BLOOMFIELD, N.J., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alfacell Corporation today announced the addition of Michael S. Kinch Ph.D. to its scientific advisory board.
Dr. Kinch will work with members of the scientific advisory board, which is chaired by David Sidransky M.D., Alfacell’s vice chairman and lead independent director, to assist the company’s management team in optimizing the development of ribonuclease-based therapeutics.
“Michael will bring unique qualifications to our scientific advisory board,” said Kuslima Shogen, chairman and chief executive officer of Alfacell. “This addition to our scientific advisory board, along with the recent creation of our research and clinical oversight committee, will help us continue to advance our technology and compounds in this transformational year.”
Dr. Kinch added: “Alfacell is uniquely positioned to exploit a recent convergence of knowledge in ONCONASE research. This understanding has the promise to quickly translate into an exciting and much-needed opportunity to improve cancer therapy. I look forward to providing assistance to Alfacell in the development of numerous potential therapeutic compounds based on the company’s technology platform.”
About Michael S. Kinch Ph.D.
Dr. Kinch currently leads product development at Functional Genetics Inc., a biotherapeutics company located in Gaithersburg, Md. His scientific areas of expertise include cancer cell metastasis, signal transduction, antiviral development, immunology, cell biology, biochemistry and in vivo studies. He serves as chairperson for the synergistic idea award section of the Department of Defense CDMRP and as a reviewer for several scientific journals and study sections.
Prior to working with Functional Genetics, Dr. Kinch was MedImmune Inc.'s senior director, research and development and head of the company’s cancer biology and in vivo biology departments. He joined the Gaithersburg, Md.-based company after six years with Purdue University, where he was an associate professor of pharmacology. At Purdue, he conducted extramurally funded research in the fields of cancer metastasis and microenvironment.
Before this, Dr. Kinch was a postdoctoral fellow at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
He holds a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from Duke University and a bachelor’s of science degree in molecular genetics, with distinction in immunology, from Ohio State University.
About Alfacell Corporation
Alfacell Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company using proprietary ribonuclease (RNase) technology in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
ONCONASE is a first-in-class therapeutic from Alfacell’s proprietary ribonuclease (RNase) technology platform. ONCONASE has been shown in vitro and in vivo to target tumor cells while sparing normal cells. ONCONASE is internalized by endocytosis and released into the cytosol of the cancerous cell, where it selectively degrades tRNA beyond repair. In doing so, ONCONASE inhibits protein synthesis, stops cell cycle proliferation, and induces apoptosis (programmed cell death).
In addition to the ongoing confirmatory Phase IIIb registration study in malignant mesothelioma, the company is conducting an ONCONASE Phase I/II trial in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and solid tumors.
For more information, please visit www.alfacell.com.
Safe Harbor
This press release includes statements that may constitute “forward- looking” statements, usually containing the words “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “expect” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, uncertainties involved in transitioning from concept to product, uncertainties involving the ability of the Company to finance research and development activities, potential challenges to or violations of patents, uncertainties regarding the outcome of clinical trials, the Company’s ability to secure necessary approvals from regulatory agencies, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risks discussed in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.
Media Contact: Investor Contact: David Schull Andreas Marathovouniotis Noonan Russo Noonan Russo 212-845-4271 212-845-4253 david.schull@eurorscg.comandreas.marathis@eurorscg.com
Alfacell Corporation
CONTACT: Media, David Schull, +1-212-845-4271, david.schull@eurorscg.com,or Investor, Andreas Marathovouniotis, +1-212-845-4253,andreas.marathis@eurorscg.com, both of Noonan Russo for AlfacellCorporation
Web site: http://www.alfacell.com/
