CONSHOHOCKEN, PA and VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 27 /PRNewswire/ - Neuromed Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company developing new and improved chronic pain drugs, announced today that Jeffrey Arcara and Gene Wright have joined Neuromed as Vice President of Business Development and Vice President of Project Leadership, respectively. Both are newly created positions.
Mr. Arcara will be responsible for evaluating and negotiating in-licensing opportunities to complement our three pain programs including NMED-1077 (OROS(R) Hydromorphone) and our N- and T-type calcium channel blockers.
Dr. Wright will oversee project planning and will be involved in corporate strategic planning, development management processes and project management from conception through development cycle.
“Jeff’s and Gene’s direct experience with pain therapies, including opioids, will be immediately valuable to Neuromed as we advance our pivotal Phase 3 trials of NMED-1077 for the treatment of chronic pain,” said Dr. Christopher Gallen, President & CEO. “Our ability to attract the caliber of seasoned executives such as Jeff and Gene is a testament to the enthusiasm around our programs and our potential to develop and market new and improved pain medicines. It is a pleasure to welcome them to our team.”
About Jeffrey Arcara
Mr. Arcara was most recently an Executive Director of Marketing at Wyeth, where he was leading a commercial launch team for the investigational drug subcutaneous methylnaltrexone, a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in patients receiving palliative care. Prior to Wyeth, Mr. Arcara was Vice President of Commercial Operations at InKine Pharmaceuticals. He has also held positions with Centocor and Abbott. Mr. Arcara received his M.B.A. in Marketing-Finance from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA and a B.A. in Marketing-Finance from the University of Wisconsin.
About Gene Wright
Dr. Wright most recently worked for Schering-Plough Corporation as Executive Director and Senior Project Leader of the Antiviral/Antifungal groups where he provided strategic leadership to the development project teams involved in drug development and commercialization. Prior to Schering-Plough, Dr. Wright was Vice-President of CNS/Pain Development, Project Management and Pharmacokinetics at Biovail Technologies where he led the clinical and pharmacokinetic teams to prepare a New Drug Application for Tramadol ER. Prior to Biovail, Dr. Wright had a long career at Pharmacia where he held several leadership roles, the most recent position as Senior Director, Project Leader for all CNS development projects. Dr. Wright obtained a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, an M.B.A. from National University in San Diego and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Kentucky.
About Neuromed
Neuromed is a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing new and improved pain medicines. We have three programs aimed at addressing this important unmet medical need. Neuromed acquired the U.S. marketing rights to OROS(R) Hydromorphone, an extended release formulation of hydromorphone in Phase 3 clinical development. In collaboration with Merck, Neuromed is researching compounds designed to block the N-type calcium channel, a target linked to pain signal transmission. Separately, Neuromed is also developing T-type calcium channel blockers aimed at treating acute and chronic pain as well as hypertension and epilepsy. For more information visit www.neuromed.com
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OROS(R) is a trademark of ALZA Corporation.
Neuromed cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon current expectations and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of release of the relevant information, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, Neuromed’s forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Neuromed’s business including, without limitation, statements about: the progress and timing of its clinical trials; difficulties or delays in development, testing, obtaining regulatory approval, producing and marketing its products; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of its products that could delay or prevent product development or commercialization, or that could result in recalls or product liability claims; the scope and validity of patent protection for its products; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and its ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations. Neuromed does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: Julie Jang, Director, Communications, Neuromed Pharmaceuticals, Phone: (604) 909-2547, Email: jjang@neuromed.com
CONTACT: Julie Jang, Director, Communications, Neuromed Pharmaceuticals,
Phone: (604) 909-2547, Email: jjang@neuromed.com
