EPALINGES, Switzerland, Sept. 9, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jacques-Francois Martin, newly appointed President and CEO of Mymetics Corporation (www.mymetics.com) (OTCBB:MYMX), announced today the progression of Mymetics' Scientific Advisory Board with the appointment of Dr. Stanley Plotkin as the Chairman of the revised Scientific Advisory Board.
"The role of the Scientific Advisory Board, under the chairmanship of Dr. Plotkin, will be to provide expert scientific advice as well as to provide assistance in raising funds from foundations, governments and other nonprofit organizations," stated Jacques-Francois Martin. "We look forward to the first meeting of the Board that will be held at the AIDS Vaccine Conference in Paris in October 2009."
The following members, well known at an international level, have been appointed to the Scientific Advisory Board effective immediately. Full biographies will be soon available at www.mymetics.com
Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board - Dr. Stanley Plotkin, Emeritus Professor Wistar Institute, consultant to Sanofi Pasteur, developed the rubella vaccine in 1960s; worked extensively on the development and application of other vaccines including polio, rabies, varicella, rotavirus and cytomegalovirus as well as senior roles at the Epidemic Intelligence Service, U.S. Public Health Service; Aventis Pasteur (medical and scientific director); and Sanofi Pasteur (executive advisor).
Vice Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board - Dr. Marc Girard, has over 20 years of experience in the development of an HIV vaccine, is a past Director of the Merieux Foundation and a consultant to the WHO and former Chairman of EuroVac (European Consortium for HIV vaccine).
* Dr. Morgane Bomsel, Cochin Institute, France. * Dr. Ruth Ruprecht, Harvard University, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA. * Dr. Ronald H. Gray, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA. * Dr. Malegapuru William Makgoba, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. * Dr. Souleymane Mboup, Cheikh Anta DIOP University, Dakar, Senegal. * Dr. Juliana McElrath, University of Washington, Seattle, USA. * Dr. Odile Puijalon, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. * Dr. Caetano Reis e Sousa, Cancer Research UK, London, UK.
About Mymetics
Mymetics is a Swiss based, U.S. biotechnology company, focused on the development of the next generation preventative vaccines, using virosomes as a vaccine delivery platform combined with rationally designed antigens that induce protection acting on early transmission and infection events, including the mucosal immune response as a first barrier against the infection. Mymetics currently has 5 vaccines in development: HIV, Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV), Malaria and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV).
In February 2009, Mymetics announced the success of its pre-clinical HIV/AIDS viral challenge. The proven success of their vaccine in primates could not have been more compelling: the vaccinated group either proved resistant to the virus or remained at a non detectable level, whereas the non-vaccinated animals were completely infected. This success further prompted Mymetics to move forward its product into clinical development, with the expected launching of Phase I in December 2009.
The Influenza vaccine candidate is subject to a license agreement with Solvay Pharmaceuticals.
The RSV vaccine has finished pre-clinical studies and is being evaluated by pharmaceutical companies for partnership agreements.
Mymetics' Malaria vaccine is in Phase 1b clinical trial in Tanzania where children and teenagers are vaccinated in a naturally endemic area. The Phase I final report is expected in the coming month.
The HSV vaccine candidate has generated very encouraging results in pre-clinical studies and Mymetics will seek co-development or partnership agreements with pharmaceutical companies.
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