DALLAS, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. , today announced the appointment of Frank Jacobucci to the position of Vice President, Sales and Marketing. Mr. Jacobucci will be primarily responsible for the Company's marketing launch of MuGard, an FDA approved treatment for oral mucositis, a debilitating side effect of radiation treatment and chemotherapy. Mr. Jacobucci has over 20 years experience in sales management, including senior sales executive positions at oncology focused companies including MGI Pharma, Genetics Institute, Wyeth Oncology, Aventis, Precision Therapeutics and CRC Oncology Services. Mr. Jacobucci has significant experience launching pharmaceutical products, with a particular expertise in oral mucositis and related oncology supportive care therapies and also has developed significant experience with MuGard.
"We are delighted to bring Frank into the management team as we feel he has the experience and capability to lead commercialization of MuGard both in the United States and internationally. We believe working with Frank will help us to maximize the commercial potential of MuGard by efficiently and effectively penetrating the oncology supportive care market," stated Jeffrey B. Davis, President & CEO of Access.
MuGard is commercially launched by Access' partner, SpePharm, in six European countries, having been granted the CE mark certification in October 2008 with the labeling "prevention and
management of the lesions and symptoms of oral mucositis." SpePharm is currently gathering feedback from clinicians in the UK, Germany and Italy that are participating in a patient assessment project. SpePharm expects that out of a total of approximately 1,500 to 2,000 patients who will be assessed in this project, a subset of patient forms will be collected by year end, and aggregated clinician and patient feedback will continue to be available on a rolling basis during the fourth quarter 2009 and 2010. Introduction of MuGard into France, Central and Eastern Europe, the Benelux countries and the rest of Europe is anticipated over the next 12 to 18 months.
This press release contains certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include those relating to: clinical trial plans and timelines and clinical results for ProLindac, our ability to execute licensing agreements in the future, Access' plans to continue and initiate clinical trials, the value of its products in the market (including MuGard and the size of the overall market for mucositis products), its ability to achieve clinical and commercial success and its ability to successfully develop marketed products. These statements are subject to numerous risks, including but not limited Access' need to obtain additional financing in order to continue the clinical trial and operations and to the risks detailed in Access' Annual Reports on Form 10-K and other reports filed by Access with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
