Provectus Biopharmaceuticals Names Aru Narendran, MD, PhD to Scientific Advisory Board

Rhea-AI Summary

Provectus announced the addition of Dr. Aru Narendran to its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Narendran, a professor at the University of Calgary, is recognized for his significant contributions to pediatric oncology. His collaboration with Provectus over the past five years has led to preclinical research on the drug rose bengal sodium (RBS), which shows promise in treating various cancers including neuroblastoma and acute leukemias. The partnership has also resulted in multiple patents and unique discoveries related to RBS. Provectus values Dr. Narendran's insights to enhance its drug development efforts.

Positive

• Dr. Aru Narendran's addition to the Scientific Advisory Board may enhance Provectus' drug development strategies.
• Collaboration with Dr. Narendran has led to the successful preclinical exploration of rose bengal sodium for multiple cancer types.
• The partnership has resulted in issued patents and published applications that could strengthen Provectus' intellectual property portfolio.

Negative

• The reliance on external collaborations for drug development raises concerns about continuity and potential disruption in research focus.

KNOXVILLE, TN, April 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Provectus (OTCQB: PVCT) today announced the addition of Aru Narendran, MD, PhD to the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Narendran is a professor in the departments of Pediatrics, Oncology, and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), and holds the Kids Cancer Care Foundation Endowed Chair in Clinical and Translational Research in pediatric oncology.

Over the last five years, Provectus’ collaboration with Dr. Narendran and his lab research team at the University of Calgary has yielded:

• Preclinical exploration of rose bengal sodium (RBS) – the Company’s proprietary small molecule halogenated xanthene – for the treatments of pediatric oncology (neuroblastoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and osteosarcoma)^1,2, pediatric hematology (acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemias)^3,4, virology (coronavirus disease 2019)⁵, and adult oncology (breast, colorectal, head and neck, and testicular cancers)^6,7,
  
• Issued patents and published patent applications in pediatric oncology (United States Patent [USP] No. 11,058,66 and Application No. 17/344418), pediatric hematology (16/688319 and 17/232393), virology (17/212723), adult oncology (17/214590), and cancer and viral vaccines (17/488430), and
  
• RBS treatment-unique discoveries, including STING signaling⁸, HSP association⁸, and WNK1 signaling⁷, and the use of RBS as an immune vaccine adjuvant⁹.
  

Dr. Narendran received a PhD in neuroimmunology for his work in Dr. Steven Hoffman’s laboratory at Arizona State University. He also undertook postdoctoral research in cancer biology at the Ontario Cancer Institute (OC), the research division of Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), that contributed to pioneering research on the generation and characterization of transgenic mouse models.

Dr. Narendran did his medical training at McMaster University (MD; Hamilton, Ontario, Canada), Tufts University (pediatrics residency; Massachusetts), and the Hospital for Sick Children (pediatric hematology and oncology clinical fellowship; Toronto). He is also the recipient of a number of awards, including the Odile Schweisguth prize in pediatric oncology and a young investigator award from the Children’s Oncology Group (COG).

Dr. Narendran’s current responsibilities at the University of Calgary include teaching graduate courses in cancer biology, new therapeutics, and ethics; directing a preclinical and drug discovery laboratory; and managing clinical trials for children with relapsed and refractory malignancies. He is also a primary investigator and the director of biology for the Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Consortium (POETIC).

Ed Pershing, Chair of Provectus’ Board of Directors, said, “We are grateful to Dr. Narendran for accepting the invitation to join our Scientific Advisory Board, and deeply value his insights and continuous feedback. His research on behalf of the Company has been prolific; and his team and he have been consequential to broadening and deepening Provectus’ drug discovery and development efforts.”

Acronyms

STING = stimulator of interferon genes. HSP = heat shock protein. WNK1 = WNK lysine deficient kinase 1.

References

1. Swift et al. Potent in vitro and xenograft antitumor activity of a novel agent, PV-10, against relapsed and refractory neuroblastoma. OncoTargets and Therapy 12, 1293, 2019.
2. Swift et al. In vitro and xenograft anti-tumor activity, target modulation and drug synergy studies of PV-10 against refractory pediatric solid tumors. 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting, J Clin Oncol 36, 2018 (suppl; abstr 10557).
3. Swift et al. In Vitro Activity and Target Modulation of PV-10 Against Relapsed and Refractory Pediatric Leukemia 2018 ASH Annual Meeting, Blood 132, 2018 (suppl; abstr 5207).
4. USP Application No. 17/232393: Composition and Method for Oral Treatment of Leukemia.
5. USP Application No. 17/212723: Novel Uses of Halogenated Xanthenes in Oncology and Virology.
6. Tran et al. Pre-clinical evaluation of PV-10 for in vitro anti-tumor activity in refractory and high-risk adult solid tumors. 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting, J Clin Oncol 39, 2021 (suppl 15; abstr e14544).
7. Tran et al. Identification and In Vivo Validation of Unique Anti-Oncogenic Properties and Mechanisms Involving Protein Kinase Signalling and Autophagy Mediated by the Investigational New Agent PV-10. 2022 AACR Annual Meeting, Proceedings (abstr 1121).
8. Thakur et al. Association of Heat Shock Proteins as Chaperone for STING: A potential link in a key immune activation mechanism revealed by a novel anticancer agent PV-10. 2020 AACR Annual Meeting, Proceedings (abstr 5393).
9. USP Application No. 17/488430: Halogenated Xanthenes as Vaccine Adjuvants.
   

About Provectus

Provectus Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Provectus or the Company) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapy medicines for different disease areas based on a family of small molecules called halogenated xanthenes. Multi-route of administration drug discovery and development programs include investigational drugs and drug targets in oncology (clinical-stage), dermatology (clinical-stage), hematology, virology, microbiology, ophthalmology (clinical-stage), and animal health. Information about the Company’s clinical trials can be found at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) registry, www.clinicaltrials.gov. For additional information about Provectus, please visit the Company's website at www.provectusbio.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: The information in this press release may include “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of U.S. securities legislation, relating to the business of Provectus and its affiliates, which are based on the opinions and estimates of Company management and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “seek,” “anticipate,” “budget,” “plan,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “may,” “will,” “project,” “predict,” “potential,” “targeting,” “intend,” “could,” “might,” “should,” “believe,” and similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook.

The safety and efficacy of the agents and/or uses under investigation have not been established. There is no guarantee that the agents will receive health authority approval or become commercially available in any country for the uses being investigated or that such agents as products will achieve any particular revenue levels.

Due to the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions inherent in forward-looking statements, readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof or as of the date specifically specified herein, and Provectus undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Risks, uncertainties, and assumptions include those discussed in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including those described in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

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Contact:

Provectus Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Heather Raines, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (866) 594-5999

FAQ

Who is Dr. Aru Narendran and what is his role at Provectus?

Dr. Aru Narendran is a professor at the University of Calgary and has joined Provectus' Scientific Advisory Board, contributing his expertise in pediatric oncology.

What is the significance of Dr. Narendran's research for Provectus?

His research aids in the preclinical exploration of rose bengal sodium, which shows promise for treating various cancers, potentially impacting Provectus' drug development.

When did Provectus announce Dr. Narendran's appointment?

Provectus announced Dr. Narendran's appointment to the Scientific Advisory Board on April 14, 2022.

What are the key areas of focus for Dr. Narendran's research?

Dr. Narendran's research focuses on pediatric oncology and includes studying treatments for various cancers like neuroblastoma and acute leukemias.

How might Dr. Narendran's appointment affect Provectus' future?

His insights and experience in drug discovery could strengthen Provectus' research capabilities and enhance its product pipeline.