Matinas BioPharma Appoints International Expert And Thought Leader On Invasive Fungal Infections Peter G. Pappas, M.D., FACP, To Scientific Advisory Board
BEDMINSTER, N.J., Sept. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:MTNB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying and developing safe and effective antifungal and anti-bacterial therapeutics for the treatment of serious and life-threatening infections, today announced that it has appointed Peter G. Pappas, M.D., FACP, to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).
Dr. Pappas, an internationally recognized expert in the treatment and diagnosis of invasive fungal infections, is the William E. Dismukes Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Principal Investigator for the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium (MSGERC) which performs multicenter trials, creates treatment guidelines for invasive mycoses, and coordinates training in the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of invasive mycoses. His expertise includes the development of new therapies for fungal infections and understanding the epidemiology of candidiasis, the endemic mycoses, and cryptococcosis. Over the last 25 years, Dr. Pappas has led numerous clinical trials in candidiasis, cryptococcosis, aspergillosis, sporotrichosis, blastomycosis, and histoplasmosis through his involvement with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) Bacteriology and Mycology Study Group (BAMSG) and the MSGERC.
"Dr. Pappas has dedicated his career to researching, identifying, preventing and developing improved treatment regimens for fungal infections, and we are honored to have him join our SAB," stated Roelof Rongen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Matinas BioPharma. "He is a leading expert in candidiasis and, in particular, has a distinct expertise in the treatment and maintenance of at-risk patients afflicted with invasive fungal infections. Dr. Pappas' involvement will be paramount as we launch our NIH/NIAID-funded Phase 2a clinical study in patients with refractory mucocutaneous candidiasis with the Company's lead drug candidate MAT2203, an orally-administered, encochleated formulation of the broad spectrum fungicidal medication amphotericin B."
Dr. Pappas was the principal investigator of a national network of transplant centers, TRANSNET, a collaborative effort of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a consortium of industry co-sponsors to provide important epidemiologic and treatment information to transplant recipients who develop proven and probable invasive fungal infections. He is also the co-principal investigator of the Organ Transplant Infection Detection and Prevention Program (OTIP), a collaborative multicenter group funded by the CDC.
"Matinas BioPharma's anti-fungal agent MAT2203 has the potential to address a significant unmet medical need for new treatments of refractory and invasive fungal infections. This has been evidenced by the recent Qualified Infectious Disease Product and Fast Track designations granted by the FDA for the use of MAT2203 in the treatment of invasive candidiasis. MAT2203's orally bioavailable encochleated formulation of the fungicidal agent amphotericin B was designed to provide targeted delivery with a significantly improved safety and tolerability profile. These features are particularly important for use as a therapy in immunocompromised patients where invasive and drug resistant fungal infections are very often life-threatening," commented Dr. Pappas.
Dr. Pappas joined the faculty at the University of Alabama in Birmingham School of Medicine in 1988, with a focus on HIV and transplant-associated opportunistic infections, especially the invasive mycoses. Previously, he was on the clinical faculty at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, NC, through its affiliated hospital in Wilmington, North Carolina. Dr. Pappas earned his medical degree in 1978 from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham. He completed his residency in internal medicine, chief medical residency, and infectious diseases fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle.
About Matinas BioPharma
Matinas BioPharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying and developing safe and effective broad spectrum antifungal and anti-bacterial therapeutics for the treatment of serious and life-threatening infections. The Company's proprietary, disruptive technology utilizes lipid-crystal nano-particle cochleate to nano-encapsulate existing drugs, making them safer, more tolerable, less toxic and orally available. The Company's lead drug candidate is MAT2203, an orally-administered, encochleated formulation of amphotericin B (a broad spectrum fungicidal agent). The Company also intends to file an investigational new drug application (IND) for MAT2501, which is an orally-administered, encochleated formulation of amikacin (a broad spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic agent) for gram-negative and intracellular bacterial infections. In addition, the Company is exploring development and partnership options for MAT9001, a prescription-only omega-3 fatty acid-based composition under development for hypertriglyceridemia, which has shown superiority versus Vascepa® (icosapent ethyl) in reducing serum triglycerides, Total- and Non-HDL-Cholesterol, apolipoproteins and PCSK9 levels.
The Company's lead anti-infective product candidates, MAT2203 and MAT2501, position Matinas BioPharma to become a leader in the safe and effective delivery of anti-infective therapies utilizing its proprietary lipid-crystal nano-particle cochleate formulation technology.
For more information, please visit www.matinasbiopharma.com and connect with the Company on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google+.
Forward Looking Statements: This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those relating to the Company's strategic focus and the future development of its product candidates, including MAT2203, the anticipated timing of regulatory submissions, the ability to obtain required regulatory approval, the Company's ability to identify and pursue development and partnership opportunities for its MAT9001 on favorable terms, if at all, and other statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "could," "believes," "estimates" and similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain additional capital to meet our liquidity needs on acceptable terms, or at all, including the additional capital which will be necessary to complete the clinical trials of our product candidates; our ability to successfully complete research and further development and commercialization of our product candidates; the uncertainties inherent in clinical testing; the timing, cost and uncertainty of obtaining regulatory approvals; our ability to protect the Company's intellectual property; the loss of any executive officers or key personnel or consultants; competition; changes in the regulatory landscape or the imposition of regulations that affect the Company's products; and the other factors listed under "Risk Factors" in our filings with the SEC, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Matinas BioPharma's product candidates are all in a development stage and are not available for sale or use.
CONTACT: Investor Contact Jenene Thomas Jenene Thomas Communications, LLC Phone: +1 (908) 938-1475 Email: jthomas@matinasbiopharma.com Media Contact: David Connolly LaVoieHealthScience Phone: +1 (617) 374-8800 Email: dconnolly@lavoiehealthscience.com 