SILVER SPRING, Md., April 14, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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®, announced today that Thomas Liquard has joined its Board of Directors and will become Chairman of the Audit Committee. Mr. Liquard is a seasoned pharmaceutical industry executive whose past experiences include serving as Chief Executive of Alchemia Limited and as Senior Director, Portfolio Development Leader, Emerging Markets for the Established Products portfolio for Pfizer in New York.
"On behalf of our management team and Board of Directors, it is a pleasure to welcome Thomas to PharmaCyte Biotech. His specific healthcare sector expertise across product and business development, commercialization and managerial leadership will be an invaluable asset to our team as the PharmaCyte Biotech enters its next phase of growth," commented Kenneth L. Waggoner, Chief Executive Officer of PharmaCyte Biotech.
Mr. Liquard stated, "I firmly believe that PharmaCyte Biotech's future is bright, both in the areas of oncology and diabetes. Its use of the platform live-cell encapsulation technology, known as Cell-in-a-Box®, gives PharmaCyte Biotech opportunities to develop unique treatments for serious and deadly forms of cancer as well as for insulin-dependent diabetes. This is an exciting time for PharmaCyte Biotech and I am thrilled to join the company, as it pursues programs that have the potential to change how patients with these diseases are treated."
Mr. Liquard has more than a decade of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, having held various commercialization, product development and leadership roles with big pharma and biotech companies. Most recently, Mr. Liquard was CEO of Alchemia Limited, a major Australian biotech company (ASX:ACL) with an FDA approved sterile injectable and a late stage oncology platform.
Prior to joining Alchemia, Mr. Liquard spent seven years with Pfizer in New York where he held various commercial roles of increasing scope and responsibility, including most recently as Senior Director, Portfolio Development Leader, Emerging Markets for the Established Products portfolio. Mr. Liquard also spent three years as a key member of the company's EP US Brands P&L Leadership Team. In this role, he engineered the group's 505(b)(2) investment strategy, culminating in the $700M acquisition of NextWave Pharmaceuticals. He also led the NextWave pre- and post- acquisition integration efforts. In addition, Mr. Liquard worked as a Director within the New Product Planning and Portfolio & Decision Analysis groups at Pfizer. There he was responsible for formulating investment decisions on business development opportunities and internal development programs across multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, central nervous system and metabolic diseases.
Mr. Liquard holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern California.
About PharmaCyte Biotech
PharmaCyte Biotech is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing and preparing to commercialize treatments for cancer and diabetes based upon a proprietary cellulose-based live cell encapsulation technology known as Cell-in-a-Box®. This unique and patented technology will be used as a platform upon which treatments for several types of cancer, including advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer, and diabetes are being built. PharmaCyte Biotech's treatment for pancreatic cancer involves low doses of the well-known anticancer prodrug ifosfamide, together with encapsulated live cells, which convert ifosfamide into its active or "cancer-killing" form. These capsules are placed as close to the cancerous tumor as possible to enable the delivery of the highest levels of the cancer-killing drug at the source of the cancer. This "targeted chemotherapy" has proven remarkably effective and safe in past clinical trials. PharmaCyte Biotech is also working towards improving the quality of life for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and on treatments for other types of solid cancerous tumors.
In addition, PharmaCyte Biotech is developing treatments for cancer based upon chemical constituents of the Cannabis plant, known as cannabinoids. In doing so, PharmaCyte Biotech is examining ways to exploit the benefits of Cell-in-a-Box® technology in optimizing the anticancer effectiveness of cannabinoids, while minimizing or outright eliminating the debilitating side effects usually associated with cancer treatments. This provides PharmaCyte Biotech the rare opportunity to develop "green" approaches to fighting deadly diseases, such as cancer of the pancreas, brain and breast, which affect hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide every year.
Safe Harbor
This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding PharmaCyte Biotech and its future events and results that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan" and similar expressions, as they relate to PharmaCyte Biotech or its management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Important factors, many of which are beyond the control of PharmaCyte Biotech, could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. They include PharmaCyte's ability to continue as a going concern, delays or unsuccessful results in preclinical and clinical trials, flaws or defects regarding its product candidates, changes in relevant legislation or regulatory requirements, uncertainty of protection of PharmaCyte Biotech's intellectual property and PharmaCyte Biotech's continued ability to raise capital. PharmaCyte Biotech does not assume any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.
More information about PharmaCyte Biotech can be found at www.PharmaCyteBiotech.com. It can also be obtained by contacting Investor Relations.