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Rockwell Medical Technologies, Inc. Appoints Dr. Richard Zager to Scientific Advisory Board

Posted on: Tuesday, 10 June 2008, 09:01 CDT

WIXOM, Mich., June 10, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Rockwell Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:RMTI), a specialty pharma company focused on drug and device development in the renal market, reported today that it has added Dr. Richard Zager, an expert in acute renal injury and renal failure to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Rockwell's SAB currently advises the Company on clinical development and market preparation for its proprietary iron-maintenance product SFP, currently in Phase IIb clinical trials. Rockwell's SAB consists of experts in the fields of renal anemia, iron therapy, nephrology and FDA regulatory approval.

Dr. Zager currently serves as the Director of Nephrology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He is a board certified internist and nephrologist with 35 years of clinical experience. He has supervised an NIH funded basic research laboratory for the past 30 years, with a primary interest in acute renal injury and acute renal failure. His work focuses on cellular pathways of acute oxidant and non-oxidant injury, and subsequent post-injury adaptive responses. He has had a particular interest in iron mediated renal injury, as induced by either porphyrin iron containing proteins (most notably, hemoglobin, myoglobin, or cytochrome) or by clinically employed iron -- carbohydrate complexes (e.g., Fe sucrose, gluconate, dextrose, as used to treat clinical iron deficiency). He is an elected member of the Association of American Physicians. Dr. Zager graduated from Northwestern Medical School and did his post graduate medical training at UCLA Medical Center, The University of Washington in Seattle, Boston University, and Harvard Medical School.

Mr. Robert L. Chioini, Chairman, CEO and President of Rockwell stated, "We're delighted to have Dr. Zager join our team. His expertise in iron mediated biochemical and cellular effects will be invaluable as Rockwell undertakes clinical studies exploring the potential advantages of SFP over the conventional polymeric iron complexes used for intravenous administration."

SFP, the Company's lead renal drug, is a water-soluble iron designed to provide physiological-iron-maintenance-therapy for anemic ESRD patients. SFP is delivered direct to the bloodstream of the ESRD patient, via dialysate, during each kidney dialysis treatment, maintaining optimal iron balance, avoiding liver toxicity and decreasing associated nursing and pharmaceutical IV iron administration costs. Recent academic studies have shown that more frequent maintenance doses of iron improve the therapeutic response and benefits of recombinant erythropoietin treatments.

The Company is currently conducting a Phase IIb study and sponsoring an on-going NIH-funded study in anticipation of gaining FDA market approval. Rockwell has licensed exclusive world-wide rights and has secured patents for SFP in multiple countries, including the three largest dialysis markets in the world; the United States, Japan and the European Union. The U.S. dialysis market for IV-iron delivery is approximately $500 million annually while global market potential is approximately $800 million.

Rockwell is a leading, innovative manufacturer and developer of renal drug therapies and critical products focused on improving the quality of care for dialysis patients. Dialysis is a process that duplicates kidney function for those patients who suffer from chronic kidney failure, a condition also known as end-stage-renal-disease (ESRD). There are an estimated 370,000 ESRD patients in the United States growing approximately 3-5% on average each year and approximately 2 million ESRD patients world-wide. Rockwell's products are used to maintain life, removing toxins and replacing nutrients in the dialysis patient's bloodstream. Rockwell is currently developing unique, proprietary renal drug therapies for both iron maintenance and carnitine supplementation utilizing its dialysate as the delivery mechanism. These exclusive renal drug therapies support disease management initiatives to improve the quality of life and care of dialysis patients and are designed to deliver safe and effective therapy to these patients while decreasing cost. Visit www.rockwellmed.com for more information.

Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may,""might,""will,""should,""believe,""expect,""anticipate,""estimate,""continue,""predict,""forecast,""projected,""intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. Because these forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control or are subject to change, actual results could be materially different. Factors which could cause such a difference include, without limitation, the risk factors set forth in the Company's SEC filings. The forward-looking statements should be considered in light of these risks and uncertainties. Rockwell does not undertake, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

This news release was distributed by PrimeNewswire, www.primenewswire.com

CONTACT: The Trout Group LLC Brian Korb, Vice President (646) 378-2923

Source: PrimeNewswire

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