Amgen Co-founder Rubinfeld To Advise Generex
August 7, 2009 (FinancialWire) — Generex Biotechnology Corp. (NASDAQ: GNBT) (www.generex.com), the leader in drug delivery for metabolic diseases through the inner lining of the mouth, announced that Dr. Joseph Rubinfeld, one of the original founders of Amgen, Inc., has agreed to act as the company’s chief scientific advisor. Dr. Rubinfeld will assist the company in developing and implementing product commercialization roadmaps for its proprietary drug delivery platform and its synthetic vaccine platform technology programs.
In addition to his efforts in founding Amgen, Dr. Rubinfeld has a fifty year history in pharmaceutical and consumer product development. His accomplishments include the development of the multi-billion dollar antibiotic Amoxicillin as well as the invention and development of the first synthetic biodegradable detergent. In 1984 Dr. Rubinfeld won the prestigious Common Wealth Award for Science and Invention. This award was a testament to his proclivity for achieving major inventions, represented by the numerous patents obtained during his distinguished career.
Dr. Rubinfeld began his career as a research scientist with several pharmaceutical and consumer product companies including Schering Plough, Colgate Palmolive and Upjohn. He served for twelve years at Bristol Myers, where in addition to developing Amoxicillin and Cefadroxil, he was instrumental in licensing their original anti-cancer line of products, including Mitomycin, Etoposide, and Bleomycin. After co-founding Amgen in 1980 and serving as its Chief of Operations, Dr. Rubinfeld also co-founded the IBA (Industrial biotechnology Association) in 1981, which was the precursor to TODAY’s BIO (biotechnology Industry Organization). He has also served as an advisor or board member to a number of biotech companies including AVI BioPharma, Quark Pharmaceuticals, and Cytrx Corp.. In 1991 he founded Supergen, a drug development company based in Dublin, California, where he served as chairman, CEO and president until 2003 and as a member of the board of directors until 2005. During that time he oversaw the company’s initial public offering and its rise to a multi-billion dollar market capitalization, fueled by the commercialization of four anti-cancer drugs, including Pentostatin and Decitabine, and the issuance of over 20 drug patents in his name.
Generex management believes his wealth of experience in early stage biotechnology development and his exceptional track record in large pharmaceutical companies will be instrumental for Generex as it transitions to commercialization and rapid growth.
Commenting on his decision to join Generex, Dr Rubinfeld stated, “Generex is at a very pivotal position in its history, as the company transitions from a pure research and development organization to the commercialization of its drug delivery platform and significant sales growth. After a substantial review of the company’s intellectual property, I am convinced that what is unique to Generex is that its delivery method can be applied to a host of drugs already on the market. Its Generex Oral-lyn(tm) diabetes product just scratches the surface of the potential benefits for patients, by providing a simple pain-free alternative to injectable drugs or other difficult drug delivery systems. Partnership opportunities for improved delivery of such drugs could significantly benefit patients and also extend the longevity of intellectual property protection, which is critical for pharmaceutical company revenues.” Dr. Rubinfeld went on to state, “I am equally intrigued with the synthetic vaccine technologies in development at the Antigen Express subsidiary. The cancer vaccines are showing promising results in initial human testing. Also, with the global concerns of the current flu pandemic, I believe there will also be partnering opportunities. The technology, which can reduce the time to get new vaccines available to the public, is a very attractive proposition. I am excited to assist in all of these areas. I feel rejuvenated to apply my knowledge to a company with such a vast potential.”
Anna Gluskin, the company’s president & chief executive officer, stated, “We are very pleased to add Dr. Rubinfeld to the Generex team. His belief in our technologies and wealth of experience makes us more confident than ever that Generex will achieve its goals of becoming a profitable, multifaceted drug company of the future.”
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