Dr. Steve Myers Named Chief Medical Officer At Cocoon Biotech
BOSTON, Mass. Nov. 15, 2016 — Cocoon Biotech, Inc. a biotechnology company focused on the development of drug delivery systems for the treatment of osteoarthritis and other indications, today announced the appointment of Dr. Steve Myers as Chief Medical Officer. In this role, Dr. Myers brings extensive experience and expertise in rheumatology, synovial pathophysiology, articular cartilage and osteoarthritis to leading clinical strategy development for the company.
“Dr. Myers is a proven clinical development executive with a track record of success in early phase studies with biologics in rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diseases and both small molecules and biologics in a variety of musculoskeletal diseases,” said Dr. Ailis Tweed-Kent, Cocoon Biotech founder and CEO. “His scientific and clinical background, together with his considerable background in running clinical trials for RA and osteoarthritis, will be a tremendous asset for Cocoon as we continue to work toward our clinical development goals.”
Cocoon Biotech, Inc. is an interventional medicine company leveraging silk protein as a drug delivery material for osteoarthritis and other unmet medical needs. The company’s lead program is an intra-articular injection of silk fibroin loaded with a validated small-molecule drug that is released slowly into the joint space, providing extended relief of pain and inflammation and potentially delaying the progression of disease. This platform leverages several unique properties of the silk protein fibroin, including strength, lubrication, and biocompatibility.
“Cocoon Biotech has shown a commitment to developing new therapies that could improve the lives of the millions of people who suffer from osteoarthritis,” Dr. Myers said. “I look forward to helping take the next steps toward delivering solutions for these patients.”
Dr. Myers is board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology, and has more than 30 years of clinical and biomedical research experience in multiple settings, including academia, clinical practice, and pharmaceutical development, including Eli Lily and Co., where prior to joining Cocoon he was Senior Medical Director. In that position he managed the physician/clinical scientist component of research and clinical development targeting musculoskeletal, bone, autoimmune and urologic indications. He joined the company as a clinical research physician in 1998, participating in the Phase 3 trials, submission and registration of recombinant parathyroid hormone for osteoporosis treatment, in Phase 2 RA studies, and in the development of Lilly strategy and external asset evaluation in RA and osteoarthritis.
In addition to his work at Eli Lily, Dr. Myers was a consultant or clinical trial investigator for other companies including Proctor and Gamble, Anika Research, Chiron, Roche, and Pfizer.
Dr. Myers received his undergraduate degree from the Johns Hopkins University. He completed his M.D., residency in internal medicine and rheumatology fellowship at the University of Michigan. After that he joined the Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine faculty. He also has served as Staff Physician and Chief of Rheumatology at the Indianapolis Veterans Administration Hospital, and was a member of the medical staff and clinical practice at the Indiana University and Wishard Memorial Hospitals, where he was Clinical Director of the Rheumatology Division and Professor of Medicine.
Dr. Tweed-Kent founded Cocoon Biotech while still a resident in medical school, after treating patients whose chronic arthritis was having a serious negative impact on their ability to lead a normal life. The company was recently honored as the winner of BioPharm America’s Start-Up Day Pitch Competition, in which a panel of biotech VC and investment experts named it the Most Investable Company in a field of 20 startups.
For more information on Cocoon Biotech, Inc., visit www.cocoonbiotech.com. To learn more about the silk technology and how the company got its start, visit http://techtransfer.tufts.edu/cocoons-bioinjectable-technology-spinning-silk-into-advancements-in-osteoarthritis-therapy/
About Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) currently affects 27 million adults in the United States, and that number is estimated to reach 65 million by 2030. The disease occurs when cartilage breaks down in the joint space, leading to inflammation and pain, and results in more than $128 billion in management and treatment costs. Current therapies, including intra-articular injections (hyaluronic acid and steroids) aimed at relieving joint pain can be either ineffective, require multiple injections, have significant side effects, or end up in total knee replacement.
About Cocoon Biotech, Inc.
