MILAN, Italy, June 6, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- BioXell SpA, the recently-formed Italian biopharmaceutical company focused on immunology, today announced the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board. The Board will assist BioXell's management in the development of the Company's innovative technologies from which novel therapeutics are already in clinical trials.Three world-renowned scientists join BioXell's CEO, Dr. Francesco Sinigaglia, and CSO, Dr Luciano Adorini, as follows:
Rolf Zinkernagel MD, PhD, a Nobel Prize winner for Medicine in 1996, Professor of Pathology and Head of the Institute of Experimental Immunology at the University of Zurich. Professor Zinkernagel, who brings with him over 30 years of experience in the field of immunology, gained his MD at the University of Basel and his PhD at the Australian National University, Canberra.
Alberto Mantovani MD, Professor of General Pathology at the University of Milan and Head of the Department of Immunology and Cell Biology at the Institute for Pharmacological Research Mario Negri. Professor Mantovani's specialisation in Oncology was gained from the University of Pavia, Italy.
Marco Colonna MD, Professor of Immunology and Medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine, and permanent Member of the Basel Institute for Immunology from 1994 to 2001. Professor Colonna's specialisation in Internal Medicine was gained from the University of Parma, Italy.
Dr. Luciano Adorini, Chief Scientific Officer of BioXell, said: "We are delighted that these three world leading scientists will be forming BioXell's Scientific Advisory Board adding exceptional skills and experience to our drug discovery and development programmes and further endorsing BioXell's leading profile in immunology."
BioXell is a private research and development biopharmaceutical company with a competitive edge in immunology developing two strong technology platforms based on the TREM receptor system and Vitamin D3 analogues. From these, BioXell has identified molecules to be developed in secondary hyperparathyroidism, benign prostatic hyperplasia, as well as research programmes in type 1 diabetes, transplantation and psoriasis. In March 2002, BioXell raised $22m in a first-round financing from a consortium of three top-tier venture capital firms: MPM Capital, Index Ventures and Life Sciences Partners. BioXell has a network of academic collaborations, including Washington University, St. Louis and the Universities of Arkansas, Milan, Florence, Modena and Zurich. More information on BioXell can be found on: www.bioxell.com.
-0- BioXell SpA Francesco Sinigaglia, Chief Executive Officer +39.02.2884 803 Francesco.Sinigaglia@bioxell.com Alvise Sagramoso, Chief Administrative Officer +39.02.2884 803 Alvise.Sagramoso@bioxell.com Noonan Russo Presence Veronica Cefis Sellar +44.20.7726 4452 V.sellar@noonanrusso.co.uk Margherita Forlenza +44.20.7726 4452 M.forlenza@noonanrusso.co.uk