Herbert A. Fritsche, Ph.D., former M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Professor and Scientist, joins Health Discovery Corporation as Senior Vice President and Chief Science Officer
SAVANNAH, Ga. - September 2, 2010 - Health Discovery Corporation (OTCBB: HDVY) is pleased to announce that Herbert A. Fritsche, Ph.D., recently retired Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Chief of the Clinical Chemistry Section at The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, has joined Health Discovery Corporation as Senior Vice President and Chief Science Officer, effective September 1, 2010.
"We are extremely honored that Dr. Herbert Fritsche, one of the world's leading experts on tumor biomarkers, with his vast and unique experience has agreed to become our Senior Vice President and Chief Science Officer," said Stephen D. Barnhill, M.D., Chairman and CEO of Health Discovery Corporation.
"In addition to providing unparalleled scientific expertise, Dr. Fritsche will bring significant commercialization experience having been involved with every commercially available serum cancer biomarker currently in use in the United States," said Dr. Barnhill.
Dr. Fritsche was a co-author of the peer-reviewed publication of Health Discovery Corporation's Four-Gene Expression Signature for Prostate Cancer Cells Consisting of UAP1, PDLIM5, IMPDH2, and HSPD1, in UroToday International Journal (August 2009).
As previously announced, Health Discovery Corporation entered into royalty-bearing licenses for the 4-gene urine-based prostate cancer test with Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX) and Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) for development and commercialization. The Company also entered into royalty-bearing licenses for its tissue biopsy-based prostate cancer test with Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) for development and commercialization.
"I've long believed that Dr. Barnhill and his patented pattern recognition technology are on the cutting edge of molecular diagnostic discovery and I'm delighted to join Dr. Barnhill and his world class team of mathematicians in new discovery projects" said Dr. Fritsche. "This is a unique and a singular professional opportunity," said Dr. Fritsche.
Dr. Fritsche continued, "I look forward to working with Dr. Barnhill and the distinguished group of world-renowned experts he has assembled to achieve the goal of advancing scientific discovery and commercializing the next generation of diagnostic markers and drug targets."
Dr. Herbert A. Fritsche served as Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Chief of the Clinical Chemistry Section at The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. During his 41 years at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Fritsche has focused his research activities on the development and validation of cancer diagnostics. Dr. Fritsche has been involved with the commercialization of every serum cancer biomarker product in use in the United States, and many of the new tissue based molecular markers.
Dr. Fritsche has served as President of the Clinical Ligand Assay Society (CLAS) and on various national committees for both the CLAS and the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC). He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry and was awarded the National Award for Contributions in Education by the AACC; the Outstanding Clinical Chemist Award by the Texas Section, AACC; a Dean's Excellence Award from the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Science; a Distinguished Scientist Award from the CLAS; and the Johnson and Johnson Award for Outstanding Research and Contributions to Clinical Biochemistry from the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry.
In 2006, Dr. Fritsche was awarded the Morton K. Schwartz AACC Award for Research Contributions in Cancer Diagnostics.
In 2009, Dr. Fritsche was awarded the Carl Jolliff Lifetime Achievement Award for Contributions in Clinical and diagnostic Immunology.
Dr. Fritsche has served on the Expert Panel for Tumor Marker Practice Guidelines for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the Laboratory Practice Guidelines Committee for the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry. In addition, he serves on the Editorial Board of six international scientific journals.
Dr. Fritsche has served as a consultant/advisor to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and many major international diagnostic companies and biotech start-up companies.
Dr. Fritsche has published over 200 peered reviewed scientific papers, invited articles and book chapters. Dr. Fritsche holds 3 patents and has 2 other applications on file. He has lectured extensively as an invited speaker for many years at international and national scientific and professional meetings.
Dr. Fritsche can be reached at [email protected]
About Health Discovery Corporation
Health Discovery Corporation is a molecular diagnostics company that uses advanced mathematical techniques to analyze large amounts of data to uncover patterns that might otherwise be undetectable. It operates primarily in the emerging field of personalized medicine where such tools are critical to scientific discovery. Its primary business consists of licensing its intellectual property and developing its own product line of biomarker-based diagnostic tests that include human genes and genetic variations, as well as gene, protein, and metabolic expression differences and image analysis in digital pathology and radiology. For more information, see www.healthdiscoverycorp.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which is necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, statements regarding future performance, opportunities and investments, and anticipated results in general. From time to time the Company may make other forward-looking statements relating to other matters, including without limitation, commercialization plans and strategic partnerships. Actual results may differ materially due to a variety of factors, including, among other things, the acceptance of our approach to applying mathematics computer science and physics into the disciplines of biology, organic chemistry and medicine and our products and technologies associated with those approaches, the ability to develop or commercialize new drugs, therapies or other products based on our approaches, and other factors set forth from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
All forward-looking statements and cautionary statements included in this document are made as of the date hereof based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or cautionary statement.
Contact:
Health Discovery Corporation
Tom Gallagher, (203) 918-3115
[email protected]