AVANT CEO, Una S. Ryan, Ph.D., O.B.E., to Participate in The President's Economic Forum
NEEDHAM, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 12, 2002--AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. President & CEO, Dr. Una S. Ryan, O.B.E., has been invited by the Bush Administration to participate in the President's Economic Forum on Tuesday, August 13, 2002, at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Dr. Ryan will participate in panel and breakout discussions in the area of Health Care Security. She plans to argue in support of expansion of funding for biomedical research and for proposals to avoid government controls and arbitrary restrictions on coverage of new breakthrough drugs and other new medical treatments. Dr. Ryan is expected to highlight AVANT's candidate vaccine for cholesterol management, CETi-1, as an example of the value of innovative new products for improving health care, and discuss the economic factors that are necessary for their development.
Dr. Ryan currently serves on the Boards of Directors of both the Biotechnology Industry Organization and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, and is an associate on the Whitehead Institute Board of Associates. Most recently she has represented BIO in its efforts to help pass H.R. 3448, the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Response Act of 2002, and was recently present at the White House signing of that bill by President George W. Bush. In June 2002, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second, awarded Dr. Ryan the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) for her services to research, development and promotion of biotechnology.
AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. is engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of products that harness the human immune system to prevent and treat disease. The company is developing a broad portfolio of vaccines against viral and bacterial diseases, including single-dose oral vaccines aimed at protecting travelers from cholera, typhoid fever and other illnesses. In addition, the company is conducting clinical studies of a proprietary vaccine candidate for cholesterol management. AVANT further leverages the value of its technology portfolio through corporate partnerships. Current collaborations encompass the development of an oral human rotavirus vaccine, vaccines to combat threats of biological warfare, and vaccines addressed to human food safety and animal health.
Additional information on AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. can be obtained through our site on the World Wide Web: avantimmune.com.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release includes forward-looking statements which reflect AVANT's current views with respect to future events and financial performance. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Investors should not rely on forward-looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the ability to successfully complete development and commercialization of CETi-1 and of other products; (2) the cost, timing, scope and results of ongoing safety and efficacy trials of CETi-1 and other preclinical and clinical testing; (3) the ability to successfully complete product research and further development, including animal, pre-clinical and clinical studies of CETi-1 and other products; (4) the ability of the Company to manage multiple late stage clinical trials for a variety of product candidates; (5) the volume and profitability of product sales of Megan®Vac 1 and other future products; (6) changes in existing and potential relationships with corporate collaborators; (7) the cost, delivery and quality of clinical and commercial grade materials supplied by contract manufacturers (8) the timing, cost and uncertainty of obtaining regulatory approvals to use CETi-1, among other purposes, to raise serum HDL cholesterol levels and for other products; (9) the ability to obtain substantial additional funding; (10) the ability to develop and commercialize products before competitors; (11) the integration of Megan Health's business and programs; (12) the ability to retain certain members of management; and (13) other factors detailed from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Contact:
AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.
Una S. Ryan, Ph.D., 781/433-0771
or
AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.
Avery W. Catlin, 781/433-0771
info@avantimmune.com |
