NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly known as NovaCal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)'s Scientific Advisor Receives American Chemical Society's Highest Award
M. Frederick Hawthorne, Ph.D. Honored for Distinguished Service in the Field of Chemistry
EMERYVILLE, Calif., March 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that world-renowned scientist M. Frederick Hawthorne, Ph.D., a member of the Company's Scientific Advisory Board will be the recipient of the 2009 Priestley Medal, the highest honor awarded by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Dr. Hawthorne, who is co-director of the International Institute for Nano and Molecular Medicine at the University of Missouri-Columbia, will be presented this award for distinguished service in the field of chemistry at the Spring ACS National Meeting to be held this week in Salt Lake City, Utah.
"Dr. Hawthorne is a world-renowned scientist who has brought his impeccable credentials and expertise to NovaBay," said Dr. Ron Najafi, chairman and chief executive officer of NovaBay. "We are extremely proud and honored to have such a distinguished leader of the chemical community on our Scientific Advisory Board. We congratulate him on receiving the prestigious 2009 Priestley Medal."
Dr. Hawthorne has contributed to the development of NovaBay's Aganocide(R) class of antimicrobial molecules specifically designed by NovaBay to mimic the body's natural defense against infection. These compounds may deliver the same or better level of antimicrobial activity as is currently reached by common antibiotics without contributing to the growing rise in bacterial resistance. The Aganocide compounds have shown in preclinical trials to date to be highly effective against bacteria, viruses and fungi. They have also been demonstrated to be effective against bacteria in biofilm, for which most antibiotics are rendered ineffective. These compounds have a potentially broad therapeutic index providing a high degree of potency, good tolerability, together with dosing versatility and flexibility.
Dr. Hawthorne began his 60-year career in chemistry working with the element, boron. He created a wide variety of novel polyboranes and carboranes and discovered uses for these compounds for applications in medical imaging, drug delivery, neutron-based treatments for cancers and rheumatoid arthritis, catalysis and molecular motors. He also created a specific type of nanoparticle that selectively targets cancer cells for boron neutron capture therapy. Dr. Hawthorne was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1973 at the age of 44. Professor Hawthorne is the recipient of many awards and honors over his distinguished career. He has authored or co-authored more than 500 research articles, 30 patents and 10 book chapters. He has mentored and directed the research of nearly 200 Ph.D. students and postdoctoral associates from 21 countries. Thirty-five (35) now hold academic positions. Many have risen to high positions in industry and one was a space shuttle astronaut.
About NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
NovaBay Pharmaceuticals is a mid-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class, novel, synthetic anti-infective product candidates. These products are bioequivalent to the active antimicrobial molecules generated within white blood cells to treat and prevent a wide range of infections without developing resistance. NovaBay has entered into a licensing and research collaboration agreement with Alcon, Inc. for use of the Aganocide compounds in the eye, ear and sinus, and in contact lens solutions. NovaBay(R) and Aganocide(R) are trademarks of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. For more information on NovaBay, visit www.novabaypharma.com.
Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risk that results obtained in pre-clinical studies may not be obtained in humans, and the risk of unexpected delays in the regulatory process may delay the commencement or completion of clinical trials. Other risks relating to NovaBay's Aganocide compounds, including risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements in this press release, are detailed in NovaBay's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the period ended September 30, 2008, under the caption "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of Part II of that report, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2008.
CONTACT: Tom Paulson, Chief Financial Officer of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., +1-510-899-8809, tpaulson@novabaypharma.com; or Investor Relations,
Gregory Gin, +1-908-376-7737, ggin@invigoratepr.com; or Media Relations,
Mariesa Kemble, +1-608-850-4745, mkemble@invigoratepr.com, both of
Invigorate Communications, for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Web site: http://www.novabaypharma.com/