Thursday April 9, 4:26 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: ZymeTx, Inc.
ZymeTx Steps up Research Noted Scientists Join Research Team
OKLAHOMA CITY, April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- ZymeTx, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZMTX - news) Two noted and accomplished research
scientists are bringing their talents to the scientific staff of ZymeTx, Inc. building the biotechnology firm's prestige in its
revolutionary work in the discovery and development of products to diagnose and treat viruses.
James Richard Appleman, Ph.D., and Joshua Odoyo Ojwang, Ph.D., are the two newest members of the ZymeTx scientific
research staff, announced Peter Livingston, the company's president and chief executive officer. ''These are two key additions to
our research team,'' Livingston added. ''ZymeTx is pioneering new ground in the detection and treatment of viruses. These two
noted scientists bring a dynamic prospective to our research and development efforts in virology, molecular biology and
biochemistry. They will strengthen our already superior overall anti-viral therapeutic research and disease management program.''
Dr. Appleman comes to ZymeTx from Metabasis Therapeutics Inc. in San Diego, California, where he was the Associate
Director of R&D support services and led numerous multidisciplinary project teams.
Dr. Appleman brings to ZymeTx formidable skills in pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism. Along with his background work in
enzyme structure/function and biophysical techniques, his work includes studies in in-vitro metabolism and the characterization of
molecular interactions between enzymes and therapeutic inhibitors. Dr. Appleman is the new section head of protein biochemistry
at ZymeTx and will help outline the company's research and development plan.
Dr. Joshua Ojwang is involved in extensive evaluation of the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of drugs in
animals and people. His post-doctoral work focused on ribozyme digonucleotide and antigensic therapy for HIV. A graduate of
Boston University, Dr. Ojwang earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry and studied in-depth biochemistry and molecular biology. Dr.
Ojwang joins ZymeTx from Aronex Pharmaceuticals where he headed the virology and molecular Biology department and was
project manager for the Pharmacology Department.
In Oklahoma, Dr. Ojwang will be putting his talents to work determining how anti-virals work by testing new compounds
developed at ZymeTx laboratories to see how effectively they attack viruses.
Both Dr. Appleman and Dr. Ojwang have received numerous honors in their distinguished careers and their work has been
published extensively in medical research and pharmaceutical journals and magazines.
At ZymeTx, both Dr. Appleman and Dr. Ojwang will head research project teams, announced Craig Shimasaki, Ph.D. and the
company's vice president of research. Dr. Appleman will lead the protein biochemistry research initiatives and Dr. Ojwang will
lead the anti-viral studies.
''Dr. Appleman and Dr. Ojwang bring key elements that will allow us to broaden our internal exploratory and disease management
program. We will also continue to collaborate and utilize the extensive scientific research minds and material available through our
relationship with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation,'' Dr. Shimasaki said.
ZymeTx, Inc. is a biotechnology company growing out of the research support of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.
The Company, based in Oklahoma City, is engaged in the development of unique diagnostic and therapeutic products for the
intervention and detection of viral diseases. The company's common shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the
symbol ZMTX.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking
statements regarding the company's results and trends in its business. These statements are based largely on management's
expectations. The achievement of these results is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the company's control,
which may cause actual results to differ significantly. We refer to the company's fillings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, which include a more detailed description of these factors.
For more information on ZyMetx, Inc. at no cost, simply call 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter ZMTX on a touch-tone phone.
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