BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Aug. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxis International, Inc. (OXI.PA) announced today company management has changed the business and plans to enter the cannabis biotech space. To support the change of business, the company completed a $1.425 million financing. Mr. Anthony Cataldo has joined the OXIS Board of Directors and will serve as Chairman of the Board.

The changing landscape of medical marijuana laws sweeping the nation has created incredible opportunities for commercialization of cannabis related therapies. (OXI.PA) management team is currently in discussions to license certain intellectual property from some of the world's foremost authorities in the cannabis space. The just completed financing of $1.425 million will be used to bring the company's required SEC filings to current status, increase marketing of OXIS nutraceutical products, and investigate possible business acquisitions in the nutraceutical and/or marijuana sector.

As part of the change of business direction, directors Anshuman Dube and David Saloff have resigned from the Board of Directors. Mr. Anthony Cataldo has been appointed to the Board and will serve as Chairman. Mr. Cataldo has an extensive career in the biotech industry including most recently as Chairman and CEO of Genesis Biopharma , now Lion BIotechnologies Inc. (LBIO), where he was responsible for the acquisition of licenses and CRADA for various cancers utilizing T-cell therapy from the National Cancer Institute.

OXIS CEO Kenneth Eaton stated, "We are very excited about our new direction at OXIS. The cannabis industry provides our shareholders many opportunities that simply did not exist before. Our team at OXIS is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this new business sector."

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.

SOURCE Oxis International, Inc.