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PRESS RELEASES Biokeys Pharmaceuticals Inc. Hires Chief Technical Officer SAN DIEGO – March 14, 2003– Biokeys Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCBB:BKYS - News) is pleased to announce that Dr. Joan M. Robbins will join the Company as Chief Technical Officer. Dr. Robbins will be responsible for all phases of clinical development, manufacturing, and regulatory affairs necessary to advance the Company's antiviral and anticancer product portfolio. Dr. Robbins will also coordinate external research and development and manage government grant programs. Dr. Robbins was previously employed at Immusol, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company specializing in anticancer and antiviral therapeutics in addition to neurodegenerative diseases and inflammation. At Immusol, she held several positions, including Vice President, Product Development, Senior Director, Product Development, and Director, Therapeutics. Dr. Robbins has directed drug discovery resulting in the advancement of drug candidates into Phase I, II and III human trials, including the development of protocols with the FDA for clinical trials. She has also led programs for formulation, manufacturing, toxicology and pharmacology development. From 1994 to 1995, she was a Research Scientist and Project Leader for Cancer Research at Chiron Corporation, where she developed y-IFN recombinant retroviral immuno-gene therapy for cancer, assays for clinical evaluation in Phase I, and tk-recombinant retroviral gene therapy for brain tumors. From 1992 to 1993, Dr. Robbins was a Post Graduate Researcher at University of California, San Diego, where she developed a novel DNA-based immunotherapeutic for treatment of Her2/neu expressing tumors. From 1990 to 1991, she was a Research Fellow at the Garvin Institute for Medical Research, Centre for Immunology in Sydney, Australia, and from 1981 to 1989, Dr. Robbins was a Microbiologist at the Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology at National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland. "We are pleased to have Dr. Robbins join our staff as Chief Technical Officer", commented Nicholas Virca, CEO of Biokeys Pharmaceuticals. "She brings a breadth of technical expertise, and hands-on clinical experience that will enable the Company to move toward approvals to begin human testing of our HIV viral entry inhibitor (BlockAide/CRTM) and HIV therapeutic vaccine (EradicAideTM) later this year. In addition, Dr. Robbins will oversee a Phase II clinical trial for CoFactorTM, which has already been approved for front-line therapy testing in metastatic colorectal cancer patients in the U.S." Dr. Robbins' background in drug discovery and development has resulted in over 20 scientific publications and 5 patents. Dr. Robbins received her B.S. degree in genetics from the University of California, Davis, and a Ph.D. degree in genetics from George Washington University, Washington D.C. More information about Biokeys Pharmaceuticals can be found on the website at www.bkys.com. If you would like to receive email alerts on the Company, please send your request to info@bkys.com. About BKYS Biokeys Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a biopharmaceutical research and development company whose business strategy is to commercialize leading edge medical research through licensing agreements with prominent universities and research institutions. The Company is focusing its resources in anticancer and antiviral research to launch products that either extend the usefulness of current therapies or replace marginal therapies with new approaches to treatment. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are made based on management's current expectations and beliefs. Actual results may vary from those currently anticipated based upon a number of factors, including uncertainties inherent in the drug development process, the timing and success of clinical trials, the validity of research results, and the receipt of necessary approvals from the United States Food and Drug Administration. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Contact: Biokeys Pharmaceuticals Inc. Beth Marion, 858/271-9671 Fax: 8581/271-9678 beth@bkys.com |
