RADNOR, Pa., Oct. 11, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PolyMedix, Inc. (OTCBB:PYMX), a biotechnology company focused on developing new therapeutic drugs to treat life-threatening infectious diseases and acute cardiovascular disorders, announced that Stephen T. Sonis, DMD, DMSc has joined its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Dr. Sonis is a world-renowned expert in the clinical treatment and research of cancer related mucosal toxicities. The PolyMedix SAB is comprised of distinguished scientists who actively collaborate with PolyMedix to advance its portfolio of therapeutic drug candidates and PolyCide® antimicrobial biomaterials.
"We are deeply honored to have Dr. Sonis join our Scientific Advisory Board," said Nicholas Landekic, President and Chief Executive Office of PolyMedix. "His broad knowledge and expertise in oral medicine and cancer related mucositis, coupled with his impressive experiences in designing and conducting clinical trials in this area, will be instrumental to us as we seek to expand the clinical applications of our novel defensin-mimetic antibiotic, PMX-30063."
Dr. Sonis currently serves as Clinical Professor of Oral Medicine at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Senior Surgeon and Chief, Divisions of Oral Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Chief Scientific Officer, Biomodels, LLC. Dr. Sonis has extensive experience in teaching and practicing oral medicine and oral oncology. Throughout his career, his research has focused on the biology and clinical significance of cancer regimen-related mucosal toxicities. The results of his studies have provided treatment targets for biological and pharmaceutical development. Dr. Sonis and his collaborators have identified specific pathways that are critical in toxicity development and have used these to form the basis for models of gene-based risk prediction. Dr. Sonis has published and lectured extensively on the clinical, biological, and health economic aspects of cancer and complications associated with its treatment. He serves on a number of editorial boards, and is a founding member of the International Society of Oral Oncology and the International Academy of Oral Oncology. Dr. Sonis received his DMD from Tufts University, his DMSc from Harvard University and was a Knox Fellow at Oxford University.
Dr. Sonis has consulted for PolyMedix to evaluate PMX-30063 formulated as an oral rinse for the treatment of oral mucositis, a common and debilitating inflammation and ulceration that can occur in the mouth as a side effect of cancer chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Oral mucositis can be particularly common in certain cancers such as head and neck. It has been estimated that 450,000 cancer patients annually in the U.S. may experience oral mucositis, with the potential costs of care running into tens of thousands of dollars. With Biomodels, PolyMedix has conducted several animal studies with PMX-30063 and other defensin-mimetic compounds which have shown encouraging activity when administered topically as an oral rinse. Earlier this year at a prestigious scientific meeting, PolyMedix presented preclinical data showing a 90-95% reduction in the severity of oral mucositis in an animal model with PMX-30063.
About PolyMedix, Inc.
PolyMedix is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class, small-molecule drugs for the treatment of serious acute care conditions. PolyMedix has a pipeline of novel cardiovascular and infectious disease product candidates, all of which were internally developed using proprietary computational drug design technologies. The lead compound in PolyMedix's cardiovascular program is PMX-60056, which is designed to modulate coagulation and mitigate bleeding in certain interventional cardiology procedures, such as Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and emergency situations. PMX-60056 has met safety and efficacy endpoints in four clinical trials conducted to date demonstrating clinical proof of concept. PMX-60056 is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients undergoing PCI. The lead compound in PolyMedix's infectious disease program is PMX-30063, a new class of antibiotic – a defensin-mimetic – designed to mimic first-line human innate immunity, or host defense proteins. This innovative approach utilizes the same mechanism of action that evolved in nature which higher life forms use to protect themselves from bacteria. Having the same mechanism of action as the host defense proteins, PMX-30063 is designed to directly address one of the most significant issues in infectious disease today – drug resistance, which is believed to be much less likely to develop with PMX-30063. PMX-30063 is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial to treat patients with Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) caused by Staph aureus bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staph aureus (MRSA). PolyMedix is also leveraging its antimicrobial expertise with the PolyCides®, antimicrobial additives to materials, such as cosmetics, plastics and textiles, to create self-sterilizing products and surfaces. For more information, please visit our website at www.polymedix.com.
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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.