WOODBRIDGE, ON , May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Pivotal Therapeutics Inc. (OTCQX: PVTTF) (CNSX: PVO), a specialty pharmaceutical company with a focus on Omega-3 therapies for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and overall health, is pleased to announce that Dr. George Jackowski , Founder, Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his significant contribution to the Canadian Biotech and Pharmaceutical Industries. Prime Minister Stephen Harper presented the award to Dr. Jackowski on April 30, 2013 in the Prime Minster's Parliament Hill Office.

"Pivotal congratulates Dr. Jackowski on his Diamond Jubilee Medal ," stated Mr. Eugene Bortoluzzi , Chief Executive Officer. "As one of the pioneers of Canadian Biotech over the past thirty years, his contribution has led to a significant improvement in the quality of life and care for cardiac patients. Dr. Jackowski is responsible for saving thousands of lives with the development of the rapid format cardiac blood test, which remains the standard of care for triaging patients presenting to the emergency room with chest pain."

Dr. Jackowski developed the first rapid format cardiac test over twenty years ago, which is currently used worldwide in hospitals and emergency rooms. The Cardiac Panel point of care test, commonly known as the "cardiac enzymes", is used to diagnose individuals presenting with chest pain to the emergency room. Dr. Jackowski's current research focus on the treatment and prevention of cardiac risk factors, resulted in the development of Pivotal's unique Omega-3 formulation, VASCAZEN ^® , for the treatment of an Omega-3 dietary deficiency in cardiovascular patients.

The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal honours significant contributions and achievements by Canadians. The commemorative medal was created by the Government of Canada to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60 ^th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the Throne.

About Dr. George Jackowski

Dr. Jackowski has founded 12 biotechnology companies in his career. Additionally, he has contributed to the creation of another 12 biotechnology companies, and the creation of over 1,000 high tech jobs in the biotech sector. Dr. Jackowski is currently the Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Pivotal Therapeutics Inc.  Dr. Jackowski holds academic positions at the University of Toronto in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and the Department of Surgery and the Florida Atlantic University , the Centre for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. Prior to Pivotal, he was Founder, Chairman, CEO and CSO at SynX Pharma Inc. He has served as the Chairman of Bio Canada Connect, a Board Member of the Ontario BIOCouncil and on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Stroke Network.  His scientific resume includes authoring 44 publications and 61 abstracts, holding over 153 patents filed and issued. Dr. Jackowski received the 1996 MEDEC Award for Medical Achievement for his invention of the Cardiac STATus™ CK-MB/Myoglobin/Troponin Card Test.  He developed and holds the patents on the rapid format immunoassays measuring cardiac enzymes, in particularly Troponin, which aids in the early diagnosis of myocardial infarction and is commercialized worldwide in hospital emergency rooms. Dr. Jackowski has also served on many federal and provincial governmental biotechnology committees and is on the Scientific Board of Advisors for the Innovation Cluster, Trent University . Dr. Jackowski has been intimately involved in the enforcement of patent claims, patent litigation and patent interference proceedings.  Dr. Jackowski, a respected cardiovascular biochemist, trained at the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the University of San Francisco , California and at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Toronto . Dr. Jackowski has over 30 years experience and extensive networks in the CVD and central nervous system (CNS) disease markets, particularly pertaining to the commercialization of diagnostic products.

About VASCAZEN ^®

VASCAZEN ^® is a prescription only Medical Food specifically formulated for the dietary management of an Omega-3 deficiency in cardiovascular patients. VASCAZEN ^® is a > 90% pure Omega-3 with a proprietary 6:1 EPA:DHA fatty acid formulation, protected by a series of both U.S. and foreign patents. VASCAZEN ^® is the second to market prescription only Omega-3 therapy available in the U.S. and is available by prescription nationwide.

About Pivotal Therapeutics Inc.

Pivotal Therapeutics is a publicly traded (OTCQX: PVTTF) (CNSX: PVO) specialty pharmaceutical company with a focus on cardiovascular disease and overall health.  Pivotal Therapeutics' lead product VASCAZEN ^® is a prescription only Medical Food formulated to meet the dietary Omega-3 deficient needs of patients with cardiovascular disease through elevating Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to levels associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular complications. OMAZEN ^TM is a prescription grade Omega-3 providing > 90% total Omega-3 in each capsule with a unique 6:1 ratio of EPA:DHA. OMAZEN ^TM is a patented product available for sale and distribution in Canada .

Disclosure Notice
The information contained in this document is as of May 2, 2013 . This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause Pivotal's actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "will", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "project", "forecast", "intend", "plan", "believe", "project", "potential", and similar expressions with any discussion of future operating or financial performance or events. In particular, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the following: Pivotal's inability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms; growth in costs and expenses; inability to compete with others who provide comparable products; risk that the Company's products will not gain widespread market acceptance; risks relating to the Company's ability to maintain its CSNX listing. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information or future events or developments. CNSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this information.

SOURCE Pivotal Therapeutics Inc.