WCTF.org Transplant News

In honor of Donate Life Month, Caucus Seeks to Raise Staffers' Awareness

WASHINGTON, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 29, 2008, members of the American Society of Transplantation (AST), American Society of Transplant Surgeons, the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations, National Kidney Foundation, and Donate Life America hosted a meeting with Congressional staffers in recognition of Donate Life Month. April is Donate Life Month, a time to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation and generate interest in making the commitment to saving lives.

Nearly 100,000 patients are listed on the national organ waiting list. Eighteen people die each day as they wait for suitable organs to become available. Potential donors may delay their decision to become an organ donor because of inaccurate and erroneous information about organ donation that is featured in the press, is the plot line for books, television shows and movies, and is circulated on the Internet.

David J. Cohen, MD, a member of the AST's Public Policy Committee and Medical Director of Columbia University Medical Center's Renal and Pancreatic Transplant Program discussed the importance of public trust in the transplant system and strategies for counteracting misleading information and improving access to transplantation. According to AST Public Policy Chairman, David Briscoe, MD, "The briefing offered a unique opportunity for staffers to learn the truth about organ donation from transplant experts."

Among the topic addressed were: patient access to transplantation, allocation of organs, attitudes toward transplantation, and the importance of funding the Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act.

The Congressional Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Caucus is committed to increasing organ and tissue donation and raising awareness of the national organ shortage. The Caucus supports federal and private sector efforts to increase donation and transplantation, and to educate all Americans on the importance of becoming organ and tissue donors. The Caucus advocates on behalf of policy initiatives that improve and enhance the effectiveness of transplantation.

For more information about transplant issues, please visit http://www.a-s-t.org/.

CONTACT: Beth Drost

(215) 884-6499

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: American Society of Transplantation

CONTACT: Beth Drost, +1-215-884-6499, for the American Society of
Transplantation

Web site:

http://www.a-s-t.org/

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Profile: Transplant News

Novelist Brenda Novak's 4th Annual Online Auction Adds Diabetes Research Institute as Beneficiary

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- As the mother of a child with type 1 diabetes, bestselling author Brenda Novak uses the creativity and vision she calls upon regularly as a writer to create the 4th Annual Online Auction to Benefit Diabetes Research. Held each May in honor of Mother's Day, the month-long event can be accessed at www.brendanovak.com from May 1st through May 31, 2008. This year, a new beneficiary has been added, the Diabetes Research Institute - a place Novak has come to know as the best hope for a cure for her son and the millions of others living with this insidious disease.

"I've faced some very dark moments in my life because of my son's diabetes, and this Online Auction for Diabetes Research is an annual bright light that I've seen grow in size and importance in the four years it's been running," said Novak. "I'm particularly proud to have the Diabetes Research Institute on board this year. It is one of the most progressive forces in the search for a cure."

In its first three years, the auction raised more than $250,000 for diabetes research with the beneficiary being the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In 2007, the auction boasted almost 70,000 hits and 10,000 unique visitors to the website. With the help of some of the biggest fiction writers in the business, including Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Lisa Scottoline and Scott Turow, as well as the participation of such powerful publishers as Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books) and Bantam/Doubleday/Dell and Harlequin Enterprises, the 2008 auction will be the largest and most visited yet.

Novak has assembled a unique array of items that can't be found anywhere else, such as the chance to appear as a character in her next novel, personal meetings and mentoring from top-notch, celebrated authors, and autographed books. Additionally, aspiring writers will jump at the chance to bid on evaluation opportunities with some of the most powerful and well-connected agents and editors in publishing, and possibly face-to-face interaction with these A-list publishing industry giants.

"We are in awe of what Brenda has been able to do with her event in just a few short years, and we are proud to be joining with her as both a participant in helping make the event a huge success and as a beneficiary of the proceeds," said Robert A. Pearlman, president and CEO of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation.

About Brenda Novak

Brenda Novak is a national bestselling author, widely known for her popular Stillwater Trilogy ("Dead Silence," "Dead Giveaway," and "Dead Right"). Her dynamic new trilogy is due out this summer - "Trust Me" (June), "Stop Me" (July) and "Watch Me" (August). Many of her books have been designated an RT Book Review Magazine "Top Pick" and have gone on to place in contests such as the National Reader's Choice, the Bookseller's Best, The Write Touch Reader's Award, and the Bookbuyer's Best. Novak has given numerous writing workshops and appeared on various television and radio programs. To learn more, visit www.brendanovak.com.

