ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- CoGenesys, Inc. announced today the election of David U'Prichard, Ph.D., to the Company's board of directors, effective immediately.
"David U'Prichard has an acclaimed background in supporting and advancing innovative R&D programs within both life sciences companies and Big Pharma," stated Steven C. Mayer, Chief Executive Officer of CoGenesys. "We are honored that David has joined our board. With his election, we have now completed the composition of the board, bringing to seven the number of directors."
Dr. U'Prichard commented, "CoGenesys has a strong heritage and broad platform for developing breakthrough products that can address real patient needs. I have great confidence in CoGenesys' senior team and their ability to rapidly advance the company's programs and establish further validation for their approach to therapeutic innovation and business development."
Dr. U'Prichard is Venture Partner at private equity providers Red Abbey Venture Partners and Care Capital, LLC, and previously served as Venture Partner at Apax Partners Ltd. He is also president of Druid Consulting LLC, a consulting firm specializing in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Prior to this, Dr. U'Prichard was CEO of 3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals. During his tenure, 3DP completed its IPO, entered large collaborations with Big Pharma companies, and was acquired by Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development LLC.
Previously, Dr. U'Prichard served as President and Chairman of Research and Development at SmithKline Beecham, where he oversaw the entry of approximately ten compounds into global development. Prior to this, he was Executive Vice President and International Research Director at Zeneca Pharmaceuticals and held senior research positions at ICI Pharmaceuticals. He was also a co-founder and head of R&D at Nova Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Dr. U'Prichard received his Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacology from University of Glasgow and his Ph.D. degree in Pharmacology from University of Kansas. His academic experience also includes a post as Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Neurobiology at Northwestern University Medical School and a postdoctoral fellowship at The Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. U'Prichard is Chairman of the Board of Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Oxagen Ltd, and serves on the Board of Directors of Invitrogen Corp and SR Pharma.
About CoGenesys, Inc.
CoGenesys, Inc. was spun out of Human Genome Sciences, Inc. in June of 2006. The Company's strategy is to demonstrate safety and proof of concept in clinical trials followed by licensing or partnering of compounds to fund further development. CoGenesys has approximately 70 employees, including 20 PhD-level scientists, and a dedicated 48,000 sq. ft. facility with cGMP manufacturing capacity sufficient for early-stage clinical testing.
Development programs at CoGenesys are capitalizing on the depth of its pipeline and the breadth of its technology to develop lead drug candidates addressing a broad spectrum of diseases and applications, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes / metabolism, enzyme and protein replacement therapy and others. CoGenesys' state-of-the-art research and manufacturing facility is fully equipped, supporting both pre-clinical development and cGMP manufacture of biologics. The clinically validated albumin-fusion technology offers a number of advantages, including the ability to improve the bioavailability of existing biologicals, such as interferon alpha (being developed by Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (HGSI) and Novartis), and increased feasibility of developing pharmaceutically relevant peptides, such as GLP-1 (being developed by GlaxoSmithKline under license from HGSI).
In October 2006, the Company initiated Phase I/II testing of Cardeva(TM), a long-acting form of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) that is being developed for the treatment of patients with heart failure (HF). CoGenesys is also developing Neugranin(TM), a long-acting form of Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF), to decrease the incidence of infection in patients receiving myelosuppressive anti-cancer drugs, and Albulin-G, a long-acting form of insulin.
For more information about CoGenesys visit http://www.cogenesys.com/
CoGenesys, Inc.CONTACT: Mark A. Rampy, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer of CoGenesys, Inc.,+1-240-821-9019, or mark_rampy@cogenesys.com
Web site: http://www.cogenesys.com/
