NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeoStem, Inc. (Nasdaq:NBS) ("NeoStem" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel cell based therapeutics, announced today the addition of three experienced leaders in the biotech industry to its management team. Harry Lam, Ph.D., Ann M. Daus, Ph.D., and Anna Crivici, Ph.D. bring a breadth of experience in leading high performing teams to meet operational goals.
Harry Lam, Ph.D. joins NeoStem's subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy (PCT), as Vice President, Manufacturing and Technical Operations, where he will be responsible for overseeing manufacturing operations, engineering, technology transfer, facilities, manufacturing development, and process development. An experienced technical leader, Dr. Lam has over thirty years of biopharmaceutical manufacturing experience. Prior to joining PCT, he spent seventeen years at Genentech, where his advanced degrees in Chemical Engineering allowed him to advance to the position of Roche Global Head of Contract Manufacturing Operations, Commercial Drug Substance. Recently, he was Senior Vice President, Technical Operations, at KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, and Vice President and Head of Manufacturing for Shire Regenerative Medicine.
Ann M. Daus, Ph.D. joins PCT as Vice President, Quality, where she will be responsible for establishing and managing all aspects of Quality as related to the regulated (cGMP/GTP) manufacturing of both clinical and commercial cell therapy products including company-wide quality plans and corporate audit programs with participation in regulatory strategies/submissions. An experienced leader with over twenty years of management experience, Dr. Daus brings to PCT a successful track record for effective performance and leadership in the fields of biopharmaceuticals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, OTC, diagnostics, aseptic filling, blood banking and contract manufacturing. Previously, Dr. Daus served as Vice President, Quality at Laureate Biopharma, and has held various leadership positions at ImClone Systems Incorporated, Smith-Kline Beecham Pharmaceuticals (SKB) and Johnson & Johnson.
Anna Crivici, Ph.D. joins NeoStem as Vice President, Operations & Program Management, where she will initially be responsible for the oversight and delivery of the Company's Targeted Immunotherapy Program. She brings with her twenty years of experience in the US and global biopharma industry, with a strong foundational knowledge of a wide range of drug platforms including cell-based therapy. Previous positions held by Dr. Crivici include Life Sciences Specialist Leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP, where she served Dendreon as Interim Vice President, Corporate Operations, Vice President, Project Management & Business Process Development and various senior finance and business operations roles at Amylin Pharmaceuticals (now AstraZeneca), and Global Project Leader and Director for Pfizer Global Research & Development.
"These appointments reinforce our commitment to provide commercial grade manufacturing as our clients advance their product candidates in development and as we focus on innovation to lower costs while providing high quality products," said Robin L. Smith, M.D., MBA, Chairman and CEO of NeoStem. "We welcome these new additions to our team."
About PCT
Progenitor Cell Therapy (PCT), a wholly owned subsidiary of NeoStem, Inc., is a leading contract development and manufacturing organization in the cellular therapy industry. For over 15 years, PCT has provided pre-clinical and clinical cGMP development and manufacturing services to more than 100 clients, advancing regenerative medicine product candidates from the development stage all the way through to human testing. PCT has two cGMP-compliant, state-of-the art facilities in New Jersey and California to serve the cell therapy industry and offers manufacturing of cell therapy-based products, engineering and innovation services, process and product development, cell and tissue processing, collection and storage, regulatory consulting, facility design, validation, and due diligence evaluations. www.pctcelltherapy.com
About NeoStem, Inc.
NeoStem is a biopharmaceutical company pursuing the preservation and enhancement of human health globally through the development of cell based therapeutics that prevent, treat or cure disease by repairing and replacing damaged or aged tissue, cells and organs and restoring their normal function. The business includes the development of novel proprietary cell therapy products as well as a revenue-generating contract development and manufacturing service business. This combination has created an organization with unique capabilities for cost effective in-house product development and immediate revenue and cash flow generation. www.neostem.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations, as of the date of this press release, and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements herein with respect to the successful execution of the Company's business strategy, the Company's ability to develop and grow its business, the successful development of cellular therapies with respect to the Company's research and development and clinical evaluation efforts in connection with the Company's Targeted Immunotherapy Program, Ischemic Repair Program, Immune Modulation Program and other cell therapies, the future of the regenerative medicine industry and the role of stem cells and cellular therapy in that industry, the performance and planned expansion of the Company's contract development and manufacturing business. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Factors that could cause future results to materially differ from the recent results or those projected in forward-looking statements include the "Risk Factors" described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 13, 2014, the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 8, 2014 and in the Company's other periodic filings with the SEC. The Company's further development is highly dependent on future medical and research developments and market acceptance, which is outside its control.