CRANBURY, N.J., Apr 13, 2004 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- . Linguagen Corp. (www.linguagen.com), a leader in the development of ingredients used to improve the taste of food, beverages, and pharmaceutical products, today announced the appointment of Robert "Rusty" Bryant, Ph.D, to the position of Vice President, Discovery Research. The appointment highlights the company's focus on broadening its research team and accelerating development of its taste technology research.
 
"Rusty is a highly skilled biochemist recognized around the world for his contributions developing primary screening assays for drug development," says Shawn M. Marcell, Linguagen's COO and acting CEO. "We are excited to tap his broad experience with various drug development technologies to further advance our research in the taste modification field."

Dr. Bryant spent the last 13 years at Schering-Plough Research Institute (SPRI), most recently as a research fellow, where he directed a team of scientists for new assay implementation and screening in the corporate high- throughput screening (HTS) group. During that time, he designed, implemented, and maintained more than 150 primary screening assays, which resulted in the start of numerous new drug discovery projects. Dr. Bryant also led a biochemistry group for eight years, where he helped to discover and characterize novel anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory agents.

Prior to that, Dr. Bryant was an associate research professor of biochemistry at the George Washington University Medical School, where he collaborated on the discovery of some of the first reported leakotriene synthesis inhibitors. He received the SPRI President's Discovery Award in 1986, 2000, and 2001. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the State University College of Forestry and Environmental Science and a Doctorate degree in biochemistry from Florida State University. Dr. Bryant did his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health.

About Linguagen

Linguagen Corp. (www.linguagen.com) is a privately held company located in Cranbury, N.J., and holds a variety of patents in the field of taste. The company researches, discovers, develops, and commercializes breakthrough products that improve the palatability of oral medicines and enhance the flavor and nutritional value of foods and beverages, including solutions to the problems of bitterness, excess sugar, and excess salt.