AspenBio Pharma Forms Medical Advisory Board for AppyScore(TM), the World's First Blood Test to Aid in the Diagnosis of Appendicitis
Advisory Board Adds World-Renowned Medical Experts as a Resource to the Company
CASTLE ROCK, CO--(Marketwire - June 8, 2009) - AspenBio Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: APPY), an
emerging bio-science company dedicated to the development of novel
diagnostics and drugs for humans and animals, announced today the initial
members for its newly-formed Medical Advisory Board ("MAB"). The
independent members of AspenBio's MAB are recognized leading thinkers and
innovators in the fields of surgery, emergency medicine and health research
and policy, the disciplines most directly involved with diagnosing and
treating appendicitis. The board is chaired by the company's chief
operating officer and chief medical officer, Robert F. Caspari, MD. The
initial members of AspenBio's MAB consist of:
Robert F. Caspari, M.D. - COO / CMO, Advisory Board Chairman, joined
AspenBio Pharma in February 2009 with more than 25 years of experience in
drug and diagnostic product development and commercialization. He most
recently served as CEO of Living Cell Technologies, a publicly traded
biotech company focused on cellular therapy for Type I diabetes and
neurological disorders. He was previously president and CEO of Aurogen, a
privately held biotech company involved in drug development for
neurological disorders. Dr. Caspari has also served as senior vice
president of commercial operations and medical affairs at Myogen (now a
unit of Gilead Sciences, traded on the Nasdaq), and as vice president and
general manager of biopharmaceuticals at Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals (the
U.S. operations of Novo Nordisk A/S, traded on the Denmark exchange).
Earlier in his career he held management positions at Schering-Plough,
Boehringer Mannheim, Somatogen, and Baxter International. Dr. Caspari
entered the pharmaceutical industry in 1982 after practicing internal
medicine for four years. He received a B.A. in psychology from UCLA and his
medical degree from Georgetown University.
David Flum, MD, MPH is a leading gastrointestinal surgeon and outcomes
researcher at the University of Washington. He holds the rank of Professor
in the Schools of Medicine and Public Health and serves as the Director of
the Surgical Outcomes Research Center (SORCE) at the University of
Washington. He has a Masters in Public Health in the field of health
services research. Dr. Flum serves as Medical Director of the Surgical
Care and Outcomes Assessment Program (SCOAP), a quality of care improvement
program providing hospital-specific data feedback and best practices
regarding processes of care and outcomes across the Pacific Northwest. He
is also one of the Principal Investigators of the Longitudinal Assessment
of Bariatric Surgery (LABS) study-the first NIH-funded study in bariatric
surgery aimed at addressing fundamental issues in the field. He is the
contributing editor for surgery at the Journal of the American Medical
Association, serves on the editorial board of the journal Surgery for
Obesity and Related Disease, and is a member of the Executive Leadership of
the American College of Surgeons Research Committee.
Douglas K. Owens, MD, MS is a general internist and a Professor of Medicine
and of Health Research and Policy at Stanford University, where he directs
the Program on Clinical Decision Making and Guideline Development at the
Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research (PCOR). Dr. Owens also
directs the Stanford University-UCSF Evidence-Based Practice Center funded
by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Dr. Owens'
research interests include diagnostic test evaluation, evidence synthesis,
technology assessment, cost-effectiveness analysis and guideline
development. Dr. Owens has been principal investigator on grants funded by
the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among
others. From 2005 to 2009, Dr. Owens was Chair of the Clinical Efficacy
Assessment Subcommittee (CEAS) of the American College of Physicians (ACP),
which develops clinical practice guidelines for the ACP. Dr. Owens is a
past President of the Society for Medical Decision Making. He was elected
to the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), and the
Association of American Physicians (AAP), societies that recognize
excellence in clinical research.
David A. Talan, MD, FACEP, FIDSA is Chairman of the Department of Emergency
Medicine and faculty in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Olive
View-UCLA Medical Center, and Professor of Medicine in Residence at UCLA
School of Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency
Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and a member of
the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and the American Society for
Microbiology. Dr. Talan received his medical degree from the University of
Illinois Medical College in Chicago. He completed his residencies in
Internal and Emergency Medicine and fellowship in Infectious Diseases at
the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and its associated medical
centers. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine,
and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Talan serves on the editorial boards of the
Annals of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medicine News, and Pediatric
Emergency Care and is a reviewer for Clinical Infectious Diseases, Journal
of the American Medical Association, and The Medical Letter.
