BEVERLY, MA–(Marketwired – March 08, 2016) - Cellceutix Corporation (OTC: CTIX) (the “Company”), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies with oncology, dermatology, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic applications, is pleased to announce that Dr. Stephen T. Sonis, D.M.D., D.M.Sc., has joined the Cellceutix Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Sonis is one of the world’s foremost experts in the research and clinical treatment of cancer-related oral mucosal toxicities. He currently holds appointments at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine as Professor of Oral Medicine (part-time), and is a Senior Surgeon at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Dr. Sonis also is a Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Biomodels, LLC, a preclinical contract research organization that evaluates novel drugs for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Widely respected by his professional peers, he is the author of over 250 original publications, reviews and chapters, 11 books, and 5 patents, 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 is a graduate of Tufts University and Harvard University and completed his post-doctoral education at Oxford University.
“Cellceutix is pleased to welcome Dr. Sonis to our team,” said Leo Ehrlich, Cellceutix Chief Executive Officer. “Dr. Sonis is arguably the world’s foremost expert on cancer-related oral mucositis. Of equal importance, he is no stranger to Brilacidin, having helped research its oral rinse formulation and application prior to Cellceutix’s acquisition of the compound in 2013. His expertise in clinical study design and execution will be invaluable as Brilacidin-Oral Mucositis (OM) continues to be evaluated in an ongoing Phase 2 FDA trial.”
Brilacidin-OM, which has been granted Fast Track status by the FDA, is an oral rinse formulation of the Company’s lead defensin-mimetic, Brilacidin, for the prevention of oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer. Oral mucositis is a common and often debilitating inflammation and ulceration that occurs in the mouth as a side-effect of certain cancer treatments, afflicting approximately 450,000 patients each year in the United States. Its occurrence can severely affect the course and outcome of cancer therapy, not to mention has painful and debilitating effects on patients. There are no FDA-approved drugs for the prevention of oral mucositis in patients being treated for head and neck cancer.
“I’m very pleased to be able to continue my involvement in the development of Brilacidin as a member of Cellceutix’s Scientific Advisory Board” remarked Dr. Sonis. “The need for an effective intervention for mucositis is pressing and, based on our pre-clinical testing of the drug, we’re hopeful that Brilacidin will be successful in dealing with this significant unmet need.”
More information about the Phase 2 Trial of Brilacidin for Oral Mucositis:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02324335?term=cellceutix&rank=2