Healthcare Industry News: sickle cell
News Release - March 31, 2008
Synthetic Blood International, Inc. Announces New Leadership Roles to Continue Product Development Strategy
COSTA MESA, Calif.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Synthetic Blood International, Inc. (OTCBB:SYBD ) today announced new management roles and responsibilities for company board members to succeed the late Robert Larsen.Chris J. Stern, DBA, who is the Chairman of Synthetic Blood International’s board of directors assumes the additional responsibilities of chief executive officer. At the same time, Richard Kiral, PhD, vice president of research & development and board member becomes president and chief operating officer. Those new titles and responsibilities are effective immediately.
“Being professional always pays off in small companies. We had our strategic planning homework done and a succession plan already in place,” said Stern. “While we all mourn Bob Larsen’s passing, this was a succession plan he helped shape. He left the company well positioned to achieve its goals. We have a lot of exciting projects in the works and we’ll make Synthetic Blood the great company Bob wanted it to become.”
Dr. Stern is best known for his writings and lectures on management techniques and managing multilingual and multinational companies. He is an American and Swiss dual national, and Principal and Founder of the Institute for Efficient Management, which has conducted more than one hundred major strategic consulting projects. He also serves on a number of boards. He received his MBA from GSBA in Zurich/State University of New York and a doctorate in business administration from Trinity College & University.
Dr. Richard Kiral has served the Company as vice president of research and development since 1999 and has been responsible for developing products from Synthetic Blood's perfluorocarbon technology platforms. Said Dr. Kiral, “I’ve had extensive involvement with our products and the independent investigators doing the clinical research with Oxycyte®. I look forward to the opportunity to lead the execution of our development strategy and to achieve our goal of making Oxycyte the first approved therapeutic oxygen carrier for traumatic brain injury, sickle cell disease, decompression sickness, heart attack and stroke.”
Prior to joining Synthetic Blood, Dr. Kiral held senior product development, laboratory management, and research and development positions at leading pharmaceutical and medical device companies for more than 35 years. He has a PhD in analytical chemistry and an MS in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame.
About Synthetic Blood International
Synthetic Blood International is dedicated to commercializing innovative pharmaceuticals and medical devices in the field of oxygen therapeutics and continuous substrate monitoring. The Company has under development an oxygen therapeutic/blood substitute and a liquid ventilation product, and an implantable glucose sensor. These products are based upon core technologies that include biomedical applications for PFCs, and medical and industrial applications for biosensors. Each of the product candidates is designed with advantages over currently marketed products in major markets including acute respiratory distress syndrome, stroke, myocardial infarction, surgery, trauma, malignant tumors and diabetes. For further information, visit www.sybd.com.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements by Synthetic Blood International, Inc. that involve risks and uncertainties and reflect the company's judgment as of the date of this release. These statements include predictions about the future of the company and goals for Oxycyte. Actual events or results may differ from Synthetic Blood International, Inc.'s expectations. There can be no assurance that the company will attain such goals or that Oxycyte or any company product will be approved by the FDA for any of the mentioned indications. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors affecting Synthetic Blood International, Inc.'s business can be found in the company's public periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available via www.SYBD.com. Synthetic Blood International, Inc. disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements beyond the date of this release. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Source: Synthetic Blood International
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