Genesis Biopharma Adds Cell Therapy Bioprocess Engineering, Clinical Trial Design, Biostatistics, Regulatory Affairs and FDA Compliance Expertise

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesis Biopharma, Inc. (OTCBB: GNBP), a biotechnology company developing targeted cancer immunotherapies, today announced the engagement of four senior industry consultants.

"These senior consultants will form a dynamic team to help drive the clinical and commercial progress of Contego™, our autologous cell therapy for the treatment of Stage IV metastatic melanoma," said Anthony Cataldo, president and chief executive officer of Genesis Biopharma.  "By utilizing the services of leading consultants, we are able to secure the requisite specialty talent to support our business plan in a cost-effective manner."

The consultants who will provide key services in cell therapy bioprocess engineering, clinical trial design, biostatistics, regulatory affairs and FDA compliance pursuant to agreements entered into recently, are as follows:

Karin M. Abitorabi is an independent cell therapy bioprocess engineering consultant.  Ms. Abitorabi most recently was Senior Scientist, Process Development at Progenitor Cell Therapy, a client services-based cell therapy support company. She previously served as an R&D scientist with work ranging from discovery research to developing therapeutic drugs at a number of top-tier pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies including Schering Plough, Cell Genesys and Systemix (a Novartis company).  She holds an M.S. degree (Diplom) in immunology and microbiology from the University of Konstanz in Germany, and completed her thesis work in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at University of California Berkeley.  Ms. Abitorabi is the author of and has contributed to numerous scientific and clinical publications and presentations.

Brent A. Blumenstein, Ph.D. is a Principal Consultant at Trial Architecture (TriArc) Consulting, where he advises clients on trial architecture and biostatistics.  Dr. Blumenstein has held academic positions at Emory University, Duke University, University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Northwestern University, having taught numerous courses on clinical trial methodology and management, biostatistics and multivariate analysis, among others.  Dr. Blumenstein also has advised numerous companies including Dendreon Corporation on the design of clinical trials.  He has been a consultant to leading cancer centers including, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, City of Hope, Massachusetts General Hospital, Pittsburg Cancer Institute and The Cleveland Clinic.  He is widely published and has participated as a reviewer for many prestigious journals.  He holds a B.S. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Biometry from Emory University.

Lizabeth J. Cardwell, MT (ASCP), MBA, RAC is an independent Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance consultant.  Ms. Cardwell has more than 25 years of experience in cGMP, GCP and QSR management at biotechnology and cell therapy companies.  Prior to forming her consultancy, she served as Director, Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs at Xcyte Therapies.  Previous to that, Ms. Cardwell was Vice President-Quality Assurance and Quality Control at Dendreon Corporation.  She also was Manager, Biologicals Manufacturing for Genetic Systems/Sanofi.  Ms. Cardwell holds an MBA in Quality Management from City University in Seattle, a Medical Technology Certification from Children's Orthopedic Hospital in Seattle and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash.

Carol A. Gloff, Ph.D. is Principal of Carol A. Gloff & Associates, a regulatory affairs, quality assurance and compliance, product development and pharmacokinetics consultancy.  Previously, Dr. Gloff was Vice President, Chief Regulatory Officer at ImmunoGen.  She also was with Alkermes, Inc., rising from Director of Product Development to Vice President, Regulatory Affairs.  At Triton Biosciences she held roles from Research Scientist to Manager, Toxicology/Pharmacokinetics.  Since 1997 Dr. Gloff has been an Adjunct Professor at Boston University, where she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in regulatory affairs and compliance issues, covering drugs, biologics and devices.  Dr. Gloff holds a B.S. in Pharmacy from SUNY at Buffalo and she received a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of California San Francisco.

About Genesis Biopharma, Inc.

Genesis Biopharma, Inc. is engaged in the development and commercialization of autologous cell therapies for the treatment of various cancers. The Company's lead product candidate, Contego™, is a ready-to-infuse autologous cell therapy utilizing tumor infiltrating lymphocytes for the treatment of patients with Stage IV metastatic melanoma.  Contego™ is based on a currently available physician-sponsored investigational therapy at the National Cancer Institute, MD Anderson Cancer Center and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute for the treatment of Stage IV metastatic melanoma.  

Genesis Biopharma is led by a seasoned management team and world-class board of directors, with participation from a prestigious scientific and medical advisory board.  For more information about the company, visit www.genesis-biopharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The foregoing announcement contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by such terminology as "expects", "hopes", "potential", "suggests", "bodes", "may", "should", "could", or similar expressions.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements.  In particular, management's expectations regarding future research, development and/or commercial results could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties relating to clinical trials and product development; availability of future financing; unexpected regulatory delays or government regulation generally; the company's ability to obtain or maintain patent and other proprietary intellectual property protection; and competition in general.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.  The company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

SOURCE Genesis Biopharma, Inc.