Biopheresis Technologies, Inc. Names Bernhard Ehmer Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Ehmer also has been appointed as Managing Director of the European affiliate based in Heidelberg, Germany. He also will become a member of the Board of Directors.
Dr. Ehmer earned his medical degree at the University of Heidelberg and served as resident in internal medicine before his career in the pharmaceutical industry. He brings 20 years of global managerial and operational experience to the Company. Dr. Ehmer comes from Merck KGaA, where he held various positions in research and development, marketing and corporate development. Dr. Ehmer played a key role in the successful development and launch of Merck's new cancer treatment Erbitux®. Prior to 1998 he was with Boehringer Mannheim where he held positions in its pharmaceuticals sector, including R&D, global marketing and regional management. One of his major achievements was the development and approval of EPO for oncology indications.
"We are pleased that Bernhard has joined BioPheresis", said Henrik Lawaetz, Chairman of BioPheresis Incorporated Board of Directors. "With his successful track record and his experience we are confident that we will succeed to demonstrate the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of the Company's therapy that we believe will provide a major improvement in cancer treatment".
George Rehm, representative of First Ventury on the BioPheresis Board stated: " Dr. Ehmer's commitment to the company, and our development agreement with an experienced company in the field to optimize the delivery system, send a strong message to the oncology community about our intentions to bring this therapeutic approach into the mainstream of cancer treatment".
About Biopheresis Technologies, Inc.
BioPheresis' treatment for cancer originated from procedures discovered and developed by Dr. M. Rigdon Lentz. The Company's immunological therapeutic approach is based on data that specific inhibitors circulating in the blood retard or prevent an otherwise normal immune system from recognizing and destroying tumor cells. These inhibitors have been shown to be soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor receptors ("sTNFRs") and to be overproduced in cancer patients. The BioPheresis technology removes these inhibiting sTNFRs, to allow the body's own TNF mediated immune response to attack and destroy tumors.
The Company's therapy uses a medical device, an immuno-affinity column, that specifically removes inhibiting sTNFRs from patients' blood. Filing is in process for a CE (Conformite Europeanee) Mark in Europe for this medical device and a further clinical trial in recurrent metastatic breast cancer is expected to begin in Europe in autumn 2006. BioPheresis also plans discussions with the FDA to begin the clinical and regulatory approval process in the United States in 2007.
The Company has a number of patents issued in the United States, Europe and other countries. Other patent applications are pending both internationally and in the US.
In 2005 a 6,5 Million Euro Series A preferred stock financing with Scandinavian Life Science Venture (SLS), Stockholm and First Ventury, Heidelberg was completed.
About Scandinavian Life Science Venture
SLS Venture, a Scandinavian-based venture capital company, is one of the largest investment funds in Scandinavia in the life science sector with approximately 270 million Euros under management. For more information: www.slsventure.com
About First Ventury
Founded in 2001, First Ventury is one of Germany's leading venture capital firms, with offices in Heidelberg and San Francisco, California. First Ventury invests in innovative early stage high technology companies in Europe and North America with the potential to become world market leaders. First Ventury also manages the new, 100 Million Euro Aeris Technology Fund SA tech fund, whose first closing is set for June.
About Fulcrum Ventures
Located in Atlanta, GA, Fulcrum Ventures invests in rapidly growing companies in health care, information technology, business services and other high potential industries. Fulcrum provides leverage through its expertise, capital and relationships to help portfolio companies move to the next level.
Contact: BioPheresis GmbH Henry Edmunds, +49 (0)6221 / 618 91 02
Source: BioPheresis Technologies Inc.