NEW YORK and LONDON, Oct. 24, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Celsus Therapeutics (OTCQB:CLSXY), an emerging growth, development-stage biopharmaceutical company, announces the appointment of Pablo Jimenez, M.D., to the position of Chief Medical Officer. This appointment reflects Celsus' continued growth as the company advances the development of its lead clinical asset, MRX-6, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory cream for the treatment of eczema and other skin inflammatory disorders.

"We are excited to have Dr. Jimenez join the Celsus team," said Gur Roshwalb, Chief Executive Officer of Celsus Therapeutics. "Pablo brings a track record of success in developing dermatology compounds. His wealth of clinical and regulatory experience will be invaluable as we advance our clinical pipeline."

Dr. Jimenez commented, "There is a significant need for safe and effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory topical therapies like MRX-6 for patients with eczema. I am excited to join Celsus at such a pivotal time in the company's evolution as it prepares to advance MRX-6 into further clinical trials."

Dr. Jimenez has served more than two decades as a successful senior pharmaceutical executive in clinical development and medical affairs within the dermatology, wound healing, respiratory, and oncology therapeutic areas. During his tenure at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Jimenez held positions of increasing responsibility including: Global Clinical Program Leader of Apligraf®, Global Project Section Leader of Elidel®, Global Brand Medical Director of Xolair®, Global Head of Medical Services and Global Head of Medical Education & Communications. His career has spanned all levels of Development and Medical Affairs, including global roles in the biopharmaceutical industry at Sotio, Human Genome Sciences, Neronyx and OsteoArthritis Sciences.

"Dr. Jimenez has extensive clinical development expertise and knowledge about drug development in immunology and dermatology," said Professor Paul Carle, Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France. "I have had the pleasure of working with Pablo in the past and he brings a special expertise in bringing drugs from the bench to the bedside."

Dr. Jimenez received his M.D. from Central University School of Medicine in Ecuador and Master's Certificate in Project Management from the George Washington University School of Business and Public Management. He did his Post-Doctoral research work at Brown University, Division of Biology and Medicine.

About MFAIDs (Multi-Functional, Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)

Celsus Therapeutics is developing a platform of first-in-class, synthetic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are designed to inhibit extracellular secretory phospholipase A₂ (sPLA₂), a catalytic enzyme responsible for initiating the inflammatory cascade through the production of arachidonic acid from membrane-associated phospholipids, specifically at the cell surface. MFAIDs can inhibit all sPLA₂isomers without disrupting cytoplasmic phospholipase A₂ (cPLA₂), a crucial homeostatic enzyme within cells. MFAIDS also enrich cell surface glycosaminoglycans, protecting cells from exposure to oxygen radicals and certain cytokines.

About MRX-6 – Dermatitis

MRX-6 is an MFAID topical cream treatment under development for treating skin inflammatory disorders, specifically allergic contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema. ACD and atopic dermatitis usually caused by environment allergens.

About Celsus Therapeutics Plc.

Celsus Therapeutics is an emerging clinical stage company focused on the development of a new class of non-steroidal, synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs termed Multi-Functional Anti-Inflammatory Drugs or MFAIDs. Celsus's MFAIDs represent a new therapeutic platform for the treatment of a broad array of inflammatory diseases, such as allergies and autoimmune diseases. Presently, the Company has two lead drug candidates in its clinical pipeline, MRX-6, a topical cream for contact dermatitis and MRX-4, a nasal spray for treating allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Other potential treatments in preclinical development include OPX-1 for ocular inflammation, CFX-1 for cystic fibrosis, and MRX-5 for inflammatory bowel disease.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS – This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms including "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "should," "will," "would," "hope," "look forward" and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including our ability to finance our operations, the future success of our scientific studies, our ability to successfully develop drug candidates, the timing for starting and completing clinical trials, rapid technological change in our markets, and the enforcement of our intellectual property rights. Our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F discusses some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Unless we are required to do so under applicable laws, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

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