Isotechnika Inc. Appoints International Pharmaceutical Business Leader to Board of Directors
Edmonton, Alberta (ots/PRNewswire)
Isotechnika Inc. announced today the appointment of Patrice R. Debregeas to its board of directors. As Chairman, CEO and President of Ethypharm S.A, the leading drug delivery company in Europe, Mr. Debregeas brings extensive international experience in the pharmaceutical sector. Under the supervision of Mr. Debregeas, Ethypharm has successfully launched 50 products in over 70 countries.
Mr. Debregeas holds an MBA from Wharton Graduate School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and an M.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Paris. "I am most excited to be joining the Board of Directors for Isotechnika Inc., a Company that is developing a very strong pipeline of therapeutic products and a new test for insulin resistance that could change the diagnosis of diabetic patients worldwide," stated Mr. Debregeas.
"It is both a pleasure and a privilege to welcome Patrice Debregeas to our board of directors," stated Dr. Robert Foster, Isotechnika's Chairman and CEO. "Mr. Debregeas' years of experience in the delivery of pharmaceutical products will be a valuable asset as our lead drug candidate , ISA247 advances towards a Phase III psoriasis trial later this year."
About Isotechnika Inc.
Isotechnika Inc. is an international biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Drawing upon its expertise in medicinal chemistry and immunology, the Company is focused on the discovery and development of novel immunosuppressive therapeutics that are safer than currently available treatments. Its entrepreneurial management and world- class team of scientists are building a pipeline of immunosuppressive drug candidates for use in the prevention of organ rejection in transplantation and in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Isotechnika looks to become the leader in development of immunosuppressant therapies.
Isotechnika's lead drug, ISA247, presently referred to as trans-ISA247, is an immunosuppressant that has successfully completed a Phase II trial for psoriasis and Phase IIa trial for kidney transplantation. Isotechnika recently expanded its product pipeline by developing two additional novel immunosuppressive compounds, TAFA93 and TKB662. TAFA93 is a novel small molecule mTOR inhibitor, a class of drugs currently used in the prevention of organ rejection in transplantation and as a coated stent therapy in the treatment of coronary artery disease. Pre-clinical studies of TKB662 have demonstrated inhibition of T cell and B cell activation and proliferation through multiple mechanisms of action including the inhibition of lymphocyte phosphorylation activity. As both TAFA93 and TKB662 have distinct mechanisms of action from calcineurin inhibitors such as ISA247 they have the potential to be administered as complementary therapies in both prevention of organ rejection and treatment of autoimmune diseases.
In addition to the Company's drug pipeline, Isotechnika also has a diagnostic division, which includes the Helikit(TM) and Diatest(TM) breath kits. The Helikit(TM), a (13)C breath test is used for the detection of H. pylori, a bacterium that infects a large portion of the population. The Helikit(TM) is currently sold internationally. The Diatest(TM), a (13)C glucose breath test is used for the detection of insulin resistance. The Company expects to commence the necessary clinical trials in 2005 involving the Diatest(TM) to obtain regulatory approval in the United States.
Isotechnika Inc. is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ISA. More information on Isotechnika can be found at www.isotechnika.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, including the Company's belief as to the potential of its products, the Company's expectations regarding the issuance of additional patents and the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the ability to economically manufacture its products, the potential of its products, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company's ability to successfully commercialize its products, the ability of the Company to defend its patents from infringement by third parties, and the risk that the Company's patents may be subsequently shown to be invalid or infringe the patents of others. Investors should consult the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Archived images on this organization are available through CNW E-Pix at http://www.newswire.ca. Images are free to members of The Canadian Press. To request a free copy of this organization's annual report, please go to http://www.newswire.ca and click on reports@cnw.
Contact:
For further information: Dr. Robert Foster, Chairman & CEO,
Isotechnika Inc., +1(780)-487-1600 ext. 246, +1(780)-484-4105 (fax),
rfoster@isotechnika.com; Stephanie Gillis-Paulgaard, Manager,
Corporate Communications, Isotechnika Inc., +1(780)-487-1600 ext.
243, +1(780)-484-4105 (fax), sgillis-paulgaard@isotechnika.com