BUFFALO, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 12/01/08 -- Cleveland BioLabs, Inc. (
Dr. Ross is an internationally recognized leader and expert in chemical, biological and radiological / nuclear (CBRN) threat countermeasures and public health strategies in response to both infectious disease outbreaks and counterterrorism. Her experience and subject matter expertise contributed to significant new biomedical defense strategies and countermeasure development for the Department of Defense, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, the Homeland Security Council, and international partners in prevention, detection, and public health mitigation responses for both military and civilian populations.
For the past 15 years, Dr. Ross has been a leader in CBRN Medical Defense in positions from the laboratory bench to developing national defense policy. Some of her key assignments include Director of Medical Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense Policy for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, advising the Assistant Secretary, Health Affairs on developing policies and programs for the prevention of mortality and morbidity and furthering individual health protection for all U.S. Forces against CBRN threat agents. She joined Martin, Blanck & Associates following her retirement from 21 years of active service in the U.S. Army Medical Department, Veterinary Corp.
Michael Fonstein, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland BioLabs, commented, "We are pleased to have the benefit of Dr. Ross's deep experience in developing CBRN countermeasures, as well as other critical applications for defense scenarios. We believe the guidance of Dr. Ross and her colleagues at Martin, Blanck & Associates has been invaluable in our achievement of almost $25 million in funding from the Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services this year. Dr. Ross will lead our ongoing commercialization efforts for Protectan CBLB502 as a countermeasure for acute radiation syndrome (ARS), as well as other defense applications."
Major General John Parker, M.D., (Ret.), former Commanding General of the US Army Medical Research and Material Command responsible for countermeasure development and acquisition and currently a Senior Partner at Martin, Blanck & Associates, stated, "The funding support for Protectan CBLB502's development as a radiation countermeasure from the Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services reinforces its position as a leading candidate for acquisition for military applications and national stockpiling. Protectan CBLB502's demonstrated efficacy in animal models and overall profile of use and administration make it an extremely viable and effective potential solution for contemplated scenarios of response to radiological emergency."
Protectan CBLB502 is under development for the treatment of ARS under the FDA's animal efficacy rule. This approval pathway requires demonstration of efficacy in representative animal models and safety and drug metabolism testing in a representative sample of healthy human volunteers. An initial human safety study for Protectan CBLB502 began in October 2008. The Company already established cGMP quality manufacturing for Protectan CBLB502, and demonstrated pre-clinical activity of this product in animal models of ARS.
About Martin, Blanck & Associates
Martin, Blanck & Associates is a leading health care consulting firm that brings a team of partners with unparalleled leadership experience -- as health executives, policy makers, physicians and other providers -- who serve throughout the federal government and the private sector. Martin Blanck & Associates helps its private sector and government clients move forward in a challenging environment, by identifying solutions and helping to implement them. For more information, please visit: http://www.martin-blanck.com/who.html.
About Cleveland BioLabs, Inc.
Cleveland BioLabs, Inc. is a drug discovery and development company leveraging its proprietary discoveries around programmed cell death to develop treatments for cancer and protection of normal tissues from exposure to radiation and other stresses. The Company has strategic partnerships with the Cleveland Clinic, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, ChemBridge Corporation and the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute. To learn more about Cleveland BioLabs, Inc., please visit the company's website at http://www.cbiolabs.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations, as of the date of this press release, and involve certain risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Some of the factors that could cause future results to materially differ from the recent results or those projected in forward-looking statements include the "Risk Factors" described in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Rachel Levine
Director Corporate Development & Communications
Cleveland BioLabs, Inc.
T: (646) 284-9439
E: rlevine@cbiolabs.com