BEDMINSTER, N.J., July 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:MTNB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying and developing safe and effective antifungal and anti-bacterial therapeutics for the treatment of serious and life-threatening infections, today announced that it appointed David S. Perlin, Ph.D., to its infectious diseases Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).
Dr. Perlin is an internationally recognized expert and research scientist in infectious diseases who has played a major role in advancing the national research agenda in biodefense and emerging infectious diseases. He is executive director of the Public Health Research Institute (PHRI) and the Rutgers Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) of New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. He is also a Professor of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at NJMS. His primary expertise is in fungal infections, mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance, and rapid diagnosis of opportunistic drug resistant bacterial and fungal pathogens in high-risk patients.
"Dr. Perlin's expertise and his vast contributions to research in the area of infectious diseases and antifungals will be invaluable as we execute on our clinical development strategy," said Roelof Rongen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Matinas BioPharma.
Dr. Perlin joins J. Carl Craft, M.D., who chairs the Matinas SAB, and Raphael J. Mannino, Ph.D., associate professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Craft was Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer of Aquarius Biotechnologies, which merged with Matinas earlier this year, and previously the "Venture" head of Abbott's anti-infective R&D division where he led the development of numerous anti-bacterial and anti-viral therapies. Dr. Mannino is the inventor of Matinas' novel lipid-crystal nano-particle delivery technology.
The SAB provides insight to Matinas as the company develops MAT2203, a Phase 2a ready, novel lipid-crystal nano-particle delivered formulation of amphotericin B for the treatment of serious and drug resistant fungal infections, and MAT2501, an early-stage program to treat gram-negative bacterial infections for which the company expects to file an investigational new drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of this year.
Dr. Perlin has established PHRI as a leading infectious diseases research organization. His laboratory focuses on mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance, rapid detection of drug resistant bloodstream and respiratory pathogens in high-risk patients, drug discovery against multidrug resistant bacterial infections, and the application of small animal models for respiratory pathogens. His laboratory is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. Throughout his career, Dr. Perlin has been a principal or co-investigator of numerous research projects ranging from studies on biodefense-related pathogens, drug-sensitive and multi-drug resistant bacterial and fungal pathogens, antifungal susceptibility, and the clinical development of cochleates as novel vectors for oral delivery of amphotericin B.
"I believe Matinas BioPharma's proprietary cochleate technology has the potential to provide new solutions where so many limitations with treatments exist for physicians to combat increasing drug-resistance," said Dr. Perlin. "The cochleate's solid, highly stable, lipid-crystal particle shields sensitive organs from toxic effects of anti-fungal and anti-bacterial drugs resulting in an improved clinical safety profile along with targeted delivery of anti-infective medications. I look forward to working with the team in advancing these exciting programs."
Dr. Perlin has published more than 210 papers and book chapters, is the co-author of two books and is on the editorial board of several scientific journals. He is the editor-in-chief of the new open access "Journal of Fungi." He serves on the Board of Directors of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, and on advisory boards and committees for the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), Leading International Fungal Education (LIFE), various pharmaceutical and biotech companies, PinnacleCare and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). Dr. Perlin also serves on advisory and planning boards for several major international conferences, and he is a member of the Steering Committee for Microbiology, Immunology & Infectious Diseases of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Perlin earned an AB degree from Brandeis University, a Ph.D. from Cornell University and pursued postdoctoral studies at the Yale University School of Medicine and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Perlin was named a Fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences in 2005, and a Visiting Professor at the University of Manchester, UK in 2009.
About Matinas BioPharma
Matinas BioPharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying and developing safe and effective broad spectrum antifungal and anti-bacterial therapeutics for the treatment of serious and life-threatening infections. The Company's proprietary, disruptive technology utilizes lipid-crystal nano-particle cochleate to nano-encapsulate existing drugs, making them safer, more tolerable, less toxic and orally available. The Company's lead drug candidate is MAT2203, an orally-administered, encochleated formulation of amphotericin B (a broad spectrum fungicidal agent). The Company also intends to file an investigational new drug application (IND) for MAT2501, which is an orally-administered, encochleated formulation of Amikacin (a broad spectrum aminogycloside antibiotic agent) for gram-negative and intracellular bacterial infections. In addition, the Company is exploring development and partnership options for MAT9001, a prescription-only omega-3 fatty acid-based composition under development for hypertriglyceridemia, which has shown superiority versus Vascepa® (icosapent ethyl) in reducing serum triglycerides, Total- and Non-HDL-Cholesterol, apolipoproteins and PCSK9 levels.
The Company's lead anti-infective product candidates, MAT2203 and MAT2501, position Matinas BioPharma to become a leader in the safe and effective delivery of anti-infective therapies utilizing its proprietary lipid-crystal nano-particle cochleate formulation technology.
For more information, please visit www.matinasbiopharma.com and connect with the Company on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google+.
Forward Looking Statements: This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those relating to the Company's strategic focus and the future development of its product candidates and other statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "could," "believes," "estimates" and similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain additional capital to meet our liquidity needs on acceptable terms, or at all, including the additional capital which will be necessary to complete the clinical trials of our product candidates; our ability to successfully complete research and further development and commercialization of our product candidates; the uncertainties inherent in clinical testing; the timing, cost and uncertainty of obtaining regulatory approvals; our ability to protect the Company's intellectual property; the loss of any executive officers or key personnel or consultants; competition; changes in the regulatory landscape or the imposition of regulations that affect the Company's products; and the other factors listed under "Risk Factors" in our filings with the SEC, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Matinas BioPharma's product candidates are all in a development stage and are not available for sale or use.
CONTACT: Investor Contact Jenene Thomas Jenene Thomas Communications, LLC Phone: +1 (908) 938-1475 Email: [email protected] Media Contact: David Connolly LaVoieHealthScience Phone: +1 (617) 374-8800 Email: [email protected]