PHILADELPHIA and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq: BCTX, BCTXW) (TSX: BCT) (“BriaCell” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops novel immunotherapies to transform cancer care, is pleased to announce the formation of its medical advisory board and the appointment of three distinguished breast cancer key opinion leaders (KOLs) Massimo Cristofanilli, MD, FACP, Sara A. Hurvitz, MD, FACP, and Adam M. Brufsky, MD, PhD, as well as the addition of Charles Sidman, PhD, MBA, to its scientific advisory board.
“We are extremely privileged to have these leading experts on state-of-the art breast cancer clinical research and drug development as our advisors,” stated Dr. William V. Williams, BriaCell’s President and CEO. “Their expert insights and dedication to unparalleled patient care will be invaluable to us in our pivotal Phase 3 registration study.”
“At BriaCell, we are committed to developing novel immunotherapies to transform cancer care,” stated Dr. Del Priore, BriaCell’s Chief Medical Officer. “Having world-class scientists and authoritative breast cancer experts on our side will enable us to better analyze the science behind the positive clinical and survival outcomes and help direct our approach as we seek to achieve more desirable outcomes for advanced breast cancer patients in need.”
BriaCell’s medical advisory board consist of the following members:
Massimo Cristofanilli, MD, FACP: Dr. Cristofanilli currently serves as Chief, Breast Medical Oncology; Associate Director, Precision Medicine Oncology at the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center; Scientific Director, the Englander, Institute of Precision Medicine. He obtained his medical degree from the University “La Sapienza” in Rome with Honors where he completed his fellowship in medical oncology. Subsequently, he completed a medical oncology fellowship at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he also served as Faculty in the Department of Breast Medical Oncology for over a decade. Dr. Cristofanilli’s extensive academic experience includes roles as Chairman of Medical Oncology and Associate Director of Clinical Research at the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Associate Director of Translational Research at Thomas Jefferson University, Professor of Medicine at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University, Chicago and Director of Robert Lurie Cancer Center OncoSET Precision Medicine Program His research on biomarkers of endocrine resistance in breast cancer, liquid biopsies, novel drug development, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and ctDNA have led to improved care for breast cancer patients. He is recognized for his contribution to the field of drug development in metastatic and locally advanced breast cancer and Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), the detection and monitoring of micro metastatic disease in breast cancer. Moreover, he is Founder and President of the IBC International Consortium and has co-authored more than 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts.
Sara Hurvitz, MD, FACP: Dr. Hurvitz currently serves as Professor of Medicine, Senior Vice President of the clinical research division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, and Head of the division of hematology and oncology at the University of Washington Department of Medicine in Seattle. Previously, she directed the breast oncology program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and also served as Professor of medicine at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine; Co-Director of the Santa Monica-UCLA outpatient oncology practice; Medical Director of the clinical research unit of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and Director of the breast cancer clinical trials program at UCLA. She has won numerous awards including the 2023 ESMO Breast Award and the Marni Levine Memorial Breast Cancer Research Award, and has been named to several prestigious lists including Super Doctors® Southern California, Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, America’s Most Honored Doctors – Top 1%, Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine, Castle Connolly Top Doctors, California, Southern California Super Doctors, UCLA Health “100 in 100” Trailblazing Women Honoree, Southern California Top Doctors, Best Doctors in America, and Top Women Southern California Super Doctors. Dr. Hurvitz obtained her medical degree from Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California in 1999 and completed both her internal medicine residency and hematology/oncology fellowship at UCLA. She is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology.
Adam M. Brufsky, MD, PhD: Dr. Brufsky is Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He serves as Co-Director, Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center and Medical Director, Women’s Cancer Center at the UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Brufsky received an AB in Chemistry ( Cum Laude ) from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. He earned his MD and his PhD in Developmental Biology at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington, CT. He was an Intern and Resident in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. He then completed a Fellowship in Medical Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, where his appointments included Associate Physician and Instructor in Medicine at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. Dr. Brufsky is board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research. He has authored or co-authored more than 300 abstracts and research articles in leading journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Lancet Oncology. Dr. Brufsky is a Principal Investigator on a number of research grants funded by the National Institutes of Health, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and US Army Breast Cancer Research Program.
Separately, BriaCell added Dr. Sidman to its scientific advisory board.
Charles Sidman, PhD, MBA: Dr. Sidman currently serves as Founder and Managing Partner, ECS Capital Partners, LLC. Dr. Sidman’s academic career includes experience as Research Fellow in Pathology at Harvard Medical School, Member of the Basel Institute for Immunology in Basel, Staff Scientist at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, and Professor of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Management at the University of Cincinnati. His first professional effort was in computer science, in which he pioneered what became known decades later as Artificial Intelligence. In biomedicine, he worked with eminent colleagues in genetics and immunology to help enable current exciting applications in these fields. Dr. Sidman has invested in multiple start- up companies through over 100 rounds, acted as Chairman of 4, and board member of another 5. He is Founding Chairman of Maine Angels, Founding Member of the Angel Capital Association, former Board Member of the World Business Angel Forum, former Chair of the Strategy and Education Committees of the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds, Founding Member and President of the Crowdfunding Professional Association, and recipient of special recognition from the European Business Angel Network. Dr. Sidman earned his AB degree in Biochemical Sciences, AM degree in Biochemistry, and PhD in Immunology, all from Harvard, and his MBA from the University of Cincinnati. He has lectured or consulted at some of the world’s leading universities, research centers and companies, and has authored over 100 publications in immunology, patent reform, crowdfunding, and government roles in tech transfer and early-stage investing.
About BriaCell Therapeutics Corp.
BriaCell is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops novel immunotherapies to transform cancer care. More information is available at https://briacell.com/ .
Safe Harbor
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements, including in relation to the ability of the medical advisory board to assist the Company with its registration studies, developing novel immunotherapies and achieving desirable outcomes for advanced breast cancer patients, are based on BriaCell’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully under the heading “Risks and Uncertainties” in the Company’s most recent Management’s Discussion and Analysis, under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Information Form, and under “Risks and Uncertainties” in the Company’s other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available under the Company’s profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov . Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
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Contact Information
Company Contact:
William V. Williams, MD
President & CEO
1-888-485-6340
[email protected]
Media Relations:
Jules Abraham
Director of Public Relations
CORE IR
917-885-7378
[email protected]
Investor Relations Contact:
CORE IR
[email protected]