About the Diabetes Research Institute

The Diabetes Research Institute, a center of excellence at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, is a recognized world leader in cure- focused research. Since its inception in the early 1970's, the DRI has made significant contributions to the field of type 1 diabetes research, pioneering many of the techniques used in islet transplantation. From innovations in islet isolation and transplant procedures to advances in cell biology and immunology, the DRI is now harnessing the power of emerging technologies to develop new cell-based therapies to restore insulin production. For the millions of families already affected by diabetes who are looking to the world of science for answers, the Diabetes Research Institute is the best hope for a cure. For more information, call 1-800-321-3437 or visit www.diabetesresearch.org.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Diabetes Research Institute

CONTACT: Shep Doniger, Diabetes Research Institute, +1-561-637-5750,
sdoniger@bdcginc.com

Web site:

http://www.diabetesresearch.org/
http://www.brendanovak.com/

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Profile: Transplant News

MARKHAM, ON, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Cytochroma today announced the opening of its U.S. headquarters in Bannockburn, Illinois, located in the greater Chicago area. The site will serve as the Company's base for U.S. commercial activities and for the expansion of its North American clinical and regulatory operations.

The expansion into the U.S. will ensure that appropriate resources are available to support the Company's numerous planned clinical programs as well as subsequent U.S. product launches. Members of Cytochroma's current management team to be based in the Bannockburn office include Joel Z. Melnick, M.D., Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Eric J. Messner, MBA, Vice President of Commercial Operations. The Company will retain and continue growing its existing corporate headquarters in Markham.

Charles W. Bishop, PhD., President and CEO, commented, "This is an ideal time for Cytochroma to establish U.S. operations, as we move our lead programs into mid- to late-stage clinical trials and execute plans to develop our commercial infrastructure. The Chicago area is a prime location for Cytochroma, given the presence of a number of world-class pharmaceutical and healthcare companies focused on the chronic kidney disease market and the strong intellectual capital present in the region."

Cytochroma has a diverse portfolio of Vitamin D-based therapeutics designed to treat disorders related to abnormal or insufficient Vitamin D metabolism in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. These new products will address target markets that are expected to grow significantly, reaching more than $1.2 billion annually by 2010 in North America alone. Cytochroma has three lead product candidates in development for CKD patients: CTA018 and CTAP201 are being developed for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), while CTAP101 is being developed for the treatment of Vitamin D insufficiency.

About Chronic Kidney Disease

According to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), more than nine million North American patients suffer from moderate CKD (Stages 3 and 4) to severe CKD (Stage 5). Stages 3 and 4 are characterized by progressively decreasing kidney function as measured by glomerular filtration rate. In Stage 5, kidney function is altogether absent and patients require regular dialysis or kidney transplant for survival. An estimated 70-90% of CKD patients have Vitamin D insufficiency, which can lead to SHPT and resultant debilitating bone diseases. Mounting evidence continues to link Vitamin D insufficiency with CKD progression and increased morbidity and mortality in CKD patients. CKD is most frequently caused by diabetes or hypertension, both of which are consequences of a growing obesity epidemic in countries worldwide.

About Cytochroma

Cytochroma is a clinical stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing proprietary products to treat and prevent the clinical consequences of Vitamin D insufficiency and SHPT associated with CKD. The Company's Vitamin D-based therapeutics are designed to safely and effectively treat pre-dialysis and dialysis CKD patients. In addition, Cytochroma is developing novel therapies to treat hyperphosphatemia. For more information, please visit www.cytochroma.com.

Source: Cytochroma Inc.

CONTACT: Eric J. Messner, Vice President, Commercial Operations, Tel:
(905) 479-5306 ext. 338, eric.messner@cytochroma.com; Media Inquiries: Robert
Stanislaro, FD, Tel: (212) 850-5657, robert.stanislaro@fd.com

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Profile: Transplant News