London, UK, 22nd July 2010 – London Genetics Limited, an expert in the use of pharmacogenetics in clinical drug discovery and development, is pleased to announce that it has augmented the strength of its team with the appointment of two senior advisers, Professors Stephen DeCherney and Munir Pirmohamed. With their extensive clinical, healthcare, and drug development expertise, their guidance will be invaluable to London Genetics.
Stephen DeCherney MD, MPH, is Professor of Medicine at the University of Carolina, and was previously President, Global Clinical Organisation and Chief Innovation Officer at Quintiles Transnational Corporation. With research interests in internal medicine, endocrinology and diabetes, Professor DeCherney spent five years at the US National Institutes of Health, followed by various management roles at the Christiana Care Health System in Delaware, where he was principal investigator in more than 100 clinical trials. He is on the Board of Certara, Inc and has an MPH from Columbia University School of Public Health.
As holder of the NHS Chair of Pharmacogenetics at the University of Liverpool, Professor Munir Pirmohamed MB, ChB (Hons), PhD, FRCP, FRCP(E) is a leading researcher in the area of pharmacogenetics and drug safety. He is involved in the European EU-PACT Phase IV study, which is looking at the effect of gene-based dosing of warfarin on 2000 patients, and is expected to provide an important indication of the value pharmacogenetics can bring to clinical practice. After qualifying in medicine, Professor Pirmohamed obtained a PhD in pharmacology, and is Deputy Director of the MRC Centre for Drug Safety Sciences in Liverpool and Director of the Wolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine.
Commenting on these appointments, Dominique Kleyn, CEO of London Genetics, said ‘Steve and Munir bring fantastic expertise to the London Genetics team, and we are delighted that they have joined us. As we continue partnering discussions with a range of stakeholders, their input and advice is invaluable. We look forward to sharing this insight with delegates at our second pharmacogenetics conference, to be held in November 2010 in Windsor, UK1.’
1 2nd Annual London Genetics Pharmacogenetics Conference , “Pharmacogenetics: Why, How and When? Challenges, Opportunities and How to Harness the Value”, 9th - 10th November 2010, Cumberland Lodge, Winsdor, UK. For more information, go to www.londongenetics.com/london-genetics-events/basic
Pictures available on request.
For further information please contact:
London Genetics Ltd Dominique Kleyn, CEO, + 44 (0) 207 594 1838 Emma Palmer Foster, Strategic Communications Consultant , + 44 (0) 7880 787 185 communications@londongenetics.com
About London Genetics
London Genetics Limited, a not-for-profit company, is an expert in the use of pharmacogenetics in clinical drug discovery and development. Established in 2007 with funding from the London Development Agency, its seven founding partners are leading London academic and medical institutions with clinical and genetic expertise and significant patient resources. The company provides pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with access to this expertise and resource, as well as providing strategic advice on the application of pharmacogenetics for successful drug development. LGL has broad therapeutic expertise with a focus on cardiovascular disease and drug side-effects of a cardiovascular nature. Recent agreements developed by London Genetics include a collaboration between the International Serious Adverse Events Consortium, St George’s University of London and the Drug Safety Research Unit at Southampton, UK. The parties are working on genetic markers for drug-induced cardiac arrhythmia. LGL is based in central London and has ISO 9001 accreditation. For further information, please go to www.londongenetics.com
About pharmacogenetics
Genetic differences between individuals mean that drug response rates are often variable across a population, and this has significant implications for healthcare cost effectiveness. Pharmocogenetics, the study of the clinical consequences of genetic differences in the way people metabolise and respond to drugs, is expected to generate better understanding of how drugs work in the body, and therefore give insight into how to develop more efficacious and safer drugs. It also has implications for product life cycle management and the revitalisation of drugs which previously failed in clinical trials. With drug development costs rising and R&D productivity falling, plus increased regulator focus on safety and cost-effectiveness, pharmacogenetics is expected to become increasingly important in drug development. The FDA and the EMA have recognised this in their Critical Path Initiative and Road Map respectively.
© 2010 London Genetics Limited
