SHANGHAI, China and CUPERTINO, Calif., June 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CBMG) (“CBMG” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm engaged in the development of effective immunotherapies for cancer and stem cell therapies for degenerative diseases, today announced the establishment of an External Advisory Board and the appointment of Michael A. Caligiuri, MD, as Chair of the External Advisory Board. Dr. Caligiuri will bring together experts from diverse disciplines to provide knowledge and insight to help CBMG fulfill its mission and build a network for development opportunities.
“It is an honor to welcome Dr. Caligiuri, internationally recognized for his contribution to cancer research collaboration, to lead CBMG’s newly formed External Advisory Board,” said Terry Belmont, Chairman of the Board for the Company. “Through his work with researchers, patients, advocates and government officials, and his active involvement with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) for over 25 years, he is an ambassador for the cancer research community. Dr. Caligiuri’s focus on leukemia, lymphoma and immunology is a strategic addition to our team for further clinical development of our immuno-oncology platform and translating cancer research to patient care. We look forward to benefitting from the expertise and broad industry network of Dr. Caligiuri."
“I am pleased to be joining and chairing the External Advisory Board of CBMG, a company with high potential, innovative therapeutics, and a seasoned management team. I look forward to contributing to their development of safe and effective immunotherapies for various cancer indications,” said Dr. Caligiuri.
About Michael A. Caligiuri, MD
Dr. Caligiuri is currently the Director of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and Chief Executive Officer of Ohio State’s James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, which are members of Oncology Research Information Exchange Network (ORIEN). He is a holder of the John L. Marakas Nationwide Insurance Enterprise Foundation Chair in Cancer Research. He has been actively involved with the AACR since 1990, was elected to the AACR board of directors (2013-2016), and was elected to serve as its 2017-2018 President. He also is a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and in the Department of Cancer Biology and Medical Genetics in Ohio State’s College of Medicine. Dr. Caligiuri has designed and conducted many clinical studies for leukemia and lymphoma patients and has more than 400 original publications, abstracts and review articles on immunology or leukemia. He also is an elected member of the American Association for Clinical Investigation and the American Association of Physicians, and he is an elected Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He previously served as the president of the Association for American Cancer Institutes (AACI) and president for The Society for Natural Immunity. Previously Dr. Caligiuri served as chair for the Institute of Medicine’s National Cancer Policy Forum and served as a member of the board for the American Society of Hematology
After earning a medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA, Dr. Caligiuri completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital at Harvard Medical School Boston, MA. He then completed his fellowship in Medical Oncology, bone marrow transplantation and immunology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
About Cellular Biomedicine Group
Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBMG) develops proprietary cell therapies for the treatment of cancer and degenerative diseases. We conduct immuno-oncology and stem cell clinical trials in China using products from our integrated GMP laboratory. Our GMP facilities in China, consisting of twelve independent cell production lines, are designed and managed according to both China and U.S. GMP standards. CBMG recently commenced two Phase I human clinical trials in China using CAR-T to treat Refractory Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), a Phase I human clinical trial to treat relapsed/refractory CD19+ B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), as well as an ongoing Phase I trial in China for AlloJoinTM (CBMG’s “Off-the-Shelf” Allogeneic Human Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell) for the treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA). CBMG was recently awarded $2.29 million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to support pre-clinical studies of AlloJoinTM for Knee Osteoarthritis in the United States. The Company also recently announced a strategic partnership with GE Healthcare Life Sciences China to establish a joint technology laboratory to develop control processes for the manufacture of CAR-T and stem cell therapies. To learn more about CBMG, please visit www.cellbiomedgroup.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release relating to plans, strategies, trends, specific activities or investments, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include risks inherent in doing business, trends affecting the global economy, including the devaluation of the RMB by China in August 2015 and other risks detailed from time to time in CBMG’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, quarterly reports on form 10-Q, current reports on form 8-K and annual reports on form 10-K. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as "may," "will," "expects," "plans," "intends," "estimates," "potential," or "continue," or similar terms or the negative of these terms. Although CBMG believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, they cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements will be obtained. CBMG does not have any obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as required by law.