Get the latest biotech news where you want it. Sign up for the free GenePool newsletter today!
BOSTON, July 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the appointment of Gino Santini to its Board of Directors. Mr. Santini is a former top executive with Eli Lilly and Company, and is globally respected in the industry after nearly three decades of global pharmaceutical experience. Mr. Santini now will help guide Intarcia through the final stages of development, partnering, and early commercialization of its lead therapeutic candidate, ITCA 650 (a breakthrough once- or twice-yearly GLP-1 for type 2 diabetes that is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials). Mr. Santini will also have significant input on the continuing efforts to build out the Company’s product pipeline.
“As we look to continue to strengthen our Board, Gino stood out as an exceptional candidate and proven leader in the industry whose qualifications are well suited to help us meet all our opportunities to advance our Company,” said Kurt Graves, Chairman, President and CEO of Intarcia. “We are delighted to welcome Gino to the Intarcia Board of Directors, and we look forward to gaining the benefit of his extensive global operating experience, all of his business development acumen, and his in-depth knowledge and insights in the diabetes marketplace.”
Gino Santini began his distinguished career at Lilly as a Financial Planning Associate in Italy in 1983 and subsequently served in roles of increasing responsibility, including: Pharmaceutical Director in Belgium, General Manager in Mexico City, Area Director of Latin America, President of Lilly’s women’s health business, and President of U.S. Operations. In his final role as Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development and a member of the company’s Executive Committee, Mr. Santini led corporate strategy and long-range planning, M&A, new product licensing, innovative financing of internal development projects, and the expansion of Lilly Ventures in the U.S. and China. In addition to Intarcia, Mr. Santini serves on the Boards of Directors of several other biopharmaceutical companies and an Italian financial holding company. Fluent in four languages, Mr. Santini holds an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Bologna, and an MBA from the Simon School of Business, University of Rochester.
Mr. Santini explained that his enthusiasm for joining the Intarcia Board is prompted most by the Company’s potential opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of patients with type 2 diabetes: “This is truly an exciting time in the evolution of Intarcia, and quite possibly in the future management of type 2 diabetes. I believe Intarcia has thoughtfully put together the handful of critical ingredients for major success: a differentiated and potentially game-changing lead product candidate, world-class scientific, manufacturing and business competencies, a strong Board and top-tier investors, and a proven team full of passion to outperform the marketplace and help patients. I look forward to working with the Board and senior leadership to help guide the company to the full measure of success possible.”
About ITCA 650
ITCA 650 (a once- or twice-yearly continuous subcutaneous delivery of exenatide) is being developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The investigational therapy employs Intarcia’s proprietary technology platform involving a matchstick-size, miniature osmotic pump (minipump) that is inserted subcutaneously to provide continuous and consistent drug therapy, and the company’s proprietary formulation technology, which maintains stability of therapeutic proteins and peptides at human body temperatures for extended periods of time.
Data from Intarcia’s ITCA 650 Phase 2 program have demonstrated significant and sustained reductions in HbA1c and body weight over 48 weeks of treatment with a marked reduction in the GI adverse events typically associated with the self-injection products in this class. ITCA 650 is an investigational new therapy and is not currently approved by any regulatory authority. Exenatide, the active agent in ITCA 650, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist currently marketed globally as twice-daily and once-weekly self-injection therapies for type 2 diabetes. Upon approval, ITCA 650 would represent the first injection-free GLP-1 therapy that can deliver a full year of treatment from a single minipump placement. Intarcia’s robust intellectual property portfolio protects ITCA 650 through 2031.
About Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc.
Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing therapies to enhance treatment outcomes by optimizing and improving the efficacy, continuous administration and tolerability of drug therapies. In addition, delivering medicines just once or twice yearly virtually ensures patient adherence and compliance, which is very poor in most chronic diseases. Intarcia’s drug development expertise and competitive edge are demonstrated by its abilities to stabilize proteins and peptides at above-body temperature and to deliver them in a constant and consistent manner via Intarcia’s proprietary technology platform. Intarcia is pursuing a Phase 3-stage development program for type 2 diabetes and has additional programs ongoing for weight regulation to control obesity. For more information on the Company, please visit www.intarcia.com.
Intarcia and its logo are registered trademarks of Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc.
SOURCE Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc.
Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.
