EXTON, Pa., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Fibrocell Science, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: FCSC), a biotechnology company focused on the development of autologous cell therapies for aesthetic, medical and scientific applications, announced today the appointment of Stefan Gruenwald, M.D., Ph.D., to its scientific advisory board. In addition to being a renowned molecular and cellular biologist, Dr. Gruenwald is a biotechnology and genetic research expert. Dr. Gruenwald also has vast experience in management of biotechnology, start-up and Fortune 100 companies; mergers and acquisitions; venture capital and private equity; international business; and nanotechnology investment.
"We are fortunate at Fibrocell Science to have assembled a well-rounded, impressive group of scientific advisors in the last several months," said David Pernock, Chairman and CEO. "As our newest addition, Dr. Gruenwald's scientific expertise and business acumen adds unique value as we consider broad uses for our technology platform. Our collaboration with Dr. Gruenwald will enable us to explore multiple new scientific pathways with the potential for near-term implementation."
About Dr. Gruenwald
Dr. Gruenwald's career in life sciences spans more than two decades. He earned both his medical and doctoral degrees at the Johann-Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, receiving the Friends of Paul Ehrlich Award for the best thesis of the year summa cum laude. He later completed post-doctoral research at the Scripps Research Institute and the University of California San Diego.
In 1991, Dr. Gruenwald joined the newly formed PharMingen (now a part of BD Biosciences), which became one of the most successful San Diego-based biotechnology companies. As Vice President of Research & Development at PharMingen, Dr. Gruenwald established and maintained a research team of 155 scientists. His research and development lab cloned more than 1,300 genes and expressed more than 200 proteins in various protein expression systems. In 1997, he was instrumental in the sale of PharMingen to Fortune 100 company, Becton Dickinson.
More recently, Dr. Gruenwald has specialized in mergers and acquisitions within the life sciences arena. In 2000, Dr. Gruenwald co-founded Orbigen, a San Diego-based proteomics company. Orbigen developed more than 3,000 products in a dozen different lines ranging from proteomics to immunology. In 2004, Dr. Gruenwald played a leading role in negotiating the triple merger between Orbigen, Biocarta and Jingmei, the second largest biotechnology reagent company in China at the time.
Dr. Gruenwald holds three patents in cancer research based on technologies developed at PharMingen. His current research is focused on banking of healthy and diseased cells, tissues and organs in combination with obtaining next-generation sequencing data for targeted intelligent treatment, which he sees as the gateway to the future of medicine.
About Fibrocell Science, Inc.
Fibrocell Science, Inc. (OTCBB: FCSC) is a biotechnology company focused on the development of autologous cell therapies for aesthetic, medical and scientific applications. Fibrocell Science is committed to advancing the scientific, medical and commercial potential of autologous skin and tissue, as well its innovative cellular processing technology and manufacturing excellence. For additional information, please visit www.fibrocellscience.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that are not based on historical fact are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. While management has based any forward-looking statements contained herein on its current expectations, the information on which such expectations were based may change. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company's control, that could cause actual results to materially differ from such statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, but are not necessarily limited to, those set forth under Item 1A "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, as updated in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed since the annual report. The Company operates in a highly competitive and rapidly changing environment, thus new or unforeseen risks may arise. Accordingly, investors should not place any reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The Company disclaims any intention to, and undertakes no obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements. Readers are also urged to carefully review and consider the other various disclosures in the Company's public filings with the SEC.
SOURCE Fibrocell Science, Inc.