(Source: PrimeNewswire)
WORCESTER, Mass., Aug. 4, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Generex Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq:GNBT) (www.generex.com), the leader in drug delivery for metabolic diseases through the inner lining of the mouth, announced today that Dr. Joseph Rubinfeld, one of the original founders of Amgen, Inc., has agreed to act as the Company's Chief Scientific Advisor. Dr. Rubinfeld will assist the Company in developing and implementing product commercialization roadmaps for its proprietary drug delivery platform and its synthetic vaccine platform technology programs.
In addition to his efforts in founding Amgen, Dr. Rubinfeld has a fifty year history in pharmaceutical and consumer product development. His accomplishments include the development of the multi-billion dollar antibiotic Amoxicillin as well as the invention and development of the first synthetic biodegradable detergent. In 1984 Dr. Rubinfeld won the prestigious Common Wealth Award for Science and Invention. This award was a testament to his proclivity for achieving major inventions, represented by the numerous patents obtained during his distinguished career.
Dr. Rubinfeld began his career as a research scientist with several pharmaceutical and consumer product companies including Schering Plough, Colgate Palmolive and Upjohn. He served for twelve years at Bristol Myers, where in addition to developing Amoxicillin and Cefadroxil, he was instrumental in licensing their original anti-cancer line of products, including Mitomycin, Etoposide, and Bleomycin. After co-founding Amgen in 1980 and serving as its Chief of Operations, Dr. Rubinfeld also co-founded the IBA (Industrial Biotechnology Association) in 1981, which was the precursor to today's BIO (Biotechnology Industry Organization). He has also served as an advisor or board member to a number of biotech companies including AVI BioPharma, Quark Pharmaceuticals, and Cytrx Corporation. In 1991 he founded Supergen, a drug development company based in Dublin, California, where he served as Chairman, CEO and President until 2003 and as a member of the board of directors until 2005. During that time he oversaw the company's initial public offering and its rise to a multi-billion dollar market capitalization, fueled by the commercialization of four anti-cancer drugs, including Pentostatin and Decitabine, and the issuance of over 20 drug patents in his name.
Generex management believes his wealth of experience in early stage biotechnology development and his exceptional track record in large pharmaceutical companies will be instrumental for Generex as it transitions to commercialization and rapid growth.
