TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxis International, Inc. [OTC: OXIS] [Euronext Paris: OXI.PA] announced today that Michael S. Sitrick has joined its Business Advisory Board. Oxis is in the process of building a world class Business Advisory Board to assist management in strategy, development and execution. The Business Advisory Board members will become members of the Oxis Board of Directors upon a successful up-listing to the NASDAQ exchange.

Mr. Sitrick, who is a former board member of APP Pharmaceuticals Company and Abraxis BioScience, is the founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sitrick And Company, an internationally recognized strategic communications firm.  Since founding that firm, he has provided advice and counsel to more than 1,000 companies, including some of the nation's largest corporations, and some of its highest profile individuals -- both on routine and extremely sensitive matters.  In the bio-tech and pharmaceutical area these clients have included such companies as Amgen, Glaxo Smith-Kline and Biovail.

Mr. Sitrick currently serves on the Board of Directors of Jakks Pacific.  Mr. Sitrick holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a major in Journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park.

"Mike Sitrick is not only one of the nation's leading strategic communications experts, but also has a wealth of experience and knowledge in management, corporate governance and value creation.  His accomplishments and client list speak for themselves.  We are excited that he has agreed to join our Business Advisory Board and look forward to his contributions to the company," said Anthony Cataldo, Chairman and CEO of Oxis Biotech.

"Oxis is at the forefront of developing new cancer treatments.  The company is an example of doing well by doing good.  I am pleased to be able to contribute to its growth and success," said Mr. Sitrick.

ABOUT OXIS BIOTECH, INC. - Oxis Biotech, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxis International, Inc., develops innovative drugs focused on the treatment of cancer and other unmet medical needs. OXIS' lead drug candidate, DT2219ARL is a novel bispecific scFv recombinant fusion protein-drug conjugate composed of the variable regions of the heavy and light chains of anti-CD19 and anti-CD22 antibodies and a modified form of diphtheria toxin as its cytotoxic drug payload. DT2219ARL simultaneously targets cancer cells expressing the CD19 receptor or CD22 receptor or both receptors. When DT2219ARL binds to cancer cells, the cancer cells internalize DT2219ARL and are killed due to the action of drug's cytotoxic payload. DT2219ARL has demonstrated success in early human clinical trials in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma or leukemia. OXS-4235 is a small molecule therapeutic candidate targeting the treatment of multiple myeloma and associated osteolytic lesions. In in vitro and in vivo models of multiple myeloma and osteoporosis, OXS-4235 demonstrated the ability to kill multiple myeloma cells, and decrease osteolytic lesions in bone. OXIS' lead drug candidate, OXS-2175, is a small molecule therapeutic candidate targeting the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In in vitro and in vivo models of TNBC, OXS-2175 demonstrated the ability to inhibit metastasis. For more information about Oxis Biotech, please visit http://www.oxis.com.

Forward-Looking Statements - Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently unreliable and actual results may differ materially. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the payment of dividends, marketing and distribution plans, development activities and anticipated operating results. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include such factors as the Company's ability to accomplish its business initiatives, significant fluctuations in marketing expenses and ability to achieve and expand significant levels of revenues, or recognize net income, from the sale of its products and services, as well as the introduction of competing products, or management's ability to attract and maintain qualified personnel necessary for the development and commercialization of its planned products, and other information that may be detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Oxis International, Inc.