BEVERLY, MA–(Marketwired – Dec 29, 2014) – Cellceutix Corporation (OTCQB: CTIX) (the “Company”), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies with oncology, dermatology and antimicrobial applications, is pleased to announce that Daniel Jorgenson MD, MPH, MBA will join the Cellceutix team as Chief Medical Officer as of January 1, 2015.
Dr. Jorgensen has had an accomplished career in the biopharmaceutical industry. Notably, he held senior leadership positions at Pfizer, where he led the Zmax (single-dose azithromycin) clinical development program; the dalbavancin (second generation glycolipopeptide) medical development team; and Pfizer’s first vaccine development group (DNA influenza vaccine). In these leadership roles, he successfully ushered several products from early clinical development through full regulatory approval, both in the U.S. and abroad, playing a key role in NDA submissions and FDA Advisory Committee Meetings. Dr. Jorgensen is a CDC-trained epidemiologist (EIS Officer), and is the former Chief Medical Officer for the State of Montana. He received his BS from Yale, his MD from the University of Wisconsin, his MPH from the University of Washington, and his MBA from Yale. He is board-certified in three medical areas: pediatrics, infectious diseases, and preventive medicine.
Dr. Jorgensen has served as a consultant to Cellceutix, where he was instrumental in the clinical advancement of Brilacidin for Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI) and Brilacidin-OM for oral mucositis.
“The Zmax program at Pfizer was an important event in the development of single-dose antibiotics for common infections, laying the groundwork for other antibiotics, such as brilacidin. A single-dose regimen, when used appropriately, makes the most sense. It maximizes patient compliance, which can reduce treatment failure and, in theory, curb the development of resistance. It’s a benefit to both patient and society”, commented Dr. Jorgensen.
Dr. Jorgensen elaborated: “In many ways, brilacidin is the ideal candidate for single-dose therapy. Unlike recently approved short-course antibiotics, brilacidin comes from a novel class of compounds, known as the defensin-mimetics, and has a unique mechanism of action. Resistance, in general, is unlikely to develop. In addition, brilacidin has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-biofilm properties, and therefore, the potential to treat a broad spectrum of infectious diseases and inflammatory conditions. I think we are only scratching the surface with ABSSSI and oral mucositis. As Cellceutix’s Chief Medical Officer, I look forward to playing a larger role in the development of Brilacidin and the other novel defensin-mimetics in the Company’s pipeline”.
“Given all of the positive developments at Cellceutix, including those with Brilacidin, the advanced stage of the Phase 1 clinical trial of Kevetrin for solid tumors, and the upcoming Phase 2 trial of Prurisol for psoriasis, I am truly thrilled to be formally joining the Cellceutix team. It’s a great way to begin what I expect to be a very exciting year for the Company.”