IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 18,
2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AtheroNova Inc. (OTCBB: AHRO), a biotech
company focused on the research and development of compounds to
safely regress atherosclerotic plaque and improve lipid profiles in
humans, today announced that Mark K.
Wedel, MD, JD has joined the Company as Senior Vice
President of Clinical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer.
"We are pleased to announce that Dr. Wedel has joined
AtheroNova's management team, bringing his wealth of knowledge in
development and clinical affairs to help us as we transition to a
clinical-stage company over the coming months," stated Thomas W. Gardner, CEO of AtheroNova. "We look
forward to Mark's invaluable contributions in the development of
the Company's first-in-class compounds for atherosclerosis
regression and lipid modulation technology, especially given his
extensive experience in development and the clinical affairs of
lipid modulating drugs."
Between 2009 and 2010, Dr. Wedel served as Chief Medical Officer
and Vice President of Clinical Development for Santaris A/S in
San Diego, CA, responsible for
planning the strategic clinical development of several locked
nucleic acid oligonucleotides, including lipid lowering agents
directed at apolipoprotein B and PCSK9. He was also responsible for
obtaining FDA approval for the first micro RNA oligonucleotide used
in Hepatitis C infected man and assembling Santaris' medical
advisory board and clinical research staff.
Between 2002 and 2008, Dr. Wedel held the position of Chief
Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Clinical Development
with ISIS Pharmaceuticals, where he oversaw the clinical research
activities of 13 drugs in all phases of clinical development. He
developed safety and medical affairs profiles for all drugs under
development and was instrumental in the development and licensing
of ISIS' flagship drug, a lipid lowering antisense inhibitor of
apolipoprotein B, to Genzyme.
Between 1996 and 2002, Dr. Wedel served as Executive Director of
Alliance Pharmaceuticals, a company developing liquid ventilation
in acute lung injury. At Alliance, he was responsible for
successfully leading the company through Phase II and III clinical
trials, working directly with the FDA throughout the clinical
process.
Dr. Wedel's career also includes consulting positions with the
U.S. Department of Justice, serving as Medical Director for the
Intensive Care Unit of Scripps Clinic & Research Foundation,
and serving as Head of Pulmonary Medicine at Park-Nicollet Medical
Center.
Dr. Wedel holds a Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry and Biology
from Valparaiso University, an MD from
the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine,
and a JD from Thomas Jefferson
School of Law. He is board certified in Internal
Medicine, Chest Medicine, Critical Care Medicine and Sleep
Disorders Medicine. He is the author of one book and more than 50
professional publications and articles.
About AtheroNova
AtheroNova Inc., through its
wholly-owned subsidiary, AtheroNova Operations, Inc., is a
biotechnology company focused on the discovery, research,
development and licensing of novel compounds to reduce or regress
atherosclerotic plaque deposits and to safely improve lipid
profiles in humans. In addition to its lead compound AHRO-001,
AtheroNova plans to develop multiple applications for its
patents-pending therapies in market sectors that include:
Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, Peripheral Artery Disease, Dementia
and Alzheimer's and Erectile Dysfunction, all of which have been
linked to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis and its related
pharmaceutical expenses for these indications cost consumers more
than $41 billion annually in
the United States alone. For more
information, please visit www.AtheroNova.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical
information contained herein, the statements in this release are
forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements are inherently unreliable and actual
results may differ materially. Examples of forward-looking
statements in this news release include statements regarding the
value of Mark Wedel's involvement
with AtheroNova, and the development of applications for
AtheroNova's technology. Factors which could cause actual
results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements
include such factors as significant fluctuations in expenses
associated with clinical trials, failure to secure additional
financing, the inability to complete regulatory filings with the
Food and Drug Administration, the introduction of competing
products, or management's ability to attract and maintain qualified
personnel necessary for the development and commercialization of
its planned products, and other information that may be detailed
from time to time in AtheroNova's filings with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission. AtheroNova undertakes no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
SOURCE AtheroNova Inc.