SAN CARLOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Cellerant Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel hematopoietic stem cell-based cellular and antibody therapies for blood disorders and cancer, announced today the appointment of Gisela Schwab, M.D. to its Board of Directors and the appointment of Lowell Sears as Chairman of the Board. Richard Rathmann, Cellerants former Chairman of the Board, will remain a director on the Board.

Dr. Schwab joins Cellerants Board with more than 20 years of experience in the development of oncology therapeutics. She currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Exelixis. Previously, she held the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Abgenix, Inc., a human antibody-based drug development company. Prior to Abgenix, Dr. Schwab held positions of increasing responsibility at Amgen Inc., most recently as Director of Clinical Research and Hematology/Oncology Therapeutic Area Team Leader. Dr. Schwab also serves as a member of the board of directors of Topotarget A/S, a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Heidelberg, trained at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and the National Cancer Institute and is board certified in internal medicine and hematology and oncology.

Dr. Schwab is an accomplished leader in the development of oncology therapeutics. I am pleased to welcome her to our board, said Ram Mandalam, President and CEO of Cellerant. Her extensive experience in hematology-oncology indications will significantly benefit Cellerant in the development of CLT-008 and our cancer stem cell programs.

I am very excited to join the Cellerant Board and about the opportunity to work with such an accomplished group of people on the board and in management on the development of a novel, cell-based approach to the treatment for chemotherapy- and radiation-induced neutropenia and on novel therapeutic antibodies aimed at cancer stem cells, said Dr. Schwab.

Mr. Sears joined Cellerants Board in February, 2012. He is currently Chairman and CEO of Sears Capital Management, a venture investment and portfolio management firm specializing in life sciences. He has been an active life science venture investor since 1994, helping to found and fund over forty companies. From 1986 until 1994, Mr. Sears was a part of the senior management team of Amgen, Inc., where he held positions of Chief Financial Officer as well as Senior Vice President responsible for the Asia Pacific Region.

Lowell's vast operational and governance experience has already proven a great benefit to Cellerant since his joining the board earlier this year, said Richard Rathmann, Cellerants former Chairman. I could not be more pleased this recognized leader in biotechnology has agreed to increase his stewardship role in the exciting opportunities ahead for this promising company.

I want to thank Richard for his outstanding leadership and vision in governance of the Company during his five year tenure as Chairman, said Mr. Sears. I look forward to working with the board and management of Cellerant as the Company drives forward its leading edge product portfolio for the benefit of cancer patients worldwide.

About Cellerant Therapeutics

Cellerant Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the regulation of the hematopoietic (blood-forming) system. The Company is developing human stem cell and antibody therapies for oncology applications and blood-related disorders. Cellerants lead product, CLT-008, is currently in two Phase 1 clinical trials in patients with hematological malignancies. The Company also has a cancer stem cell (CSC) antibody discovery program focused on therapies for acute myelogenous leukemia, multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndrome.

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Cellerant Appoints Gisela Schwab, M.D., to Its Board of Directors and Names Lowell Sears as Chairman of the Board