OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 22, 2004--The newly reorganized TriMed Research, Inc., a joint venture of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, UNeMed Corporation and Tridelta Development, Ltd., commenced the commercialization of a naturally occurring mammary gland protein designated as MAA.
Because synthetic versions of the MAA protein are shown to be bioactive and able to initiate protective processes in the intestine, this discovery may significantly reduce bacterial and viral gastro-intestinal infections in humans and animals. This discovery has a wide variety of applications including the prevention of life-threatening diseases of infants, reduction of the incidence of farm animal disease, reduction of the debilitating side-effects of cancer treatments and even the prevention of “travelers’ diarrhea.”
TriMed Research is now raising the funds necessary for animal research with the goal of developing proprietary therapeutic products.
“Given the potentially broad human and animal applications of this discovery, we are anxious to start conducting additional research on animals to confirm what we’ve already seen in the laboratory,” says Dr. David Winter, the company’s Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to partnering with investors to move forward as quickly as possible.”
Prior to joining TriMed Research, Dr. Winter was the President and Chief Operating Officer of GenPharm International and Sangstat Medical Corp, President of Sandoz Research Institute and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Human Organ Sciences. With more than 20 years of industry experience and the recipient of numerous awards, Dr. Winter led the development, registration and approval of seven major pharmaceutical compounds including cyclosporin. He also served as the Director of Life Sciences at the National Aeronautical and Space Administration.
Other members of TriMed Research team include:
-- F. Joseph Daugherty, Chairman of TriMed Research’s Board of Directors, has been successfully developing early stage companies since 1979. Dr. Daugherty has assisted more than 20 public and private companies with strategic planning and business development including the joint venture companies of DuPont and ConAgra. He is also serves on the board of directors of Visualize, Inc. and Eleos, Inc., and is the Chief Operating Officer of Eleos.
-- Brian Hett is the President of TriMed Research and serves as the CEO and founder of Ireland-based Tridelta Development. Bringing extensive expertise in diagnostics, Hett was previously associated with Abbott Diagnostics, Biotrin International Dublin and Boehringer Mannheim GmbH Germany.
-- David K. Karnes is a member of TriMed Research’s Board of Directors. He is also President and Chief Executive Officer of The Fairmont Group Incorporated and “of counsel” to the national law firm Kutak Rock. He is actively involved in the firm’s technology and emerging companies practice group. He previously served as a United States Senator representing Nebraska, as a member of the United States Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations and as a White House Fellow.
-- Professor Thomas McDonald is TriMed Research’s Chief Scientific Officer and he discovered the MAA protein. With a broad background in cell biology, pathology and microbiology, Dr. McDonald’s expertise is immunology and protein biochemistry.
-- Annika Weber serves as the Vice President of TriMed Research. Dr. Weber was instrumental in the discovery and development of the MAA technology and continues her role in experimental design, implementation, data analysis and research management.
Contacts
Cagan Communications Danielle Cagan, 415-665-6678 danielle@cagancommunications.com