Dr. Giles will be responsible for advancing NT1’s research and development initiatives, leading its clinical programs, and supporting external collaborations and strategic partnerships.
MONTREAL, April 10th, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - NEOMED Therapeutics 1 Inc. (NT1), a recently formed company dedicated to advancing novel, orally bioavailable epigenetic dual inhibitors for the targeted treatment of cancer today announced the appointment of Francis J. Giles, MB, MD, FRCPI, FRCPath to the newly created position of Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Giles will be responsible for advancing NT1’s research and development initiatives, leading its clinical programs, and supporting external collaborations and strategic partnerships.
The NT1 team has generated five distinct chemical series/scaffolds from which a portfolio of novel orally bioavailable epigenetic inhibitors are advancing through preclinical development. Following IND / CTA filing in early 2019, first-in-human clinical trials are planned to start thereafter for the lead molecule - NEO2734, an orally bioavailable and first-in-class dual bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) and CBP/P300 inhibitor. In addition to NEO2734, the NT1 pipeline comprises a dual BET and CBP/P300 inhibitor follow-up series program, a dual BET and SMARCA4 inhibitor series program and complementary biomarker programs.
“Our stand-alone company structure will accelerate our efforts to raise further funds to advance NEO2734 to clinical trials in early 2019 and to accelerate the advance of our pipeline.” said Christine Lennon, President & CEO of NT1. She adds, “We are delighted that Dr. Frank Giles, a global expert in oncology developmental therapeutics and translational medicine has accepted to lead our preclinical and clinical efforts as we transition to a clinical stage company. We are on course to submit our initial IND to the FDA/EMA and a CTA to Health Canada within a year and plan to initiate our first-in-human Phase 1/2 study in patients with advanced cancers shortly thereafter. Dr. Giles’ expertise and experience will be instrumental in advancing our programs into the clinic and gaining rapid regulatory approvals in appropriate patient populations.”
“Epigenetic modulation as an anti-cancer approach holds enormous promise that is increasingly being delivered upon. I am thus very excited to work with the NT1 team as they advance a very important pipeline. They have identified a unique series of orally-bioavailable, potent, dual-targeted epigenetic modulators for the treatment of resistant cancers, and their preclinical results are quite compelling.” said Dr. Giles. “Based on these preclinical data, an immediate priority is to advance NEO2734 into the clinic to assess its potential benefit in patients suffering from advanced solid tumours and hematological malignancies.”
Dr. Giles has very extensive international clinical, translational, and regulatory experience in oncology. He has served as Deputy Director and Director of Developmental Therapeutics at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Center of Northwestern University, Chicago and as Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He previously served as Deputy Director of the Cancer Therapy and Research Center at the University of Texas (UT) Health Science Center, San Antonio, and Chief of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology and Director of the Institute for Drug Development. His prior positions include serving as Professor in the Division of Cancer Medicine at the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston; and as a faculty member at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Giles has led the development of novel drugs, immunotherapies, and other highly targeted approaches, including cancer-directed viruses, monoclonal antibodies, and molecularly directed agents. He has served as principal investigator on numerous national and international First in Human, Phase I, II, and III clinical studies and has recently served as sponsor medical lead on three successful IND applications focused on novel anti-cancer therapies.
About NEOMED Therapeutics 1:
NEOMED Therapeutics 1 is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel epigenetics-modulating therapeutics for patients with cancer.
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NEOMED Institute, Shirley Robinet, Communications coordinator, 514-367-1212 Ext. 218, srobinet@neomed.ca
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