RADNOR, Pa., Aug. 31, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PolyMedix, Inc. (OTCBB:PYMX), an emerging biotechnology company focused on developing new therapeutic drugs to treat life-threatening acute cardiovascular disorders and infectious diseases, has appointed Daniel M. Jorgensen as Senior Vice President, Clinical Development and Chief Medical Officer. In this role, Dr. Jorgensen will be responsible for implementing PolyMedix's global clinical strategy.
"We are thrilled to welcome Dan as the latest addition to our management team," said Nicholas Landekic, President and CEO of PolyMedix. "He is an accomplished clinician and drug developer who brings to PolyMedix comprehensive research, development and commercialization experience in infectious disease, and a proven track record of innovation with successful antibiotic compounds. Dr. Jorgensen's expertise with antibiotic clinical trials, combined with his knowledge of regulatory pathways for antibiotics and his experience preparing multiple NDA submissions, will be particularly instrumental for the continued clinical development of our novel defensin-mimetic antibiotic PMX-30063. We are honored to have someone with Dan's capabilities and experiences join our company."
Dr. Jorgensen has had an accomplished career at both large pharmaceutical and earlier stage biotechnology companies. He has held senior leadership positions in the Global Research and Development Division at Pfizer, Inc. Most notably, Dr. Jorgensen led the Zmax single-dose azithromycin clinical development program, the dalbavancin (second generation glycolipopeptide) medical development team, and Pfizer's first vaccine development group. Prior to joining PolyMedix, he served as Vice President, Clinical Research at AMAG Pharmaceuticals, where he oversaw ten global clinical trials across multiple medical areas. During his 25-year career in health care, Dr. Jorgensen has also worked at Aventis Pasteur, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, and as Montana's State Medical Officer. Dr. Jorgensen received his BS degree from Yale, his MD from the University of Wisconsin, his MPH from the University of Washington, and his MBA from Yale. He is board-certified in three medical areas: pediatrics, infectious diseases, and preventive medicine.
About PolyMedix, Inc.
PolyMedix is a publicly traded biotechnology company focused on the development of novel drugs for the treatment of acute cardiovascular disorders and serious infectious diseases. PolyMedix uses a rational drug design approach to create non-peptide, small-molecule drug candidates. PolyMedix's lead heptagonist compound, PMX-60056, is in a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), such as angioplasty and stenting procedures. PMX-60056 is designed to reverse the anticoagulant activity of both heparin and low molecular weight heparins (LMWH). PolyMedix believes that PMX-60056 could potentially be a safer and easier to use anticoagulant reversing agent, with broader activity, than the currently approved therapy for reversing heparin and LMWH. PolyMedix's lead antibiotic compound, PMX-30063, is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial for treatment of Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) caused by Staph, including MRSA. PMX-30063 is a small-molecule antibiotic designed to evade bacterial resistance by mimicking the mechanism of action of human host defense proteins, a mechanism that is distinct from currently approved antibiotic drugs. In addition to its small molecule therapeutics, PolyMedix is developing PolyCide®, antimicrobial materials for use in paints, plastics, and textiles and other materials to create self-sterilizing products and surfaces. For more information, please visit our website at www.polymedix.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause PolyMedix's actual results and experience to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward looking statements. PolyMedix has in some cases identified forward-looking statements by using words such as "anticipates," "believes," "hopes," "estimates," "looks," "expects," "plans," "intends," "goal," "potential," "may," "suggest," and similar expressions. Among other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements are PolyMedix's need for, and the availability of, substantial capital in the future to fund its operations and research and development, and the fact that PolyMedix's compounds may not successfully complete pre-clinical or clinical testing, or be granted regulatory approval to be sold and marketed in the United States or elsewhere. A more complete description of these risk factors is included in PolyMedix's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. PolyMedix undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to any such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law or regulation.