The mission of Cocoon Biotech, Inc. is to use its platform silk protein technology to significantly improve the treatment of osteoarthritis and other degenerative joint disorders. The osteoarthritis treatment gap alone is currently quite large, and new approaches that address both symptoms and disease progression are an urgent need. The company has completed seed financing, is raising a Series A preferred stock financing, and has begun testing prototype products in the laboratory, conducting preliminary safety and efficacy studies in animals.
“Dr. Myers is a proven clinical development executive with a track record of success in early phase studies with biologics in rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diseases and both small molecules and biologics in a variety of musculoskeletal diseases,” said Dr. Ailis Tweed-Kent, Cocoon Biotech founder and CEO. “His scientific and clinical background, together with his considerable background in running clinical trials for RA and osteoarthritis, will be a tremendous asset for Cocoon as we continue to work toward our clinical development goals.”
Cocoon Biotech, Inc. is an interventional medicine company leveraging silk protein as a drug delivery material for osteoarthritis and other unmet medical needs. The company’s lead program is an intra-articular injection of silk fibroin loaded with a validated small-molecule drug that is released slowly into the joint space, providing extended relief of pain and inflammation and potentially delaying the progression of disease. This platform leverages several unique properties of the silk protein fibroin, including strength, lubrication, and biocompatibility.
“Cocoon Biotech has shown a commitment to developing new therapies that could improve the lives of the millions of people who suffer from osteoarthritis,” Dr. Myers said. “I look forward to helping take the next steps toward delivering solutions for these patients.”
Dr. Myers is board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology, and has more than 30 years of clinical and biomedical research experience in multiple settings, including academia, clinical practice, and pharmaceutical development, including Eli Lily and Co., where prior to joining Cocoon he was Senior Medical Director. In that position he managed the physician/clinical scientist component of research and clinical development targeting musculoskeletal, bone, autoimmune and urologic indications. He joined the company as a clinical research physician in 1998, participating in the Phase 3 trials, submission and registration of recombinant parathyroid hormone for osteoporosis treatment, in Phase 2 RA studies, and in the development of Lilly strategy and external asset evaluation in RA and osteoarthritis.
In addition to his work at Eli Lily, Dr. Myers was a consultant or clinical trial investigator for other companies including Proctor and Gamble, Anika Research, Chiron, Roche, and Pfizer.
Dr. Myers received his undergraduate degree from the Johns Hopkins University. He completed his M.D., residency in internal medicine and rheumatology fellowship at the University of Michigan. After that he joined the Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine faculty. He also has served as Staff Physician and Chief of Rheumatology at the Indianapolis Veterans Administration Hospital, and was a member of the medical staff and clinical practice at the Indiana University and Wishard Memorial Hospitals, where he was Clinical Director of the Rheumatology Division and Professor of Medicine.
Dr. Tweed-Kent founded Cocoon Biotech while still a resident in medical school, after treating patients whose chronic arthritis was having a serious negative impact on their ability to lead a normal life. The company was recently honored as the winner of BioPharm America’s Start-Up Day Pitch Competition, in which a panel of biotech VC and investment experts named it the Most Investable Company in a field of 20 startups.
For more information on Cocoon Biotech, Inc., visit www.cocoonbiotech.com. To learn more about the silk technology and how the company got its start, visit http://techtransfer.tufts.edu/cocoons-bioinjectable-technology-spinning-silk-into-advancements-in-osteoarthritis-therapy/
About Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) currently affects 27 million adults in the United States, and that number is estimated to reach 65 million by 2030. The disease occurs when cartilage breaks down in the joint space, leading to inflammation and pain, and results in more than $128 billion in management and treatment costs. Current therapies, including intra-articular injections (hyaluronic acid and steroids) aimed at relieving joint pain can be either ineffective, require multiple injections, have significant side effects, or end up in total knee replacement.
About Cocoon Biotech, Inc.
The mission of Cocoon Biotech, Inc. is to use its platform silk protein technology to significantly improve the treatment of osteoarthritis and other degenerative joint disorders. The osteoarthritis treatment gap alone is currently quite large, and new approaches that address both symptoms and disease progression are an urgent need. The company has completed seed financing, is raising a Series A preferred stock financing, and has begun testing prototype products in the laboratory, conducting preliminary safety and efficacy studies in animals.