TNI BioTech, Inc. Appoints Industry Veteran, Dr. Joseph Fortunak, as a Strategic Consultant

BETHESDA, Md., April 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- TNI BioTech, Inc. (OTC PINK: TNIB) announced today the appointment of industry veteran, Dr. Joseph M. Fortunak, as a strategic consultant to the company. Dr. Fortunak is the former director and head of Global Chemical Development at Abbott Laboratories Corporation, where he managed more than 350 scientists and technical experts.

Dr. Fortunak spent 10 years at SmithKline Beecham (now part of GlaxoSmithKline) working in process chemistry and drug development. Dr. Fortunak worked for 8 years at DuPont Pharmaceuticals, rising to the level of executive director of chemical development. From 2000-2004, Dr. Fortunak then served as the head of Global Chemical Development for Abbott Labs. While in the industry, Dr. Fortunak made significant contributions to 15 new chemical entities for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, cancer, and various cardiovascular and central nervous system (CNS) indications. He also contributed to roughly 20 new generic drug launches.

"Dr. Fortunak is a strong addition to our team," said Noreen Griffin, CEO and Director of TNI BioTech, Inc. Ms. Griffin continued, "His influence in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors offers a tremendous resource to our organization as we focus on various products in development at TNIB. The timing is perfect as we begin to establish a team of well-respected authorities in the industry."

In 2004, Dr. Fortunak joined Howard University in Washington, D.C. with a joint appointment in chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences. Dr. Fortunak consults in various advisory capacities for non-governmental organizations, including the Clinton Foundation and the World Health Organization. He has worked with Indian drug companies on the approval of quality-assured medicines for supply to low-income countries through donor agencies. Dr. Fortunak teaches a four-course sequence in drug development for African Pharmaceutical Companies and National Drug Regulators at the St. Luke Foundation / Kilimanjaro School of Pharmacy in Moshi, Tanzania; to reduce the incidence of counterfeiting and encourage the availability of quality-assured medicines in sub-Saharan Africa. The WHO ANDI (African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation) has designated the SLF/KSP as a Center of Excellence in drug manufacturing and training. His research interests lie in Green Chemical Processing, new synthetic methods, and new applications of asymmetric synthesis.  Dr. Fortunak received a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, and a postdoctoral stint at Cambridge University.

Dr. Fortunak commented, "I'm excited to become a member of the TNIB team and look forward to helping TNIB capitalize on its therapies and business plans for African and other emerging nations." 

About TNI BioTech, Inc.

TNI BioTech, Inc. is a biotech company with the goal of benefitting patients with chronic and often life-threatening diseases through the activation and rebalancing of the body's immune system, using a patented immunotherapy.

Their products, technologies, and patents are designed to harness the power of the immune system to improve the treatment of cancer, chronic infections such as HIV/AIDS, and autoimmune diseases and, such as Crohn's disease, other types of inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS).

TNI BioTech's most advanced clinical programs involve immunotherapy with methionine-enkephalin (MENK) or low dose naltrexone (LDN), which both work by triggering opioid receptors on immune cells, leading to an activation and expansion of various cells of the immune system.

Their proprietary technology, therapies, and patents are planned to treat a wide range of cancers. Their most advanced clinical programs involve immunotherapy that works by augmenting the number and functions of both T cells and natural killer (NK) cells in patients with deficient immune responses associated with advanced cancer or HIV/AIDS and by rebalancing the immune responses in patients with autoimmune diseases, including Crohn's disease and multiple sclerosis (MS). 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release includes various "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which represent the Company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events. Statements containing expressions such as "believes," "anticipates," "intends," or "expects," used in the Company's press releases and in Disclosure Statements and Reports filed with the Over The Counter Markets through the OTC Disclosure and News Service are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurances that actual results will not differ materially from expected results. The Company cautions that these and similar statements included in this report are further qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

See http://www.tnibiotech.com for more information.

Contact: Global Investment Media
Phone:  310-353-6277

SOURCE TNI BioTech, Inc.