SOMERSET, N.J., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The RNA interference- like mechanics of ribonuclease (RNase) therapeutics will be the focus of scientific presentations in a Nov. 29 Webinar hosted by Alfacell Corporation
Moderated by Kuslima Shogen, D.Sc., Alfacell's chairman and chief executive officer, and David Sidransky, M.D., Alfacell's scientific advisory board chairman, the Webinar will feature presentations about the basics of RNases, how RNases cleave RNA to interfere with the cell cycle, and the potential clinical applications for RNase therapeutics. The panel of presenters will be comprised of world-renowned RNase and RNA researchers, including:
-- Susanna Rybak, Ph.D., whose research has centered on the biology of
RNases for more than 25 years. Her laboratory at the National Cancer
Institute developed the groundwork for RNase-based therapeutics for
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and breast cancer. She has presented at
numerous national and international conferences and published her work
widely.
-- Jacob V. Maizel, Jr., Ph.D., whose distinguished career spans nearly
40 years in research on protein and RNA structure. From 1983 to 2005,
he was a laboratory chief at the National Cancer Institute. His
research focused on the use of high performance computing to discover
important structural features of RNA. His work in developing
graphical methods for understanding structure, organization and
evolution of genes led to the U.S. Public Health Service Superior
Award in 1982. He is also a featured speaker at industry seminars and
served on the editorial boards of several medical journals.
-- John J. Costanzi, M.D., is a principal investigator in the ONCONASE(R)
clinical trials program and internationally known in the field of
oncology. He is currently in the practice of oncology and hematology
in Austin, Texas. Formerly, he served as medical director of the
Thompson Cancer Survival Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, and as
professor of medicine and director of the cancer center for the
University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He has received
numerous awards in the field of oncology and has authored over 140
papers, books and chapters in the area of clinical oncology.
The Webinar will begin at 8 a.m. EST on Nov. 29. To participate in the Webinar, click on the link posted on the Upcoming Events section of Alfacell's Web site at www.alfacell.com and enter 154905 for the room number. Please connect to the Webinar several minutes prior to the start time to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be necessary. The live event may also be accessed by dialing (877) 407-9205 (for U.S. callers) and (201) 689-8054 (for international callers). Questions may be asked over the telephone during the live event or e-mailed in advance to andreas.marathis@russopartnersllc.com. To access the replay, the Webinar will be available for 90 days on Alfacell's Web site at www.alfacell.com.
About Alfacell Corporation
Alfacell Corporation is the first company to advance a biopharmaceutical product candidate that works in a manner similar to RNA interference (RNAi) through late-stage clinical trials. The product candidate, ONCONASE(R), is an RNase that overcomes the challenges of targeting RNA for therapeutic purposes while enabling the development of a new class of targeted therapies for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. In addition to an ongoing Phase IIIb study in malignant mesothelioma, Alfacell is conducting a Phase I/II trial of ONCONASE in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other solid tumors. For more information, visit www.alfacell.com.
Safe Harbor
This press release includes statements that may constitute "forward- looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, uncertainties involved in transitioning from concept to product, uncertainties involving the ability of the company to finance research and development activities, potential challenges to or violations of patents, uncertainties regarding the outcome of clinical trials, the company's ability to secure necessary approvals from regulatory agencies, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risks discussed in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.
Media Contact: Investor Contact:
David Schull or Wendy Lau Andreas Marathovouniotis
Russo Partners Russo Partners
212-845-4271 212-845-4253
david.schull@russopartnersllc.com andreas.marathis@russopartnersllc.comwendy.lau@russopartnersllc.comSource: Alfacell Corporation