TEL AVIV, Israel and WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., July 18, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orgenesis Inc. (OTCBB: ORGS ) ("Orgenesis" or the "Company"), a development-stage company with a novel therapeutic technology dedicated to converting a patient's own liver cells into functioning insulin-producing cells as a treatment for diabetes, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. David Sidransky, Professor and Director of the Head and Neck Cancer Research Division at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Department of Otolaryngology, to its Board of Directors.
Dr. Sidransky is a renowned oncologist and research scientist named and profiled by TIME magazine in 2001 as one of the top physicians and scientists in America, recognized for his work with early detection of cancer. Since 1994, Dr. Sidransky has been the Director of the Head and Neck Cancer Research Division at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Department of Otolaryngology and Professor of Oncology, Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Urology, Genetics, and Pathology at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Sidransky is one of the most highly cited researchers in clinical and medical journals in the world in the field of oncology during the past decade, with over 460 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Sidransky is a founder of a number of biotechnology companies and holds numerous biotechnology patents.
Dr. Sidransky has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, and was, until the merger with Eli Lilly, a director of ImClone Systems, Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing oncology care. He is serving or has served on the scientific advisory boards of MedImmune, Roche, Amgen and Veridex, LLC (a Johnson & Johnson diagnostic company), among others, and is currently on the board of KV Pharmaceutical, Rosetta Genomics and Champions Oncology, Inc. Dr. Sidransky served as Director (2005-2008) of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). He was the chairperson of AACR International Conferences (2006 and 2007) on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development: Maximizing Opportunities for Personalized Treatment. Dr. Sidransky is the recipient of a number of awards and honors, including the 1997 Sarstedt International Prize from the German Society of Clinical Chemistry, the 1998 Alton Ochsner Award Relating Smoking and Health by the American College of Chest Physicians, and the 2004 Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Award from the American Association of Cancer Research.
"We are truly honored to have a scientist and business leader of Dr. Sidransky's stature join our team," said Orgenesis Chairperson, Vered Caplan. "David brings a tremendous wealth of academic, executive management and corporate government experience to Orgenesis. His broad network of industry and government contacts, combined with his special knowledge of genomics and cell-based therapies, will be particularly invaluable to our success as we work to answer the longstanding call for a solution to restore normal insulin production in people with diabetes."
About Orgenesis Inc.
Orgenesis (OTCBB: ORGS ) is a development stage company with a novel therapeutic technology that employs a molecular and cellular approach directed at converting a patient's own liver cells into functional insulin producing cells, as a treatment for diabetes. The Company believes that converting the diabetic patient's own tissue into insulin-producing cells overcomes the problem of donor shortage and removes the risk of transplant rejection. If successful, this could mean the end of diabetes, as we now know it. For more information visit: www.orgenesis.com .
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" which are not purely historical. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the expectations of management that our regeneration technology can be developed as therapeutic treatment for diabetes. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects and development stage companies, which include, without limitation, the potential failure of development candidates to advance through preclinical studies or demonstrate safety and efficacy in clinical testing and the ability to pass clinical trials so as to move on to the next phase, our ability to retain key employees and our ability to finance development or satisfy the rigorous regulatory requirements for new medical procedures. Competitors may develop better or cheaper alternatives to our products. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Investors should refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
On Behalf of the Board
Orgenesis Inc.
Vered Caplan, Chairperson
Investor Contact: Stephen Kilmer Kilmer Lucas Inc. T: 212-618-6347 Media Contact: Leonard Zehr Kilmer Lucas Inc. T: (416) 833-9317
