NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pluristem Life Systems, Inc.
(OTCBB:
PLRS
-
News),
a cell therapy company dedicated to the
commercialization of stem cell products, today announced
that it has engaged William R. Prather, RPh, M. D., an
experienced business executive and seasoned analyst of
the biotechnology industry, to serve as the Company's
Senior VP of Corporate Development.
Dr. Prather has over
20 years of experience analyzing and being involved in a
variety of investment banking activities for healthcare
companies. Having served as a Board Member and Senior
Vice President, Finance and Business Development for
Boston Biomedica, Inc., a public medical diagnostics
company, Dr. Prather previously held Senior Healthcare
analytical positions at Oscar Gruss and Sons, Cruttenden
Roth, Inc., Bathgate Capital Partners LLC, and Hanifen
Imhoff, Inc. He sat on the boards of Boston Biomedica
Inc.; PriMed, a private medical device company; MdBio, a
Maryland healthcare venture firm; and the Advisory Board
of MDS Capital Management, a Canadian venture firm.
Additionally, Dr. Prather is a co-founder of Panacos
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (Nasdaq:PANC
- News)
a public pharmaceutical company, and founder of
OsteoSeek, Inc. a private drug delivery company. Having
received a BS in Pharmacy and medical degree from the
University of Missouri, he completed a clinical
fellowship at Harvard Medical School.
Zami Aberman, Pluristem CEO states, "We are delighted
that Dr. Prather has joined our staff and proud to have
a team member onboard with such vast business experience
and extensive industry connections. I am most certain
that he can make an important contribution towards
enhancing our North American activities developing
strategies for our Company as we move forward into the
critical clinical trial arena."
Dr. Prather comments, "I believe Pluristem's
proprietary, innovative PLacenta eXpanded Mesenchymal
cell (PLX) technology is on the cutting edge of stem
cell therapy. I believe it offers several advantages
over other stem cell technologies, is easy to collect,
and does not present the ethical concerns that have been
raised with embryonic stem cells. In all likelihood, the
PLX technology is immunologically privileged and offers
a significant advantage to patients facing immune
reactions to cell therapy such as autoimmune disorders.
I am very proud to be part of Pluristem."
About Pluristem
Pluristem Life Systems, Inc. is life sciences driven
company that is developing and commercializing stem cell
expansion technology products for the potential
treatment of a variety of disorders. The Company is
discovering and developing cell-based therapeutics that
utilizes adult stem cells expanded in a proprietary
bioreactor mimicking different naturally occurring
physiological environments. Pluristem expects its first
products to be cell grafts that will provide an
efficient and superior alternative to the standard
procedure of bone marrow transplantation. Its first
adult stem cell product is intended to target a critical
global shortfall of matched tissue for bone marrow
transplantation since bone marrow transplantation is
often the only cure for patients suffering from
leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and many other hematological
diseases. The Company has made a strategic decision to
work only with adult stem cells since the practical use
of embryonic stem cells is severely restricted by
various religious, ethical and legal considerations.
www.pluristem.com/default.asp
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements, which may
constitute "forward-looking statements" regarding our
intent, belief or current expectations. Forward-looking
statements in this release include statements: that Dr.
Prather will develop strategies for enhancing our North
American activities; that PLX technology is
immunologically privileged and offers a significant
advantage to patients facing immune reactions to cell
therapy such as autoimmune disorders, that our company
have developed a solution that could be used to replace
the traditional bone marrow transplant search and match
process; that we expect our first products to be cell
grafts that will provide an efficient and superior
alternative to the standard procedure of bone marrow
transplantation; and our first adult stem cell product
targets a critical global shortfall of matched tissue
for bone marrow transplantation. Factors which may
significantly change or prevent our forward looking
statements from fruition include: that our patents are
not sufficient to protect essential aspects of our
technology; that competitors may invent better
technology; that our products may not work as well as
hoped or worse, that our products may harm recipients;
and that we may not be able raise funds for development
or working capital when we require it. As well, our
products may never develop into useful products and even
if they do, they may not be approved for sale to the
public. For further risk factors see the Company's
latest 10-KSB filed with the SEC.