Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Tue, January 27, 2009
Aethlon Medical Appoints Dr. Prashant Mehta as Director of Business Development
SAN DIEGO--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTCBB:AEMD) announced today that it has appointed Prashant Mehta, Ph.D. to the newly created Director of Business Development position. Dr. Mehta has extensive biotechnology and financial industry experience, and since 2006 has been Managing Director of Gemini Strategies LLC, a manager of small-cap institutional funds with investments in the life science and medical device industry.
"I am very excited to join the Aethlon team and look forward to developing and delivering strategic initiatives that unwrap the immense potential of the Hemopurifier® to benefit patients and our investors," stated Dr. Mehta.
Dr. Mehta was previously an investment banker at Granite Financial Group, Inc., and a Principal at TSG Partners, where he developed corporate strategies for life science, diagnostic, biotechnology and medical device companies. Dr. Mehta has also served as Director of Business Development and Research at Imgenex Corp., was a member of the Bioinformatics Project Management group at Diversa Corp., and a Scientist at Nanogen, Inc. and the Department of Neuropharmacology at The Scripps Institute. Dr. Mehta completed his Postdoctoral Fellowship at Duke University focusing on molecular biology of DNA replication.
"Prashant's unique spectrum of expertise allows him to confidently navigate the science, business, and financial industry," stated Jim Joyce, Chairman and CEO of Aethlon Medical. "His presence will further increase the opportunities we have to leverage our Hemopurifier® platform technology to establish business relationships in the United States and abroad," concluded Joyce.
Dr. Mehta holds numerous degrees including a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India; an M.Sc. in Microbiology from M.S. University of Baroda in Baroda, India; and a B.Sc. in Microbiology from Bombay University in Bombay, India.
About Aethlon Medical
Aethlon Medical is the developer of the Hemopurifier®, a first-in-class medical device designed to treat infectious disease. The Hemopurifier® provides real-time therapeutic filtration of infectious viruses and immunosuppressive particles, and is positioned to address the treatment of drug and vaccine resistant viruses. Additionally, the device holds promise in cancer care, as research studies have verified the Hemopurifier® is able to capture immunosuppressive particles secreted by tumors. The Hemopurifier® is designed to act both as a stand-alone therapeutic, and as an adjunct treatment to enhance clinical benefit of established therapies. Pre-clinical studies conducted by researchers representing leading government and non-government health organizations both in the United States and abroad have documented the effectiveness of the Hemopurifier® in capturing from circulation the viruses that constitute pandemic threats, including H5N1 Avian Influenza (bird flu), and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) from circulation. The company is conducting studies to support the use of the Hemopurifier® as a broad-spectrum treatment countermeasure against bioterror threats, including Smallpox, and Ebola, Marburg, and Lassa hemorrhagic fever. Regulatory and commercialization initiatives in the United States have been focused on bioterror threats, while international initiatives are directed toward naturally evolving pandemic threats, and chronic infectious disease conditions including the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis-C (HCV). Aethlon has demonstrated safety of the Hemopurifier® in a 24-treatment human study at the Apollo Hospital in Delhi, India, and in an 18-treatment study at the Fortis Hospital, also located in Delhi. The company has also submitted an investigational device exemption (IDE) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to advance the Hemopurifier® as a broad-spectrum treatment countermeasure against category "A" bioterror threats. Additional information regarding Aethlon Medical and its Hemopurifier® technology is available online at [ www.aethlonmedical.com ].
Certain of the statements herein may be forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Aethlon Medical, Inc. to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.Such potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the Company's ability to raise capital when needed, the Company's ability to complete the development of its planned products, the ability of the Company to obtain FDA and other regulatory approvals permitting the sale of its products, the Company's ability to manufacture its products and provide its services, the impact of government regulations, patent protection on the Company's proprietary technology, product liability exposure, uncertainty of market acceptance, competition, technological change, and other risk factors. In such instances, actual results could differ materially as a result of a variety of factors, including the risks associated with the effect of changing economic conditions and other risk factors detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
