Vancouver, British Columbia – February 14, 2012 – Sirona Biochem Corp. (TSX-V: SBM, OTC: SRBCF, Frankfurt: ZSB), a biotechnology company specializing in carbohydrate chemistry technology, announced today it has appointed organic chemistry expert Professor Pierre Vogel, fluorine chemistry expert Dr. Bernard Langlois and carbohydrate chemistry expert Dr. Eric Leclerc to the Scientific Advisory Board of its subsidiary, TFChem.
“These respected chemists will bring a tremendous amount of scientific insight to our research efforts,” said Dr. Howard Verrico, President and CEO of Sirona Biochem. “This expertise will help to streamline our processes in compound development, selection and formulation and give us a better understanding of the compounds’ commercial relevance,” Dr. Howard Verrico added.
Biography of Professor Pierre Vogel
Dr. Pierre Vogel has been a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland since 2001. In 1969, he completed his Ph.D under the supervision of Prof. H. Prinzbach at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Lausanne. Dr. Vogel spent two years at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA with Prof. Martin Saunders, Prof. J. A. Berson, K. A. Wiberg and P.v.R. Schleyer (Princeton Universtiy). He then worked as a Research chemist at Syntex S.A., in Mexico with Prof. P.Crabbé before returning to the University of Lausanne in 1973. As of 1977 he became Professor of organic chemistry at the University of Lausanne. In 1991 he was Vice-Chairman of the Institute of organic Chemistry, University of Lausanne until 2001. He was also a part-time graduate school teacher at the Universities of Rouen and Caen from 1991 to 1993 and part-time professor at Ecole Polytechnique de Palaiseau from 1993-2000. Dr. Vogel has authored over 520 publications in referred journals.
Biography of Dr. Bernard Langlois
Dr. Bernard Langlois is a scientific expert in the area of organic fluorine chemistry with more than 40 years of academic experience. Until recently, he was the Director of the SERCOF laboratory at the University of Lyon in France as well as the Research Director for CNRS at the Université de Claude Bernard. D. Langlois has been involved in organic fluorine chemistry since 1970, when he joined the research team of the Rhône-Poulenc Co. His interest is directed to all aspects of organic fluorine chemistry; aromatic and aliphatic compounds, fluorination and trifluoromethylation techniques, as well as functionalization of fluorinated substrates. During his career, he developed new methods for performing radical perfluoroalkylation using “Halons” or sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate, mild nucleophilic trifluoromethylation with fluoral hemiaminals or hydroxytrifluoroacetamides, as well as nucleophilic trifluoromethoxylation. He was also involved in work on a new route to triflic acid from bromotrifluoromethane. Dr. Langlois is the author of more than 90 articles, 9 book chapters, 33 patents, 60 poster presentations, 69 oral presentations and 39 invited and plenary lectures in national and international events. Dr. Langlois received his PhD from the University of Lyon (France).
Biography of Dr. Eric Leclerc
Dr. Eric Leclerc is currently a Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Researcher at the Institut Charles Gerhardt in France. In this role, Dr. Leclerc is responsible for the development of new tools for the synthesis of fluoroolefins and metabolically stable, fluorinated glycomimetics as analogues of glycoconjugate with high therapeutic potential. Prior to this role he was a Researcher at the Institut National des Sciences Appliquees (INSA) de Rouen, also in France, where he was responsible for the development of fluorinated glycomimetics and synthesis of chiral ligands for asymmetric catalysis. Previous positions include a post-doctoral role at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a PhD position at the Universite Pierre et Marie Currie. Dr. Leclerc has authored more than 20 publications and has given several presentations in the area of fluorinated glycomimetics. He received his PhD and Masters in organic chemistry from the Universite Pierre et Marie Currie in 2001 and 1997, respectively.
About Sirona Biochem Corp.
Sirona Biochem is a biotechnology company developing diabetes therapeutics, cancer vaccine antigens, skin depigmenting and anti-aging cosmeceuticals and biological ingredients. We are applying a proprietary chemistry technique to improve the pharmaceutical properties of our carbohydrate-based molecules. For more information visit www.sironabiochem.com.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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For more information regarding this press release, contact:
Julie Jang
Director, Communications
Sirona Biochem Corp.
Phone: 604.282.6065
Email: jjang@sironabiochem.com
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