Formerly GlaxoSmithKline Sr. VP of Global Medical Affairs
YONKERS, N.Y., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Advanced Viral Research Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: ADVR) today announced the
appointment of Dr. Richard S. Kent to the Company's Board of Directors.
Dr. Kent has nearly two decades of global pharmaceutical industry experience,
including serving as Senior Vice President of Global Medical Affairs and Chief
Medical Officer for GlaxoSmithKline.
"Dr. Kent's appointment adds a significant new dimension of brand
pharmaceutical expertise to our Board, which already includes experts in
pharmaceutical science, international pharmaceutical regulation,
entrepreneurship, business management and finance," said Eli Wilner, Chairman
of the Board. "Richard's counsel on the international development of
pharmaceutical products, and his years of experience with leading the medical
affairs and clinical research operations of international pharmaceutical
companies, further strengthens a Board that represents significant expertise."
"As the clinical trials of Product R gain momentum, Dr. Kent's expertise
in international pharmaceutical affairs will be helpful in our activities,"
said Shalom Z. Hirschman, M.D., President and CEO. "We look forward to his
insights, and believe his experience offers a key complement to the expertise
already available on our Board."
Prior to GlaxoSmithKline, Dr. Kent worked for GlaxoWellcome and Burroughs
Wellcome Co. At GlaxoWellcome, Dr. Kent was Vice President, U.S. Medical
Operations and Group Medical Director from 1998 to 2001. He served as
Director of Worldwide Clinical Research from 1995 to 1997. In addition he
served on the Board of Directors of GlaxoWellcome Inc. and other senior level
operating committees responsible for directing the development and
commercialization of the company's products.
At Burroughs Wellcome Dr. Kent held numerous clinical research positions
of increasing responsibility. He was named Medical Director in 1991, Vice
President of Medical Affairs in 1992, and was named International Director of
Medical Research for Wellcome plc in 1994. He has supervised dozens of INDs
and over 20 NDAs (and equivalent submissions in Europe and the rest of the
world) in a wide range of therapeutic areas including CNS, Antivirals, HIV,
Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, Anesthesia/Critical Care, Cardiovascular and
Oncology.
From 2001 until 2002, Dr. Kent was President and CEO of Ardent
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of Durham, NC.
Dr. Kent received his undergraduate degree from the University of
California -- Berkley and his medical degree from the University of
California -- San Diego. He completed his medical training at Harvard,
Stanford and Duke and is board certified in both internal medicine and
cardiology. His research has been published in numerous journals and
scientific publications.
Dr. Kent joins the other members of the Board which include Chairman Eli
Wilner (CEO, Eli Wilner and Company); Shalom Z. Hirschman, M.D.; Paul R.
Bishop (Chairman and CEO, H-P Products); James F. Dicke II (President and CEO,
Crown Equipment Corporation); David A. Seligman, Esq. (former Associate
General Counsel, Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc.); Nancy J. Van Sant, Esq. (a Director
with Sacher, Zelman, Van Sant, Paul, Beiley, Hartman & Waldman); and Roy S.
Walzer (CEO Litchfield Partners and Litchfield Partners I).
Product R Clinical Studies
Phase II U.S. Study
ADVR submitted an IND for the topical treatment of genital warts in 2001
and a Phase I safety study was successfully completed in healthy volunteers
with the current liquid formulation. In April 2002, the Company announced
that it had submitted to the FDA the results of the Phase I clinical trial
under this IND and no adverse comments concerning the Phase I results were
received from the FDA. The Company is now beginning the process of recruiting
clinical sites to perform Phase II clinical trials with Product R in patients
with genital warts in the United States. During the course of Phase II, the
efficacy of Product for the topical therapy of genital warts will be
investigated in various doses. Due to limited financial resources, the
Company has not yet secured clinical sites nor has it made any material
progress on the Phase II clinical trials.
Israeli Clinical Studies
In June 2002, ADVR announced that it had received approval from the
Ministry of Health for three clinical studies in Israel. The three trials
include: a Phase I/Phase II clinical trial with injectable Product R in
patients who have failed highly active antiretroviral therapy and require
salvage therapy; a Phase I clinical study for the treatment of body wasting
(cachexia) in patients with solid tumors; and a Phase I clinical trial for
patients with hematopoietic and lymphoid tumors, including acute lymphocytic
leukemia, Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, who also manifest
symptoms of cachexia. The Company recently secured funds to commence these
clinical trials.
ADVR's Product R represents a biopolymer chemistry that possesses novel
immunomodulator activity. This peptide-nucleic acid, which to date has shown
no indication of human toxicity, appears to stimulate the proinflammatory
responses required to combat viral infections such as AIDS and human papilloma
virus and to dampen aberrant autoimmune-type inflammatory responses, such as
occur in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, Product R has been
termed a "switch-type" immunomodulator.
Product R is also being studied for the promise shown in its ability to
mitigate the toxic side effects of other drugs, including those used to treat
HIV infection and chemotherapeutic drugs employed in the treatment of cancers.
Advanced Viral Research Corp., based in Yonkers, New York, is a
biopharmaceutical firm dedicated to improving patients' lives by researching,
developing and bringing to market new and effective therapies for viral and
other diseases.
For further information regarding Advanced Viral Research Corp., please
visit our website at http://www.adviral.com.
Note: This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks associated with clinical development, regulatory approvals, including
application to the FDA, product commercialization and other risks described
from time to time in the SEC reports filed by the Company. Product R is not
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any comparable agencies
of any other countries. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to
secure the financing necessary to continue and/or complete the clinical trials
of Product R or satisfy certain other conditions relating to clinical trials
including obtaining adequate insurance on terms acceptable to the Company. The
Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained
in this announcement whether as a result of new information, future events or
circumstances or otherwise.
Contact:
Charles Mayr
Mayr Communications
877-777-6010
mayrcomm@att.net
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SOURCE Advanced Viral Research Corp.
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Related links:
http://www.adviral.com
CONTACT:
Charles Mayr of Mayr Communications,
+1-877-777-6010, or mayrcomm@att.net
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