Lacey, WA – January 31, 2006 – Unigen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading research and development facility and supplier of proprietary, biologically active plant-derived ingredients to the natural products and pharmaceutical industries, has announced the hiring of the company’s first Director of Clinical Research, Terry E. O’Reilly, M.D.

Dr. O’Reilly joins Unigen with outstanding credentials, not only as an experienced board-certified physician, but as an experienced researcher, principal investigator, member of an Institutional Review Board (IRB), and an IRB staff physician.  She has worked as a regulatory reviewer and trainer, medical director, and marketing executive, and has an extensive background in Phase I – IV human clinical studies. 

“The hiring of Dr. O’Reilly to head up all of Unigen’s human clinical trials is a huge milestone for us,” said Dr. Qi Jia, Chief Scientific Officer for Unigen.  “In the past three years, Unigen has completed eight human clinical trials for safety and efficacy for a number of products.  This year, we will significantly increase our investment in human clinical studies to support products in our current and expanding product pipeline.”

Past human clinical trials have included products developed for oral consumption involving joint support, weight management and memory support.  Clinical trials for products with topical application have included antioxidants and anti-aging cosmeceutical ingredients.

With Dr. O’Reilly onboard as a seasoned medical practitioner and clinical trials expert, Unigen is aggressively moving forward with its next series of human clinical trials that are currently underway.  These include Seroctin™, a raw material ingredient that targets mood and anxiety, and a novel source of Policosanol that addresses healthy cholesterol levels.  Studies for both products are currently being evaluated by the relevant IRBs (organizations that review proposals for clinical trials to ensure that the trial is ethical and that the rights of study participants are protected). Other human clinical trials planned for the near future will involve Unigen’s next generation of skin whitening ingredients, and the company’s recently launched ingredient, UniBEX™, that targets healthy blood circulation and blood lipid levels.

Prior to joining Unigen, Dr. O’Reilly worked for more than 10 years, most recently as Assistant Vice President, External Affairs, at the Western Institutional Review Board in Olympia.  She has also worked as a Staff Physician and Investigator at the Middleton Foundation, and as a Medical Director and Principal Investigator at the Future Healthcare Research Center.  Dr. O’Reilly has also served as a private practice and hospital-affiliated Physician.

Dr. O’Reilly received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, and her Bachelor of Science degree in biology, with Honors, at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington.  She completed a residency at the Tacoma Family Medicine center to become a Licensed Physician, Board-Certified in Family Practice.

Dr. O’Reilly’s past affiliations and accomplishments also include certification as an IRB Professional (CIP);  memberships in the Drug Information Association (DIA),  the American Society of Gene Therapy (ASGT), and the American Academy of Family Physicians; and serving as Chair of an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) overseeing gene therapy research.

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About Unigen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Unigen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.UnigenPharma.com) is a leading natural products research and development company and proprietary ingredients supplier.  The company is dedicated to the discovery of botanically derived therapeutic compounds that address consumer health needs and help improve the quality of human life.  Its research and discovery process includes extensive work at both the human cell and gene level.  Unigen and sister company Aloecorp, Inc. each focus on identifying and studying the unique ingredients of medicinal botanicals (Aloecorp’s focus is on Aloe vera) and then formulating proprietary, patented raw materials for use in cosmeceutical, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products.   

Contact:
Regan Miles, President & Chief Operating Officer
360-486-8200 x1511
ReganMiles@earthlink.net