DiaMedica Inc. Appoints Dr. Ralph A. DeFronzo to its Scientific Advisory Board

DiaMedica Inc. Appoints Dr. Ralph A. DeFronzo to its Scientific Advisory Board
  
 

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA--(Marketwired - Jun 3, 2014) - DiaMedica Inc. ("DiaMedica") (TSX-VENTURE:DMA), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of diabetes and its complications, announced today the appointment of Ralph A. DeFronzo, MD, to the Company's Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. DeFronzo, is a Professor of Medicine, the Chief of the Diabetes Division at the University of Texas Health Science Center, and the Deputy Director of the Texas Diabetes Institute, San Antonio, Texas.

With more than 650 articles published in peer-reviewed medical journals, Dr. DeFronzo is a distinguished diabetes researcher, clinician, and teacher, and is a recipient of several prestigious national and international awards. In 2008, Dr. DeFronzo received the Banting Award from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the Claude Bernard Award from the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). These represent the highest scientific achievement awards given by the American and European Diabetes Associations, respectively. In 2008, Dr. DeFronzo also received the Italian Diabetes Mentor Prize and the Philip Bondy Lectureship at Yale University. He also is the recipient of the ADA's Albert Renold Award (2002) for lifetime commitment to the training of young diabetes investigators. For his work in this area, Dr. DeFronzo received the prestigious Lilly Award (1987) from the ADA, the Banting Lectureship (1988) from the Canadian Diabetes Association, and the Novartis Award (2003) for outstanding clinical investigation worldwide. Dr. DeFronzo has served as an Advisory Board member for several pharmaceutical companies and has delivered numerous keynote speeches at major national and international conferences on diabetes and its complications.

"Dr. DeFronzo is a world-renowned researcher, clinician, and educator in the diabetes field. We are honored and delighted to have him join DiaMedica's Scientific Advisory Board," said Rick Pauls, DiaMedica's President and CEO. "We intend to leverage Dr. DeFronzo's vast knowledge on the subject of diabetes and kidney disease, and his reputable standing with numerous international diabetes organizations, as we move forward with our products."

Dr. DeFronzo commented, "It is a pleasure to join DiaMedica's distinguished Scientific Advisory Board. I am eager to begin working with the Company and to share my expertise with the team to develop innovative approaches for treating diabetes and related complications."

Dr. DeFronzo is a graduate of Yale University (BS) and Harvard Medical School (MD) and completed his training in Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He completed fellowships in Endocrinology at the National Institutes of Health and Baltimore City Hospitals and in Nephrology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His major interests focus on the pathogenesis and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and the central role of insulin resistance in the metabolic-cardiovascular cluster of disorders known collectively as the Insulin Resistance Syndrome. Using the euglycemic insulin clamp technique in combination with radioisotope turnover methodology, limb catheterization, indirect calorimetry, and muscle biopsy, he has helped to define the biochemical and molecular disturbances responsible for insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

About DiaMedica

DiaMedica is a publicly traded (TSX-VENTURE:DMA) clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapies to treat diabetes and the complications associated with diabetes. DiaMedica's lead clinical stage product, DM199, is a recombinant human protein known as rhKLK1 that represents a novel approach to treating diabetes and associated complications. DiaMedica is also developing DM204, a preclinical-stage monoclonal antibody for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

DiaMedica's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada under the trading symbol 'DMA'.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts contain forward - looking information that involves risk and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, which address DiaMedica's expectations, including the intended use of the net proceeds of the Offering, should be considered forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management's exercise of business judgment as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. When used in this document, the words "may", "will", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and words of similar import, are intended to identify any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward- looking statements. These statements reflect a current view of future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties as contained in DiaMedica's filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. DiaMedica undertakes no obligation, and does not intend, to update, revise or otherwise publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of any unanticipated events, unless required by law. Although management believes that expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, no assurance can be given that these expectations will materialize.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this press release.

DiaMedica Inc.John SavageChief Financial Officer(763) [e-mail]