ProMIS Neurosciences Announces Appointment of Dr. Johanne Kaplan as Chief Development Officer

TSX: PMN

TORONTO, July 21, 2016 /CNW/ - ProMIS Neurosciences ("ProMIS" or the "Company"), a company focused on the discovery and development of precision treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that it has appointed Johanne Kaplan, PhD, to the position of Chief Development Officer. In this new role, reporting to both the Executive Chairman and CEO, Dr. Kaplan will focus on supporting the design and execution of ProMIS' development programs and partnering efforts.

"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Kaplan as her extensive skill set and experience will add significant value to the ProMIS team and to this important new role," said ProMIS Executive Chairman, Eugene Williams. "Dr. Kaplan's track record of successfully managing development-stage programs will benefit the Company as we approach the selection of the final lead candidates for development in our Alzheimer's disease portfolio. Furthermore, her experience as a senior executive in pharmaceutical industry in-licensing and product acquisition will be integral as we pursue partnering opportunities."

Johanne Kaplan joins ProMIS following 24 years at Genzyme (a Sanofi company), where she held positions of increasing responsibility, culminating in her decade-long tenure as Vice President of Research, most recently directing the multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology research effort.

"I am excited to join ProMIS, a dynamic company at the forefront of developing precision medicine treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease and ALS," said Kaplan. "I look forward to working with the executive and science teams at ProMIS to help the Company achieve its product development and partnering goals."

About Dr. Johanne Kaplan

Johanne Kaplan is a former VP of Research at Genzyme, a Sanofi Company. Over the course of her career at Genzyme, Dr. Kaplan directed pioneering research leading to the implementation of multiple clinical trials in the fields of gene therapy, cancer immunotherapy and autoimmunity. Most recently, as VP of Neuroimmunology Research, Dr. Kaplan led the Genzyme science team's contribution to the approval of Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) and Aubagio (teriflunomide) for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.  She also established partnerships for the development of novel therapies for neuroinflammatory disorders.  Prior to joining Genzyme, Dr. Kaplan was an Associate Immunopathologist at SmithKline Beecham where she established an Immunotoxicology program.  Her work has resulted in more than 60 scientific publications and multiple patents. Dr. Kaplan holds a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and conducted post-doctoral studies at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, USA.

About ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc.

The mission of ProMIS Neurosciences is to discover and develop precision medicine therapeutics for effective treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease and ALS.

ProMIS Neurosciences' proprietary target discovery engine is based on the use of two, complementary techniques. The Company applies its thermodynamic, computational discovery platforms—ProMIS^™ and Collective Coordinates — to predict novel targets known as Disease Specific Epitopes (DSEs) on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Using this unique "precision medicine" approach, ProMIS Neurosciences is developing novel antibody therapeutics and specific companion diagnostics for Alzheimer's disease and ALS. The company has also developed two proprietary technologies to specifically identify very low levels of misfolded proteins in a biological sample. In addition, ProMIS Neurosciences owns a portfolio of therapeutic and diagnostic patents relating to misfolded SOD1 in ALS, and currently has three preclinical monoclonal antibody therapeutics against this target.

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This information release may contain certain forward-looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information please consult the Company's website at: www.promisneurosciences.com

Follow us on Twitter
Like us on LinkedIn

SOURCE ProMIS Neurosciences Inc.

NATIONAL Equicom, Michael Moore: [email protected]; Abby Garfunkel: [email protected]; or contact Dr. Elliot Goldstein, President and Chief Executive Officer, ProMIS Neurosciences Inc., Tel. [phone], [email protected]