ZURICH, Oct.9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Cytos Biotechnology Ltd ("Cytos" or "the Company"), a Swiss biotech company focused on the development of CYT003 in allergic asthma, announced today the appointment of Dr. Christian Itin as Chief Executive Officer. As announced on 29 May 2012, the Board will propose to the Company's shareholders that Dr.Itin be elected as member of the Board, and it is intended that he will succeed Dr. Thomas Hecht as Chairman of the Board of Directors as of an extraordinary shareholders meeting scheduled to take place in November 2012. Dr. Hecht will step down from the Cytos Board at this meeting.

Dr. Itin (age 48 yrs.) is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Micromet Inc., a previously Nasdaq-listed biopharmaceutical company, with headquarters in the USA and an R&D center in Germany. Dr. Itin led Micromet as CEO from 2004 until Micromet's acquisition by Amgen for $1.2 billion in cash in March 2012. In total he spent 13 years in senior management roles at Micromet. Prior to joining Micromet in 1999, Dr. Itin co-founded Zyomyx, Inc., a protein chip company based in Hayward, CA, USA.

Dr. Itin received a diploma in biology and a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of Basel. In addition, he performed post-doctoral research at the Biocenter of Basel University and at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Thomas Hecht, Chairman of Cytos, said: "Christian is an experienced biotech leader with significant expertise and a proven track record and his appointment completes our restructuring of Cytos. We believe with his experience and skills that he is well positioned to shape Cytos' future."

Christian Itin commented: "Cytos has undergone an important transformation during the last six months. The company is well capitalized by a strong group of new international investors and focused on executing a key clinical Phase 2b study with CYT003, a first in class novel biologic for the treatment of patients with allergic asthma. This is an exciting time to join Cytos, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the team building it into a premier biopharmaceutical company."

Dr. Joseph Anderson, Chairman of the Board's Nomination and Governance Committee and Partner at Abingworth, a major shareholder, added: "On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Thomas for his leadership during a period that led to the refinancing of Cytos. He leaves the Company in a strong position, and we are pleased that Christian has joined as CEO, where we anticipate his proven leadership will allow the Company to realize the significant potential of CYT003."

Further Board ChangeJakob Schlapbach, a Non-executive member of Cytos' Board of Directors and the Company's former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (2000-2010), will also resign from the Board of Directors at the extraordinary shareholders meeting in November.

Thomas Hecht commented: "Jakob has been involved with Cytos for more than 12 years whereby he played a central role in several financing rounds and in the IPO. We are very appreciative of the many contributions he has made during that period. We wish him well in his future endeavours."

For further information please contact:

Cytos Biotechnology Ltd Harry Welten Chief Financial Officer Tel.: +41 44 733 46 46 e-Mail: harry.welten@cytos.com Website: http://www.cytos.com

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Cytos Biotechnology Ltd appoints Dr. Christian Itin as Chief Executive Officer