BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , a New Jersey-based biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing targeted cancer compounds, has appointed Francis Giles, M.D. of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) as Chairman.
Dr. Giles is currently the Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Section of Developmental Therapeutics at the Department of Leukemia at MD Anderson where he focuses specifically on developing novel therapies for patients with hematological malignancies. He also serves as co-chair of the Division of Cancer Medicine Phase I Group.
Daniel Greenleaf, VioQuest's CEO, said, "Dr. Giles' broad knowledge of utilizing targeted agents for cancer therapy is a perfect match for VioQuest, since we are currently conducting clinical trials for two targeted oncology drugs. He will be an exceptional addition to our prestigious SAB which includes Drs. Webster Cavanee, Kenneth King and Praveen Tyle."
Before joining MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Giles served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles and received his doctorate in medicine at the University of Ireland. He has authored over 350 peer-reviewed articles related to hematological disorders in leading journals, including Lancet, Cancer, Blood, Journal of Clinical Oncology and New Journal of Medicine. "Targeted agents are the future of oncology. I hope to help accelerate the development of some of these agents by working with my distinguished colleagues on the VioQuest SAB," said Dr. Giles.
VioQuest's CEO recognized by PharmaVOICE
Daniel Greenleaf, the CEO of VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, was featured in the July / August 2006 edition of PharmaVOICE where he was listed as one of the PharmaVOICE 100, a grouping of the 100 leaders in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries recognized for positive contributions in leadership, mentoring and inspiration, as well as a being creative and having a keen sense for executing business strategy.
The PharmaVOICE 100 were chosen by the readers of the magazine who selected business leaders that have contributed a positive influence to the overall pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Furthermore, these thought leaders were selected because their values essentially speak for their companies, products and personnel.
The article highlights Greenleaf's interest in creating a productive cancer pipeline and his work in the expansion of VioQuest's pharmaceutical development branch, including the merger with Greenwich Therapeutics that led to the current clinical trials of VQD-001 and VQD-002.
About VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing targeted late preclinical and early clinical stage therapies with unique mechanisms of action for oncology, viral and autoimmune disorders. A pioneer in personalized therapeutics, VioQuest has two targeted oncology compounds in clinical trials: VQD-001, an inhibitor of specific protein tyrosine phosphatases, has shown compelling preclinical activity in both renal and melanoma cancers and VQD-002 which has shown to inhibit the phosphorylation of Akt which can be seen in abnormal levels in breast, ovarian, colorectal, pancreatic, and liquid cancers.
VioQuest's subsidiary Chiral Quest, a leader in asymmetric chemocatalysis and custom synthesis, offers its proprietary technology products to well-known pharmaceutical and fine chemical companies worldwide to improve their production efficiencies and, in some instances, to increase the overall safety and efficacy of the underlying drug.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause VioQuest's actual results and experiences to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "believes," "intends," and similar words or phrases. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from these statements. Among other things, there is no assurance that VioQuest will be able to successfully commercialize VQD- 001 and VQD-002, its product candidates. Other risks and uncertainties include the possibility that the results of clinical trials will not support VioQuest's claims, the possibility that VioQuest's development efforts relating to its product candidates, including VQD-001 and VQD-002, will not be successful, the inability to obtain regulatory approval of VioQuest's product candidates, VioQuest's reliance on third-party researchers to develop its product candidates, its lack of experience in developing and commercializing pharmaceutical products, and the possibility that its licenses to develop and commercialize its product candidates may be terminated. Additional risks are described in VioQuest's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005. VioQuest assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Daniel Greenleaf Chief Executive Officer Brian Lenz Chief Financial Officer 908-766-4400
VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.CONTACT: Daniel Greenleaf, Chief Executive Officer, or Brian Lenz, ChiefFinancial Officer, both of VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-908-766-4400
