription-only omega-3 fatty acid-based composition, comprised
primarily of EPA and DPA, under development for
hypertriglyceridemia. MAT9001 is currently in a second head-to-head
comparative study against Vascepa® (ENHANCE-IT), with topline data
expected in the first quarter of 2021.
In addition, Matinas is developing a portfolio
of products based upon its proprietary lipid nanocrystal (LNC) drug
delivery platform, which can solve complex challenges relating to
the safe and effective delivery of potent medicines, making them
orally bioavailable, less toxic and targeted to cells and
tissues.
MAT2203, is an oral, encochleated formulation of
the well-known, but highly toxic, antifungal medicine amphotericin
B, primarily used to treat serious invasive fungal infections.
MAT2203 is currently in a Phase 2 open-label, sequential cohort
study (EnACT) in HIV-infected patients with cryptococcal
meningitis. EnACT is preparing to enroll patients in its second
cohort, with the next DSMB evaluation of safety and efficacy data
anticipated to occur in the middle of 2021.
MAT2501 is an oral, encochleated formulation of
the broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic medicine amikacin,
primarily used to treat chronic and acute bacterial infections. The
Company recently announced that it has been awarded up to $3.75
million from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) to support
development of MAT2501 toward an indication to treat nontuberculous
mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease, including infections in patients
with cystic fibrosis (CF).
Forward Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, including those relating to the Company’s
anticipated capital and liquidity needs, strategic focus and the
future development of its product candidates, including MAT9001,
MAT2203 and MAT2501, the anticipated timing of regulatory
submissions, the anticipated timing of clinical studies, the
anticipated timing of regulatory interactions, the Company’s
ability to identify and pursue development and partnership
opportunities for its products or platform delivery technology on
favorable terms, if at all, and the ability to obtain required
regulatory approval and other statements that are predictive in
nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions.
All statements other than statements of historical fact are
statements that could be forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements include words such as "expects,"
"anticipates," "intends," "plans," "could," "believes," "estimates"
and similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual
results to be materially different from any future results
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties, including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain
additional capital to meet our liquidity needs on acceptable terms,
or at all, including the additional capital which will be necessary
to complete the clinical trials of our product candidates; our
ability to successfully complete research and further development
and commercialization of our product candidates; the uncertainties
inherent in clinical testing; the timing, cost and uncertainty of
obtaining regulatory approvals; our ability to protect the
Company’s intellectual property; the loss of any executive officers
or key personnel or consultants; competition; changes in the
regulatory landscape or the imposition of regulations that affect
the Company’s products; and the other factors listed under "Risk
Factors" in our filings with the SEC, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q
and 8-K. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of
this release. Except as may be required by law, the Company does
not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to
such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events. Matinas BioPharma’s product candidates are all in a
development stage and are not available for sale or use.
Investor and Media
ContactsPeter
VozzoWestwicke443-213-0505peter.vozzo@westwicke.com
Ian CooneyDirector – Investor Relations &
Corporate DevelopmentMatinas Biopharma, Inc.(415)
722-4563icooney@matinasbiopharma.com
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