CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Jan. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: DFFN), a cutting-edge biotechnology company developing new treatments for life-threatening medical conditions by improving the body’s ability to bring oxygen to the areas where it is needed most, announces the appointment of Robert Cobuzzi, Jr., Ph.D., 55, to the Company’s board of directors, effective immediately.

Dr. Cobuzzi is an accomplished life sciences professional with 25 years of cross-functional leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. His areas of expertise include corporate development, research & development, and operations. From 2005 until 2018 he was with Endo International Plc, a specialty branded and generic pharmaceutical manufacturer, holding positions of increasing responsibility including most recently President, Endo Ventures Limited in Dublin, Ireland from 2015 until 2018. Prior to Endo, he was with Adolor Corporation (now Cubist) from 2001 until 2005, where he was Director of Scientific Licensing from 2003 until 2005. He began his career in 1995 at AstraMerck as a Clinical Program Scientist, later becoming a Clinical Project Manager before joining Centocor, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson) as Manager, Worldwide Regulatory Affairs from 1999 to 2001.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Cobuzzi has led multidisciplinary teams in executing over $6B in acquisitions, licenses and collaboration transactions. He has authored multiple scientific publications and abstracts, has served on multiple industry panels and has taught and lectured at various universities and conferences.

Dr. Cobuzzi has significant board and strategic advisory experience, including his current positions of chairman of Sunstone Life Science Venture’s Business Development Board and advisor to the Mitochondrial Disease Frontier Program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He was a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Health/Science Products and Services, and previously served as a board member for two development-stage medical device companies.

“We are fortunate to add a professional of Bob’s stature to our board of directors, and welcome his experience and insight to Diffusion,” said David Kalergis, chairman and chief executive officer of Diffusion. “His contributions to our Company are expected to be both broad and deep, as we leverage his knowledge from drug development to business development and funding, both in the U.S. and abroad. We believe Bob will be invaluable in helping us to achieve our goals,” Mr. Kalergis concluded.

Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Cobuzzi said, "I’m honored and excited to have the opportunity to join the Diffusion Board. I look forward to working with the Board and leadership to help the Company achieve its medically-important goal of bringing treatments for oxygen deprivation to the market.”

Dr. Cobuzzi holds an A.B. in Biochemistry and Art History from Colby College and a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry from Loyola University Chicago. He was a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Experimental Therapeutics at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y.

About Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. is an innovative biotechnology company developing new treatments that improve the body’s ability to bring oxygen to the areas where it is needed most, offering new hope for the treatment of life-threatening medical conditions.

Diffusion’s lead drug TSC was originally developed in conjunction with the Office of Naval Research, which was seeking a way to treat hemorrhagic shock caused by massive blood loss on the battlefield.

Evolutions in research have led to Diffusion’s focus today: Fueling Life by taking on some of medicine’s most intractable and difficult-to-treat diseases, including stroke and GBM brain cancer. In each of these diseases, hypoxia – oxygen deprivation of essential tissue in the body – has proved to be a significant obstacle for medical providers and is the target for TSC’s novel mechanism.