ATLANTA and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc. announces the election of Anthony Zook, former head of Global Commercial Operations at AstraZeneca and past CEO of North America Operations for AstraZeneca and President of MedImmune, to its Board of Directors.
A 30-year veteran of the biopharmaceutical industry, Tony joined AstraZeneca (AZ) as Vice-President of Sales for the U.S. Business in 1999. By 2001, Tony rose to Senior Vice President of AZ’s US Commercial Operations and became Executive Vice President, CEO and President of AZ North America in 2006. In 2008, Tony assumed responsibility for Global Marketing, and was also appointed President of AZ’s biologic division, MedImmune. In 2010, Tony transitioned to a global operations role when he was promoted to EVP of Global Commercial Operations for AZ, retiring from that position and the Company in 2013. Under Tony’s leadership, AZ commercialized 10 blockbuster brands and transformed AZ into a recognized commercial leader with an integrated, global customer approach. Following his 14-year career at AZ, Tony became CEO of Vivus to help revitalize the company but had to step down to address a health concern. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of AltheRx Pharmaceuticals.
“I’m truly excited to join the Board of Directors of Inhibikase Therapeutics. Inhibikase offers an exciting, and much needed new platform to treat patients with both bacterial and viral infections. There is a significant need for new approaches to managing life threatening infectious diseases, and I believe Inhibikase will help revolutionize a new treatment approach in this area. “
Tony received his Associates Degree in Chemical Engineering from Penn State and his B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Frostburg University. Prior to joining AZ in 1999, Tony began his career in the pharmaceutical industry at Berlex Laboratories, Inc. as a pharmaceutical sales rep, culminating in his rise to Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Sales before his recruitment to AZ.
Tony joins Board members Dr. Steven Gilman, Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Peter Mueller, Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Ms. Lisa Evren, formerly of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals and Talisman Energy, Dr. Milton Werner, President & CEO of Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc. and Strategic Advisor Mr. David Gryska, former CFO of Celgene to help lead Inhibikase through its next phase of growth.
“As Inhibikase continues to grow as an operational company with multiple programs at the clinical transition, Tony brings to the Company enormous experience that will be necessary to build an operational organization intending to commercialize its lead programs on its own,” said Company President & CEO Dr. Milton Werner. “The Board will now be comprised of leaders in research, development, operations and finance whose insights will be of tremendous value as we embark on the further clinical evaluation of its lead programs in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN).”
About Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc.
Inhibikase Therapeutics is transforming the way pharmaceuticals attack infectious diseases. Its small molecule platform enables treatment of bacterial AND viral infectious disease through a common mechanism of action. The Company’s host-targeting strategy using clinically validated targets treat infectious disease with a low likelihood of stimulating resistance. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Inhibikase Therapeutics is developing treatments for orphan indications arising from polyomaviruses, such as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), BK-virus associated nephropathy (PVAN), hard-to-treat hepatitis C, fungal and bacterial pneumonias as well as medical countermeasures for biodefense.
Contact:
Milton H. Werner, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc.
(917) 494-0831
SOURCE Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc.
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