Cambridge UK, September 13th, 2007 - Biotica Technology Limited (Biotica), a privately held drug discovery company focused on novel “polyketide” drugs, announced today the appointment of Edward E. Hodgkin as Chief Executive Officer and Director. Dr. Hodgkin, 44, will be responsible for implementing the company’s ambitious growth strategy.
“We are delighted that Ed has joined Biotica at an important point in the company’s growth,” commented Dr. Michael Hayes, Biotica’s Chairman of the Board. “He is a leader with broad experience of drug discovery and development, business development and corporate strategy. I look forward to working with Ed to unlock the full potential of Biotica’s technology platform and product pipeline.”
Dr. Hodgkin was previously President & Chief Business Officer at San Diego-based BrainCells, Inc. where he played a key role in establishing the company’s platform and product pipeline through partnership and in-licensing. Prior to BrainCells, Dr. Hodgkin was Vice President, Business Development & Marketing at Tripos, Inc., and held a series of research and management positions with Wyeth and British Biotechnology Ltd. “Biotica’s proprietary discovery platform represents a unique opportunity to develop medicines to treat major unmet clinical needs. Biotica has the rare ability to generate analogues of validated polyketide natural product drugs which others cannot make through traditional chemistry”, said Edward Hodgkin. “The company is the leader in this area, based on the scientific foundation of University of Cambridge Professors Peter Leadlay, FRS and Jim Staunton, FRS, together with extremely talented scientific staff. The company has a strong, first partnership with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and outstanding investors. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Biotica.”
“Biotica represents a rare investment opportunity for us; we feel privileged to have attracted Ed to lead the company,” said Mark Lampert, President of Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P. and a Director of Biotica. “Not since the early days of the biotechnology industry have we seen a company that can repeatedly generate high value molecules which large pharmaceutical companies cannot produce through traditional means. Biotica has chosen to focus its efforts on designing best-in-class drugs against clinicallyvalidated drug targets,” said Mr. Lampert.
