CRANFORD, N.J., July 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("CITIUS") ("Company") CTXR, a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that Dr. Lawrence Mermel has accepted a position on the Citius Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Mermel is Professor of Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Mermel joins Dr. Isaam Raad, the Chair of MD Anderson Cancer Center's Department of Infectious Diseases (also Chairman of the Citius Scientific Advisory Board), and Dr. Mark Rupp, Professor and Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. All of these individuals are recognized as opinion leaders in bloodstream infections.  Along with being recognized as outstanding clinicians, each has led research in Catheter Related Bloodstream Infections (CRBSIs), authored important scientific and clinical papers, led nationally recognized organizations, and contributed significantly to the treatment guidelines followed by physicians globally.   The Advisory Board will be counseling the Company on its development programs, particularly the anti-infective portfolio which includes the company's lead technology, Mino-Lok. 

Citius' Mino-Lok^® product is designed to salvage infected Central Venous Catheters (CVCs) that cause CRBSIs.  In many patients with chronic and debilitating diseases and poor vascular access, preserving the CVC is necessary to maintain life sustaining therapy (chemotherapy, dialysis, medications). Additionally, avoiding the need to replace an indwelling CVC with an effective antibiotic lock salvage, could lower the morbidity and mortality (i.e. hematoma and pneumothorax) associated with manipulating CVCs. This is a recognized unmet medical need, as there have been no large scale studies to provide robust evidence on the effectiveness of antibiotic lock therapies (ALTs). IDSA Guidelines recommend the removing of infected CVCs in many serious CRBSIs and replacing with new CVCs if the patients require long term therapy.

"We are honored to have been able to empanel such a prestigious group of experts to help guide us in the development of Mino-Lok and other infectious disease products," said Mr. Myron Holubiak, CEO of Citius.  "All of our SAB members are recognized opinion leaders who developed our understanding of these diseases, how to prevent them, and how to treat them. These world class Infectious Disease leaders will advise us in driving the company's current Phase 3 study forward and offer valuable perspective as we advance our anti-infective development programs."

The Company's Mino-Lok® product contains a proprietary combination of minocycline, edetate (disodium EDTA), and ethyl alcohol, all of which act synergistically to break down bacterial biofilms, eradicate the bacteria, provide anti-clotting properties to maintain patency in CVCs, and salvage the indwelling catheter. The Mino-Lok™ product is used in two-hour locking cycles allowing the CVC to be used for its intended purposes for the remaining 22 hours each day.

Mino-Lok® is under investigation and not approved for commercial use.

About Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Citius is a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of critical care products with a focus on anti-infectives, cancer care and unique prescription products using innovative, patented or proprietary formulations of previously approved active pharmaceutical ingredients.  We seek to achieve leading market positions by providing therapeutic products that address unmet medical needs.  By using previously approved drugs with substantial safety and efficacy data, we seek to reduce the risks associated with pharmaceutical product development and regulatory requirements. We focus on developing products that have intellectual property protection and competitive advantages to existing therapeutic approaches. www.citiuspharma.com

Safe Harbor
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting Citius.  You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "should," and "may" and other words and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated are: risks relating to the results of research and development activities, including the risk that preclinical results might not be replicated in any subsequent studies or trials and are not indicative of success in clinical trials; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; the early stage of products under development; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks related to our growth strategy; our ability to identify, acquire, close and integrate product candidates and companies successfully and on a timely basis; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to attract, integrate, and retain key personnel; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; and other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. 

Contact:
Andrew Scott  
Vice President, Corporate Development   
908-967-6677
ascott@citiuspharma.com

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SOURCE Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.