BEDMINSTER, N.J., Dec. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc. (NYSE MKT:MTNB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative anti-infectives for orphan indications, announced the appointment of Matthew A. Wikler, M.D., M.B.A., FIDSA, to its Board of Directors. Dr. Wikler will replace current Board member, Stefano Ferrari, effective January 1, 2018.

Dr. Wikler is a senior healthcare physician executive and therapeutic expert in infectious diseases, who has successfully and ethically developed multiple pharmaceutical products in the biopharmaceutical industry over the past thirty-three years of his career. He joins the Matinas Board with broad experience in strategically positioning technology through scientifically and commercially assessing products and building leading teams that have a passion for developing drugs that are aligned with the commercialization process to benefit patients. Over the course of his career, Dr. Wikler played a significant role in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) filing and subsequent approval for 20 different compounds in systemic antibiotics, topical antibiotics, systemic antivirals and vaccines.

“We are incredibly pleased to welcome Dr. Wikler, a preeminent infectious disease product development expert, to our Board. Dr. Wikler’s track record in this space is impressive, and we look forward to leveraging his expertise as we develop and advance product candidates based upon our proprietary cochleate drug delivery platform,” commented Herb Conrad, Chairman of the Board of Matinas. “Additionally, we are sincerely grateful to Mr. Ferrari for his years of service to Matinas. He joined the Board of Directors in 2012 as a founding member and has been an integral member of the Company, providing invaluable insight and leadership over the years.”

Dr. Wikler currently serves as the Principal of Infectious Disease Technology Development Consulting (IDTD Consulting) where he provides clinical, medical and regulatory strategic insight to companies developing new technologies for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. Prior to that from 2012 to 2015, Dr. Wikler served at The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: MDCO) as VP, New Business Ventures and VP and Medical Director, Infectious Disease Care. During his time at The Medicines Company, Dr. Wikler was responsible for leading the clinical and medical teams and providing strategic direction for the US and EU clinical development and regulatory activities for oritavancin, which resulted in its approval in both the US and EU. Over the course of his career Dr. Wikler held senior leaderships positions for a number of pharmaceutical companies, including as Chief Development Officer of Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, President and Chief Executive Officer of IASO Pharma Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of antibacterial and antifungal therapeutics, the Institute for One World Health, Mpex Pharmaceuticals, Peninsula Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Johnson & Johnson), ViroPharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical (a division of Johnson & Johnson). Dr. Wikler began his career at Smith Kline & French/Smith Kline Beecham where he held positions of increasing responsibilities over ten years. Dr. Wikler held a variety of positions at the FDA, including the Deputy Director of the Division of Anti-Infective Drug Products.

Dr. Wikler earned a B.A. in Chemistry from Franklin and Marshall, an M.D. degree from Temple University School of Medicine, and his M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. He completed his Infectious Diseases Fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and is a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

About Matinas BioPharma

Matinas BioPharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative anti-infectives for orphan indications. The Company's proprietary, disruptive technology utilizes lipid-crystal nano-particle cochleates to nano-encapsulate existing drugs, making them safer, more tolerable, less toxic and orally bioavailable.