SILVER SPRING, Md., March 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nuvilex, Inc. (OTCQB:NVLX), an international biotechnology company providing cell and gene therapy solutions for the treatment of deadly diseases, announced today that its subsidiary, Medical Marijuana Sciences, Inc., has appointed Garret L. Yount, Ph.D. to its Scientific Advisory Board.
Dr. Garret Yount is a Research Scientist at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute in San Francisco. During his tenure, Dr. Yount and his colleagues have published several research articles demonstrating the anti-cancer activity of cannabinoids (constituents of marijuana), including the first presenting evidence that cannabinoids can kill human brain tumor cells at concentrations that do not harm normal cells; this article was published in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology in 2005 (see Volume 74, pages 31-40). Dr. Yount was also co-author of a report that dealt with the effectiveness of using the cannabinoids cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) against glioblastoma (brain cancer) cells. This report can be viewed by clicking here.
Dr. Yount earned his Ph.D. in molecular neurobiology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and completed his postdoctoral training at the Brain Tumor Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco. In addition to his cannabinoid-based research, Dr. Yount has more than 20 years of experience studying the behavior of human cancer cells and thus is uniquely positioned to help guide Medical Marijuana Science's efforts to develop treatments that employ constituents of Cannabis together with the proprietary Cell-In-a-Box™ cellulose-based live-cell encapsulation technology. The worldwide exclusive rights to use the Cell-in-a-Box™ technology for the development of treatments for any and all forms of cancer were obtained by Nuvilex from SG Austria Pte. Ltd. in 2013.
Dr. Yount's preclinical expertise will interact closely with that of Dr. Richard M. Hyslop, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Northern Colorado and a recent appointee to Medical Marijuana Sciences' Scientific Advisory Board. As Dr. Hyslop performs the early studies to develop Cell-in-a-Box™/cannabinoid combinations, Dr. Yount will have the expertise to test these combinations in preclinical model systems.
Dr. Mark L. Rabe, Chairman of Medical Marijuana Sciences' Scientific Advisory Board commented, "We are extremely pleased that Dr. Yount has agreed to join our Scientific Advisory Board. His experience in preclinical studies of the anticancer properties of cannabinoids from marijuana and his excellent work with glioblastoma cells, in particular, will prove to be a major asset for our work at Medical Marijuana Sciences. We are building an excellent team, and Dr. Yount will play a major role in our efforts to develop treatments combining the Cell-in-a-Box live-cell encapsulation technology with cannabinoids for two of the most difficult-to-treat forms of cancer - namely brain and pancreatic cancers."
About Nuvilex:
Nuvilex is a biotechnology company focused on developing and preparing to commercialize treatments for cancer and diabetes based upon a proprietary cellulose-based live-cell encapsulation technology, called Cell-in-a-Box™. This unique technology will be used as a platform upon which treatments for several types of cancer, including advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer, and diabetes are being built. The Company's treatment for pancreatic cancer involves the use of the widely used anticancer prodrug, ifosfamide, together with encapsulated live cells that convert ifosfamide into its active or "cancer-killing" form. Nuvilex's subsidiary, Medical Marijuana Sciences, Inc., is dedicated to the development of cancer treatments based upon chemical constituents of marijuana known as cannabinoids. To do so, it will examine ways to exploit the benefits of Cell-in-a-Box™ technology in optimizing the anticancer effectiveness of cannabinoids against cancers while minimizing or outright eliminating the debilitating side effects usually associated with cancer treatments. This provides Medical Marijuana Sciences a unique opportunity to develop "green" approaches to fighting deadly cancers, such as those of the pancreas, brain, breast and prostate, that affect hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide every year.
Safe Harbor:
This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding Nuvilex and its future events and results that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan" and similar expressions, as they relate to Nuvilex or its management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Important factors, many of which are beyond the control of Nuvilex, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements include Nuvilex's ability to continue as a going concern, delays in clinical trials or flaws or defects regarding its products, changes in relevant legislation or regulatory requirements, uncertainty of protection of Nuvilex's intellectual property and Nuvilex's continued ability to raise capital. Nuvilex does not assume any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.
More information about Nuvilex and Medical Marijuana Sciences can be found at www.nuvilex.com and www.medicalmarijuanasciences.com. It can also be obtained by contacting Investor Relations.