CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Archemix Corp. announced today the appointment of James McArdle, Ph.D., as Vice President of Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC).
Dr. McArdle has more than 20 years of pharmaceutical development experience, specifically in the areas of analytical chemistry, quality control, formulation development and manufacturing, and clinical supplies management, most recently at Isis Pharmaceuticals. During his career, Dr. McArdle has contributed directly to the commercialization of several pharmaceutical products. As Vice President of CMC at Archemix, he will design and implement the chemistry, manufacturing and quality control strategies for Archemix's growing portfolio of aptamer therapeutics. In this capacity, Dr. McArdle will leverage his extensive experience in working with the FDA and other regulatory authorities to develop best practices for the CMC issues specific to aptamer therapeutics.
Before his appointment at Archemix, Dr. McArdle spent almost seven years with Isis Pharmaceuticals, most recently as the Vice President of the Quality Assurance Department. In this position, he was responsible for FDA interaction, compliance, and third party management. Prior to this role, he served for six years as the Vice President of Analytical Development and Quality Control, where he directed significant advancements in oligonucleotide analytical chemistry methods. Prior to Isis, Dr. McArdle worked for 16 years in a variety of capacities in analytical chemistry at SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology and his bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Brown University. Dr. McArdle was a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley.
"Jim's wealth of experience in analytical development and CMC management combined with his extensive experience with oligonucleotides makes him a great addition to the Archemix team," said Dr. Errol De Souza, President and Chief Executive Officer of Archemix. "CMC is an integral component to the success of our clinical candidates, and Jim's proven track record will be a valuable asset in advancing our proprietary and partnered product pipeline."
"Archemix is at an exciting stage of its development," commented Dr. McArdle. "I have worked extensively with oligonucleotides, and I believe that the company's aptamer technology has the potential to bring forth an entirely new class of therapeutics for the treatment of acute and chronic diseases. I look forward to joining a great team of people and a company with such rewarding and tangible prospects."
About Aptamers
Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acids that form well-defined three dimensional shapes, allowing them to bind target molecules in a manner that is conceptually similar to antibodies. Aptamers combine the optimal characteristics of small molecules and antibodies, including high specificity and affinity, chemical stability, low immunogenicity and the ability to target protein-protein interactions. In contrast to monoclonal antibodies, aptamers are chemically synthesized rather than biologically expressed, offering a significant cost advantage.
About Archemix Corp.
Archemix Corp. is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company's mission is to develop aptamers as a class of directed therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of human disease. Because of their unique properties and proven efficacy, aptamers offer an alternative to biologics and small molecules in numerous applications and offer the potential to be a major class of drugs for the treatment of unmet medical needs.
Archemix's aptamer expertise is complemented by a robust patent estate comprised of over 220 issued and 230 pending patents covering the identification, composition, and use of therapeutic aptamers. In addition to the company's core aptamer generation technology, Archemix possesses strong expertise in both pre-clinical and clinical drug development. Further information on Archemix can be found at www.archemix.com.
For further information about Archemix or aptamers, or to speak with Drs. James McArdle or Errol De Souza, please contact Davia Temin or Suzanne Oaks of Temin and Company at 212-588-8788 or news@teminandco.com.
Archemix Corp.CONTACT: Davia Temin or Suzanne Oaks, both of Temin and Company,+1-212-588-8788, news@teminandco.com, both for Archemix Corp.
Web site: http://www.archemix.com/