Steven E. Wolf, MD is the Bob and Betty Kelso Distinguished Chair in Burn
and Trauma Surgery, Vice Chairman for Research and Professor in the
Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at
San Antonio (UTHSCSA). He serves as Chair for the Institutional Review
Board UTHSCSA. He is Burn Surgeon and Chief of Clinical Research at the
United States Army Institute of Surgical Research at Fort Sam Houston and
Pediatric Burn Program Director at University Hospital. Dr. Wolf received
his medical degree from UTMB Galveston and completed his post graduate
training at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and at Shriners Hospital
for Children in Galveston. Dr. Wolf has previously held the position of
Director of the US Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center at
Brooke Army Medical Center and Assistant Chief of Staff at Shriners
Hospital for Children. He has authored over 150 peer reviewed publications
and is nationally and internationally recognized for his work in burn and
trauma care and regenerative medicine. Dr. Wolf received the 2009 Health
Care Heroes Outstanding Physician Award. Dr. Wolf is Editor-in-Chief of
Burns and on the editorial boards of Journal of Burn Care and
Rehabilitation and Surgery News.
AspenBio has completed its pivotal clinical trial for AppyScore, the world
first rapid diagnostic blood based test for appendicitis and is advancing
towards anticipated 510(k) submission for FDA clearance of the test. The
United States Patent and Trademark Office has also recently issued
AspenBio's patent directed to methods relating to its appendicitis
diagnostic technology. The patent, No. 7,501,256, is entitled "Methods and
Devices for Diagnosis of Appendicitis."
Dr. David Flum commented: "I have spent considerable time studying
appendicitis and its current diagnosis protocols and outcomes and I firmly
believe a rapid blood based test to assist in the diagnosis of appendicitis
will be well received by emergency medicine physicians and surgeons. I am
very excited to be working as part of the AspenBio team on the advancement
of AppyScore."
Mr. Daryl Faulkner, CEO of AspenBio, said: "We are fortunate that Drs.
Flum, Owens, Talan and Wolf have agreed to join Dr. Caspari on our Medical
Advisory Board. The outstanding caliber of their expertise will bring
tremendous clinical insight to the company which will help guide the
development and commercialization of our novel appendicitis diagnostic
test. We are also encouraged by their endorsement of the substantial
medical need for better diagnostic tools for appendicitis and their
commitment to our success."
About AspenBio Pharma, Inc.
AspenBio Pharma, Inc. is dedicated to the discovery, development and
marketing of novel patented diagnostics to aid physicians in making more
accurate medical decisions. Additionally, AspenBio Pharma continues to
advance its innovative bovine reproduction therapeutics toward
commercialization in conjunction with Novartis Animal Health. AspenBio's
product development is focused on large worldwide markets that target
previously unmet clinical needs. For more information, go to
http://www.aspenbiopharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes "forward-looking statements" of AspenBio Pharma,
Inc. ("APPY") as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in the
press release that address activities, events or developments that APPY
believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking
statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions made based on
experience, expected future developments and other factors APPY believes
are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a
number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond
the control of APPY. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are
not guarantees of future performance. Actual results or developments may
differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as
a result of many factors, including statements regarding the ability to
successfully complete the clinical trial data assessments required for FDA
submission, obtain FDA approval for, cost effectively manufacture and
generate revenues from the appendicitis test as well as the animal products
and other new products, execute agreements required to successfully advance
the company's objectives, retain the scientific management team to advance
the products, overcome adverse changes in market conditions and the
regulatory environment, fluctuations in sales volumes, obtain and enforce
intellectual property rights, and realization of intangible assets.
Furthermore, APPY does not intend (and is not obligated) to update publicly
any forward-looking statements. The contents of this news release should be
considered in conjunction with the warnings and cautionary statements
contained in APPY's recent filings with the SEC.