BEDMINSTER, N.J., Sept. 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc. (NYSE AMER:MTNB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on enabling targeted intracellular delivery of life-changing medicines using its proprietary lipid nano-crystal (LNC) platform technology, today announced the appointment of Patrick G. LePore as Vice Chairman to the Company’s Board of Directors.

“We are delighted to welcome Pat to the Matinas Board,” commented Herbert Conrad, Chairman of the Matinas BioPharma Board of Directors. “The addition of this well-known and well-respected industry leader to our Board represents clear acknowledgement of the potential for our Company and for our LNC technology to be a best-in-class drug delivery platform.”

“Pat is a distinguished leader in the pharmaceutical industry and brings business, operational and financial acumen, along with a wealth of industry contacts, all of which we believe will be invaluable to Matinas as we drive the Company through its next stage of growth,” commented Jerome D. Jabbour, Chief Executive Officer of Matinas.

Mr. LePore brings leadership and expertise in the pharmaceutical industry spanning both private and public sectors with significant board and operational experience. He has extensive experience in all areas of executive management including executive development, strategic planning, mergers and acquisition, business development, investor relations and corporate governance during his more than 30-year professional career. Most notably, Mr. LePore served as Chairman, CEO and President of Par Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE:PRX) from September 2006 through November 2012. Par Pharmaceuticals, a fully integrated healthcare company, was a leader in the development, licensing, manufacturing and distribution of generic and branded drugs. During his tenure, Mr. LePore oversaw the management of over 2,000 employees with facilities in New York, California and Chennai India. He also oversaw the growth of its brand division, Strativa, its sales force and the acquisition of several products. Through Mr. LePore’s leadership, Par increased its value and market presence culminating in its sale to Texas Pacific Group (TPG), in a go private transaction, for approximately $2 billion. Mr. LePore transitioned to Chairman of the new company beginning in November 2012 and directed its eventual sale to Endo (NASDAQ:ENDP) for over $8 billion in 2015. He began his career with Hoffmann La Roche and then founded Boron LePore and Associates, a medical communications company, which he took public in 1997 and was eventually sold to Cardinal Health in 2002.

“I am thrilled to be joining Matinas, at what I believe is a very important transitional period for the Company. Matinas’ LNC platform delivery technology has shown a tremendous amount of potential in exciting therapeutic areas where solutions are needed to address major delivery challenges. I look forward to playing a key leadership role and working closely with Jerry to advance its development with a goal of creating important and meaningful products for patients while hopefully driving significant shareholder value,” commented Mr. LePore.

About Matinas BioPharma

Matinas BioPharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative medicines using its lipid nano-crystal (LNC) platform delivery technology. The Company's proprietary, disruptive technology utilizes lipid-crystal nano-particles to nano-encapsulate small molecules, oligonucleotides, vaccines and other medicines potentially making them safer, more tolerable, less toxic and orally bioavailable.