Juneau Biosciences Names Dr. Dinesh Patel to Board of Directors

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Juneau Biosciences LLC announced today the appointment of life science luminary, Dinesh Patel, Ph.D., to its board of directors. "We are honored that Dinesh has agreed to serve on the Juneau Board," said Kenneth Ward, M.D., CEO of Juneau Biosciences. "Dinesh is truly a visionary life sciences entrepreneur. He has helped the majority of successful life science companies in our region at some point in their development. Dinesh's wisdom and guidance will be invaluable as Juneau launches the first-ever, non-invasive test for endometriosis in 2014."

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"I am delighted to join the Juneau Biosciences Board of Directors at such a critical juncture for the company," said Patel. "After five years in research and development, Juneau is now poised to launch their novel EndoRisk^® test for women experiencing infertility. The EndoRisk^® test will change the way that advanced reproductive technologies such as "IVF" are used to help couples struggling to have a baby. Juneau already has a broad pipeline of products relevant to pelvic pain, pregnancy complications, and even ovarian cancer. I have no doubt that Juneau's efforts will help millions of women and their families, and I feel certain that Juneau will transform the lucrative obstetric and gynecologic market along the way."

Dr. Patel is widely recognized as a leading innovator of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals in the Mountain West. Patel co-founded the successful biotech company Theratech Inc. and served as president, CEO and chairman from 1985 until 1999, when the company was acquired by Watson Pharmaceuticals. He helped found WellCare in 1997, providing financing and strategic direction. He also founded Ashni Naturaceuticals Inc., which he led from 1999 to 2004, and co-founded Salus Therapeutics Inc., a novel gene therapy-focused biotech company that was acquired by Genta Inc. in 2003. After investing in more than 20 life science/technology companies, Patel co-founded vSpring Capital, one of the Mountain West's leading early-stage life science and technology investment firms, where he has led more than a dozen investments. He currently serves as chairman of the governing board of the Utah Science Technology and Research initiative (USTAR) and as a board member on a wide variety of corporations and non-profit organizations. Most recently, Dr. Patel served on the board of Mediconnect Global, a worldwide leader in medical record retrieval, digitization, and one of the largest cloud-based health information exchanges. In March 2012, Mediconnect was acquired by Verisk Analytics (VRSK) for over $377 million.

Born and raised in Zambia, Africa, Dr. Patel received his bachelor's degree in Pharmacy at Gujarat University located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. He earned his master's degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and his Ph.D. in Physical Pharmacy from the University of Michigan.

During the course of his career, Dr. Patel has been granted numerous U.S. and foreign patents. He has been recognized with numerous awards for his accomplishments and service to humanity, including: induction into the Utah Technology Council Hall of Fame; the Mountain West Capital Network's Utah Entrepreneur of the Year award; the US Small Business Administration's Business Achiever Award; the State of Utah's Scientific and Technology Award; and the Scientific and Technology Development Pioneer of Progress Award. A native of Zambia, Patel was honored with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and is a charter member of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE). This week, Dr. Patel will receive the Kolff Lifetime Achievement Award from BioUtah; the award recognizes extraordinary creativity, innovation and service to humanity.

About Juneau Biosciences

Juneau Biosciences is a privately held medical genetics company conducting groundbreaking research to develop innovative diagnostic products for diseases that predominantly affect women. Launched in early 2007, the Salt Lake City, Utah-based firm has focused so far on the development of novel molecular diagnostics and therapeutics for endometriosis, a condition estimated to affect approximately 10% of reproductive-age females. This research is the basis of all the tests and therapies that we will produce, patent, and disseminate to signal the revolution in women's health care. Over the next several years, Juneau will launch additional programs for preterm labor and other gynecological and obstetric disorders. Juneau expects to improve the lives of millions of women through our genetic research and innovative health care solutions. Juneau Biosciences' knowledgeable team, state-of-the-art facilities, and innovative research techniques give us a unique advantage in developing diagnostics and treatments for women.

About Endometriosis

Endometriosis affects more than 10 million women in the United States. Endometriosis occurs when the tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (womb) is found in other parts of the body, most commonly in the pelvis. Monthly bleeding and inflammation caused by these lesions may severely impact a woman's quality of life. Some affected women experience severe pain, others infertility, others problems with their periods, and some have no symptoms at all. Today, definitive diagnosis requires surgery. Due to the difficulties, invasiveness, and expense of diagnosing the condition, the majority of women with endometriosis suffer for over a decade before receiving treatment. Treatment may involve hormonal suppression or targeted destruction of the abnormal tissue during surgery.

Media Contact:Linda Gould, Juneau Biosciences, 801-994-4148, lgould@juneaubiosciences.com

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SOURCE Juneau Biosciences