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Dr. Julia Levy Accepts Position on ProtoKinetix' Business and Scientific Advisory BoardProtoKinetix (OTCQB:PKTX) (www.protokinetix.com) is pleased to announce that Julia Levy, PhD, co-founder of QLT, Inc., has accepted the position as head of its Business and Scientific Advisory Board. Discoveries made by her and colleagues at the University of British Columbia in the field of photodynamic therapy were the basis of the first medical treatment of macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness among the elderly, a treatment was developed by QLT, Inc. She served first as Chief Scientific Officer and later as Chief Executive Officer of QLT. Dr. Levy is an officer of the Order of Canada and has received a number of honorary degrees. She has served on the boards of a number of companies as well as of charitable organizations. As ProtoKinetix continues to grow and to make the important transition to becoming a full-fledged clinicl stage company, Dr. Levy's in-depth experience and understanding of both the regulatory and business aspects of the biopharmaceutical industry are particularly valuable for the expansion and commercialization of AAGP™ applications. About Dr. Levy As co-inventor of Visudyne and co-founder of QLT, Dr. Levy served in several key senior positions at the company including Chief Scientific Officer as well as President and CEO. Under Dr. Levy's leadership, QLT recorded the strongest period of growth in the company's history and earned a reputation for achieving milestones, including FDA approval for Visudyne to treat age-related macular degeneration, the commonest cause of severe vision loss in the elderly. Dr. Levy has earned numerous awards and honours including an appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada, the Female Entrepreneur of the Year for International Business, Pacific Canada Entrepreneur of the Year and the Future of Vision Award from the Foundation Fighting Blindness. In 2002 she received, along with Dr. David Dolphin, the Friesen-Rygiel prize for medical research and the Prix Galien Canada research award. In her honour, the Julia G. Levy Professorship in Ophthalmology Chair was created at Johns Hopkins Hospital Wilmer Eye Institute in 2004, the same year she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the BC Biotechnology Association. In 2009, the province of British Columbia permanently endowed the Julia Levy B.C. Leadership Chair in Macular Research at the University of British Columbia (U.B.C.) in partnership with U.B.C. and QLT. About ProtoKinetix ProtoKinetix, Inc. is a molecular biotechnology company that has developed and patented a family of hyper stable, potent glycopeptides (AAGP™). These molecules have been demonstrated to protect cells against hostile conditions that are present in all areas of transplantation including regenerative medicine. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Some information included in this press release contains statements that are forward-looking. Such forward-looking information involves significant risks and uncertainties that could affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, these results may differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. For a description of additional risks and uncertainties, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Clarence E. Smith - President and CEO |
