DelMar Pharmaceuticals Appoints Biopharmaceutical Industry Veteran, Erich Mohr, Ph.D., R.Psych., to the Board of Directors
VANCOUVER, British Columbia and MENLO PARK, Calif., April 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQX: DMPI) ("DelMar" and the "Company"), today announced that it has appointed biopharmaceutical industry veteran, Erich Mohr, Ph.D., R.Psych., to its Board of Directors as an independent director.
Dr. Mohr has close to two decades of biotechnology experience in executive leadership roles as co-founder, chief scientific officer, chief executive officer and board member, including serving as the chairman of a leading Canadian contract research organization. Over the course of his prestigious career, Dr. Mohr has overseen and participated in dozens of clinical development programs and regulatory advisory panels.
"We are delighted to have Dr. Mohr join the board," stated Jeffrey Bacha, DelMar's president and CEO. "His extensive, successful background in the research and development of innovative pharmaceutical treatment options and orphan drugs is a perfect fit for DelMar. Dr. Mohr's guidance will be invaluable as we advance our investigational drug, VAL-083, this year into registration studies for refractory glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and prepare to initiate our Phase 1/2 trials in non-small cell lung cancer."
Dr. Mohr is currently Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of MedGenesis Therapeutix Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company committed to developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics to provide life-enhancing treatments to patients with serious neurologic diseases. Formerly, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CroMedica Global Inc., which merged with PRA International in 2002 to form one of the major contract research organizations in the world. In addition to his industry experience, Dr. Mohr has over 30 years of experience in experimental therapeutics of CNS disorders including eight years at the University of Ottawa, ultimately as a Professor of Medicine (Neurology) and Psychology.
"I am very pleased to join the DelMar board at such an exciting time as the company prepares for the highly anticipated start of the registration program for GBM. VAL-083 in GBM is very promising and the management team's commitment to developing a viable treatment option is more than commendable," commented Dr. Mohr. "The strategic expansion into non-small cell lung cancer has the potential to showcase the broad utility of VAL-083 and is a great step forward in building a robust pipeline and unlocking value for shareholders."
Dr. Mohr is the author of over 150 publications, books, book chapters and abstracts. Currently, he is the Chair of the Board of Governors of the University of Victoria, British Columbia, having previously served as a member and as Vice Chair. Dr. Mohr is a member of the American Society for Experimental Neurotherapeutics (ASENT), the Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum, the International Psychogeriatric Association, the Canadian Psychological Association, the Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology, the Movement Disorders Society, the American Academy of Neurology, and the International Neuropsychological Society. He earned his Masters of Science and Ph.D. in Neuropsychology at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, and his Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and dual Bachelors of Science in Chemistry and Biology from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.
About VAL-083
VAL-083 is a "first-in-class", small-molecule chemotherapeutic. In more than 40 Phase 1 and 2 clinical studies sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, VAL-083 demonstrated safety and efficacy in treating a number of cancers including lung, brain, cervical, ovarian tumors and leukemia. VAL-083 is approved in China for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia and lung cancer and has received orphan drug designation in Europe and the U.S. for the treatment of gliomas. As a potential treatment for glioblastoma, VAL-083's mechanism of action appears to be unaffected by the expression of MGMT, a DNA repair enzyme that causes chemotherapy resistance to front-line treatment with Temodar® (temozolomide). DelMar is currently studying VAL-083 in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for patients with refractory glioblastoma multiforme.
About DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded to develop and commercialize proven cancer therapies in new orphan drug indications where patients are failing or have become intolerable to modern targeted or biologic treatments. The Company's lead drug in development, VAL-083, is currently undergoing clinical trials in the U.S. as a potential treatment for refractory glioblastoma multiforme. VAL-083 has been extensively studied by U.S. National Cancer Institute, and is currently approved for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and lung cancer in China. Published pre-clinical and clinical data suggest that VAL-083 may be active against a range of tumor types via a novel mechanism of action that could provide improved treatment options for patients.
For further information, please visit www.delmarpharma.com; or contact Jeffrey A. Bacha, President & CEO (604) 629-5989 or Amato & Partners LLC, Investor Relations at admin@amatoandpartners.com. Follow us on Twitter @DelMarPharma or on Facebook Facebook.com/delmarpharma.
Safe Harbor Statement
Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations, but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's ability to develop, market and sell products based on its technology; the expected benefits and efficacy of the Company's products and technology; the availability of substantial additional funding for the Company to continue its operations and to conduct research and development, clinical studies and future product commercialization; and, the Company's business, research, product development, regulatory approval, marketing and distribution plans and strategies. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in our filings with the SEC, including, our current reports on Form 8-K.
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SOURCE DelMar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Released April 1, 2015