Phytomedics, Inc. Appoints New President and Chief Executive Officer
JAMESBURG, N.J., April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Phytomedics Inc., an innovative clinical stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development novel multi-mechanism therapeutics from natural sources, today announced that Dr. Laurie Smaldone Alsup, MD., has joined the company as its President and Chief Executive Officer. She succeeds Dr. Bertold Fridlender who is announcing his retirement, but who will remain on the company's board of directors.
"Dr. Smaldone Alsup brings to Phytomedics an extensive background in drug development as well as executive leadership in various roles," said Aki von Roy, chairman of Phytomedics board of directors. "Her distinguished career and accomplishments in the pharmaceutical industry will be an invaluable asset in moving Phytomedics products forward into the market place."
Prior to joining Phytomedics, Dr. Smaldone Alsup served a distinguished 16-year career at Bristol-Myers Squibb in various executive and R&D roles. Most recently she was VP of Corporate Strategy and Issues Management involved in developing a corporate-wide business risk management capability and process. Previously, Dr. Smaldone Alsup headed Global Regulatory Sciences for the Pharmaceutical Research Institute, overseeing the regulatory approval process and pharmacovigilance for all products. She initially joined the company as a director of clinical research oncology and held clinical development positions of increasing responsibility including oversight for HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases. In these positions, Dr. Smaldone Alsup has played a role in the development of new medications to treat chronic, debilitating, and fatal diseases. She holds an M.D. degree from Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Dr. Smaldone Alsup has conducted clinical research throughout her career, which has been published in medical journals and presented to her peers at leading medical symposia and congresses. Dr. Smaldone Alsup serves on the board of the Hi-Tops Teen Reproductive Health Organization and McCarter Theater in Princeton, NJ. She is also a member of The Conference Board's Strategic Risk Management Council as well as a member of the Council's Executive Committee.
"The position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Phytomedics is an outstanding opportunity to lead a company with a promising future," said Smaldone Alsup. "I look forward to advancing our strong pipeline of products through the clinic and into the market to deliver innovative and efficacious products to patients."
Commenting of Dr. Fridlender's retirement, "Dr. Fridlender has done a terrific job in transitioning Phytomedics from a virtual company, to one with a broad product pipeline, multiple technologies, and a potential blockbuster product already in late stage development," said von Roy. "We now look forward to a new era in our company's development as we transition towards our commercialization strategy."
About Phytomedics, Inc.
Phytomedics Inc. (www.phytomedics.com) is focused on the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization novel, multi-component and multi-functional drugs from natural sources. The Company has produced a pipeline of lead compounds, several of which are in clinical development, some as far as Phase IIb. Founded by Professor Ilya Raskin, Ph.D., Phytomedics Inc. conducts most of its R&D at the Biotech Center of Rutgers University.
CONTACT: Ira S. Pastor, Vice President, Business Development of
Phytomedics, Inc., +1-609-655-0715, pastor@phytomedics.com
Web site: http://www.phytomedics.com/