Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals Adds Acclaimed Cancer Research Pioneer Robert A. Weinberg, Ph.D. to Its Scientific Advisory Board.

Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held pharmaceuticalcompany, announced that groundbreaking cancer research scientist Robert A. Weinberg, Ph.D., a founding member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and a Professor of Biology at MIT, has joinedthe company's Scientific Advisory Board (see also Cancer).

Widely recognized for his discoveries of the first human oncogene (the ras oncogene that causes normal cells to form tumors), and the isolation of the first known tumor suppressor gene -- the Rb gene, Dr.Weinberg has long been recognized as a pioneer in cancer research.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Weinberg to our Scientific Advisory Board," commented Dr. Robert Shorr, CEO, of Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals. "Dr. Weinberg's accomplishments in cancer research are monumental and we believe his experience, guidance and vision will be of tremendous benefit to the Company."

Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals is currently recruiting patients with solid tumors to advance multiple Phase I/II human clinical trials of CPI-613, its lead drug to emerge from the company's Altered Energy Metabolism Directed (AEMD) technology platform. CPI-613 is the first drug in a new chemical class that, through a novel mechanism, targets metabolic changes that may be common to many cancer types. CPI-613 is being evaluated in a Phase I/II single agent trial for patients who have failed all other therapy as well as in a Phase I/II combination trial with gemcitabine in newly diagnosed or relapsed patients determined to be treated with gemcitabine. Pancreatic cancer, like many solid tumors, typically has a poor prognosis, spreads rapidly and often goes undetected in its early stages. CPI-613 has been granted orphan drug status by the US FDA for pancreatic cancer.

"I am pleased to join Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals as a member of its Scientific Advisory Board and look forward to helping the Company develop vitally important potentially life-sustaining compounds that challenge and hopefully enhance conventional wisdom about treatment for a variety of cancers," said Dr. Weinberg. "Cornerstone is a leaderin developing compounds that target the unique metabolic attributes of cancer cells. I believe, as do many others, that this is a promising area in cancer research, as this unique metabolism is essential tocancer cell survival and preserved across multiple cancer types."

Dr. Weinberg, who received his Ph.D. in biology from MassachusettsInstitute of Technology in 1969, has also held research positions atthe Weizmann Institute and the Salk Institute. He co-founded the Whitehead Institute and joined the MIT faculty as a professor of biologyin 1982. That same year he published the landmark paper "Mechanism of Activation of a Human Oncogene" in the journal Nature. In 1999, he published "Creation of Human Tumor Cells with Defined Genetic Elements" also in Nature. Among his many distinctions, Dr. Weinberg was named "Scientist of the Year" by Discover magazine in 1982 and won the National Medal of Science in 1997 and the Otto Warburg Medal in 2007.

Keywords: Antimetabolite, Antineoplastic, Antiviral, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedicine, Cancer Research, Clinical Trial Research, Drug Development, Gemcitabine, Genetics, Immunosuppressant, Metabolism, Oncology, Pharmaceuticals, Radiation-Sensitizing Agent, Solid Cancers, Solid Carcinomas, Therapy, Treatment, Tumor Suppression, Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals Inc.

This article was prepared by Blood Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Blood Weekly via NewsRx.com.