NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J., Dec. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- PDS Biotechnology, a clinical stage immunotherapeutics company developing the powerful Versamune® nanoparticle technology, is delighted to announce that Sir Richard Sykes has accepted an invitation to join the company's board of directors as Executive Chairman.
Also joining PDS's board at this time are Mr. De Lyle Bloomquist, President, Global Chemicals Business for Tata Chemicals Ltd. and President, CEO and Director of Tata Chemicals North America Inc.; Michael Boyce-Jacino, PhD, Executive Director of NetScientific and CEO of QLIDA; and Mr. Greg Freitag, General Counsel, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Ex-CFO and current Director of AxoGen, Inc.
"PDS is pleased to welcome such an exceptional and successful group of pharmaceutical and business leaders to its board," said Dr. Frank Bedu-Addo, CEO of PDS. "Our new board members' deep experience in our industry will be crucial as PDS continues to progress its clinical trial and partnership activities towards commercialization."
Sir Richard Sykes, FRS
Sir Richard is a preeminent leader in the pharmaceutical industry. He was CEO and Chairman of GlaxoWellcome from 1995 to 2000, and Chairman of GlaxoSmithkline until 2002.
Sir Richard is currently Chairman of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Chairman of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, Chairman of the UK Stem Cell Foundation, Chairman of Omnicyte, NetScientific and the investment board of Deepridge Capital. He was appointed Chancellor of Brunel University in 2013. He is also Chairman of the International Advisory Board, A*Star Biomedical Research Council, Singapore and a Board member of EDBI. He was awarded Honorary Citizenship of Singapore in 2004 for his contribution to the development of the country's biomedical sciences industry.
Sir Richard was Senior Independent Director and non-executive Chairman of ENRC from 2007 to June 2011, Chairman of NHS London from December 2008 to July 2010, and Rector of Imperial College London from 2000 to 2008. He was a non-executive director of Rio Tinto plc from 1997 to 2007, and senior independent director from 2004 to 2007.
Sir Richard received a knighthood in 1994 for his outstanding service to the pharmaceutical industry.
Sir Richard holds a number of degrees and awards from Institutions both in the UK and overseas. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and Academy of Medical Sciences, and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society of Chemistry, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Royal College of Pathologists and the Royal College of Physicians. He has been President of the R and D Society since 2002.
He is a Fellow of Imperial College London and the Imperial College School of Medicine, King's College London, and Honorary Fellow of the Universities of Wales and Central Lancashire.
About PDS Biotechnology Corporation
PDS Biotechnology is a clinical stage immunotherapeutics company developing its powerful Versamune® nanoparticle technology as a novel immunotherapy platform directing the immune system to overcome immune suppression and to recognize and fight disease. PDS is developing a range of applications in cancer and infectious disease, with its lead cancer immunotherapy currently completing a Phase I clinical trial.
PDS recently received its first institutional investment from NetScientific plc. http://netscientific.net/