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09/26/2007
Opexa Therapeutics Appoints Dr. Dawn McGuire, Prominent Neurologist, to Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Advisory Board
THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPXA), a company involved in the development and commercialization of cell therapies, has named Dawn McGuire, M.D., to its Clinical Advisory Board (CAB) for multiple sclerosis (MS). Dr. McGuire, a board- certified physician in neurology and psychiatry, is the chief medical officer of Pepgen Corporation, a privately held company based in Alameda, Calif. seeking to develop and commercialize products for autoimmune and viral disorders. Prior to joining Pepgen in 2006, Dr. McGuire served from 2004 to 2006 as chief medical officer of Avigen, a biotechnology company focused on gene therapy in neurological disorders. While serving as vice president of clinical research at Elan Pharmaceuticals, she served as development leader for Tysabri, a drug now marketed for the treatment of patients with relapsing forms of MS.
David B. McWilliams, chief executive officer of Opexa, stated, “Dr. McGuire has an impressive background and we are extremely fortunate to be able to benefit from her experience in the development of treatments for MS, among other neurological diseases. Her understanding of clinical trial design and the regulatory process is exceptional and we look forward to her contributions and insight as we advance our lead product Tovaxin®, an autologous vaccine currently in Phase IIb clinical trials for multiple sclerosis, through development.”
Dr. McGuire has published more than 30 articles and book chapters and has received numerous awards, including in 2005 the People to People Award for a Virtual Clinic for helping physicians treat AIDS in Africa. Among the several academic and service positions she holds, Dr. McGuire is a scientific reviewer and study section member for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
She received a B.A. with high honors from Princeton University and her M.D. from Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons, where she was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. She trained in Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco.
About Opexa Therapeutics
Opexa Therapeutics develops and commercializes cell therapies to treat autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes. The Company is focused on autologous cellular therapy applications of its proprietary T-cell and stem cell therapies. The Company's lead product, Tovaxin®, a T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis is in Phase IIb trials. The Company holds the exclusive worldwide license for adult multipotent stem cells derived from mononuclear cells of peripheral blood. The technology allows large quantities of monocyte derived stem cells to be produced efficiently for use in autologous therapy, thus circumventing the threat of rejection. The Company is in preclinical development for diabetes mellitus. For more information, visit the Opexa Therapeutics website at www.opexatherapeutics.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements," including statements about Opexa Therapeutics' growth and future operating results, discovery and development of products, strategic alliances and intellectual property, as well as other matters that are not historical facts or information. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations and involve risks, uncertainties and other important factors, specifically including those relating to Opexa Therapeutics' ability to obtain additional funding, develop its stem cell technologies, achieve its operational objectives, and obtain patent protection for its discoveries, that may cause Opexa Therapeutics' actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Opexa Therapeutics undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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