Senesco Appoints Harlan W. Waksal, M.D., to Board of Directors
October 29 2008 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Co-founder of and Former Senior Executive at ImClone Brings
Substantial Oncology Drug Development Expertise NEW BRUNSWICK,
N.J., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Senesco Technologies, Inc.
("Senesco" or the "Company") (NYSE Alternext US: SNT) announced
today the appointment of Harlan W. Waksal, M.D., 55 to its board of
directors. Senesco's board of directors now consists of nine
members, seven of whom are independent. (Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081029/NY42202 ) Dr. Waksal
is the President and Sole Proprietor of Waksal Consulting L.L.C.,
which was founded in 2003 and provides strategic business and
clinical development counsel to biotechnology companies. Dr. Waksal
co-founded the biotechnology company, ImClone Systems Incorporated,
in 1984. He served at ImClone in a variety of senior roles over a
16 year period, beginning in 1987. During his tenures as Chief
Operating Officer, from 1987 through 2002, and Chief Executive
Officer, from 2002 until 2003, Dr. Waksal was instrumental in
moving forward the clinical development program for ERBITUX(R)
(cetuximab), an oncology drug now approved in colorectal and head
& neck cancers. ERBITUX (cetuximab) is a monoclonal antibody
(IgG1 Mab) designed to inhibit the function of a molecular
structure expressed on the surface of normal and tumor cells,
called the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). "Senesco is
very pleased to have Dr. Waksal join our Board," said Rudolf
Stalder, Chairman of Senesco's Board. "His significant contribution
to the clinical development of Erbitux, and vast knowledge of the
oncology space, will provide critical industry insight to Senesco."
"We look forward to working with Dr. Waksal as we move toward our
goal of filing an IND for multiple myeloma," said Bruce Galton,
President & Chief Executive Officer of Senesco. "We believe his
extensive and distinguished work in the biotechnology industry will
be a great resource in our oncology drug development efforts." Dr.
Waksal is the author of 50 published scientific papers, many in the
area of oncology. He currently serves on a number of non-corporate
boards, including the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute
of Science in New York, NY, Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH and the
Montclair Art Museum in Montclair, NJ. Dr. Waksal also serves on
the Technology Advisory Board for the New Jersey Edison Innovation
Fund. He earned his B.A. in biology from Oberlin College in 1975,
and received his M.D. from Tufts University School of Medicine,
Boston, MA. About Senesco Technologies, Inc. Senesco Technologies,
Inc. is a U.S. biotechnology company, headquartered in New
Brunswick, NJ. Senesco has initiated preclinical research to
trigger or delay cell death in mammals (apoptosis) to determine if
the technology is applicable in human medicine. Accelerating
apoptosis may have applications to development of cancer
treatments. Delaying apoptosis may have applications to certain
diseases inflammatory and ischemic diseases. Senesco takes its name
from the scientific term for the aging of plant cells: senescence.
Delaying cell breakdown in plants extends freshness after
harvesting, while increasing crop yields, plant size and resistance
to environmental stress. The Company believes that its technology
can be used to develop superior strains of crops without any
modification other than delaying natural plant senescence. Senesco
has partnered with leading-edge companies engaged in agricultural
biotechnology and earns research and development fees for applying
its gene-regulating platform technology to enhance its partners'
products. Certain statements included in this press release are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could
differ materially from such statements expressed or implied herein
as a result of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:
the development of the Company's gene technology; the approval of
the Company's patent applications; the successful implementation of
the Company's research and development programs and joint ventures;
the success of the Company's license agreements; the acceptance by
the market of the Company's products; success of the Company's
preliminary studies and preclinical research; competition and the
timing of projects and trends in future operating performance, our
ability to maintain our continued listing standards for the next 12
months, as well as other factors expressed from time to time in the
Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"). As a result, this press release should be
read in conjunction with the Company's periodic filings with the
SEC. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made only
as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to
reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Company Contacts:
Investor Relations Contact: Senesco Technologies, Inc. FD Bruce
Galton Brian Ritchie Chief Executive Officer () () (212) 850-5600
(732) 296-8400 http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081029/NY42202
DATASOURCE: Senesco Technologies, Inc. CONTACT: Bruce Galton, Chief
Executive Officer of Senesco Technologies, Inc., +1-732-296-8400, ;
or Investor Relations, Brian Ritchie of FD, +1-212-850-5600, Web
Site: http://www.senesco.com/
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