NEW YORK, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- NexGenix Pharmaceuticals, a privately held biotechnology company focused on developing drugs to treat the orphan-designated tumor suppressor disorder neurofibromatosis and related sporadic tumors, today announced several key personnel appointments, including the appointment of Donald D Cilla Jr, PharmD as Vice President, Clinical Development and COO; the appointment of Michelle Morin, BS to Director of Corporate Development; and the appointment of Neal Rosen, MD, PhD as Scientific Consultant.
“This is a very exciting time for NexGenix,” said CEO Allan E Rubenstein, MD. “As we move from successful proof-of-principle clinical trials toward pivotal trials in the US, we need to strengthen our clinical leadership and corporate infrastructure. The addition of these outstanding individuals to our team ensures that we have the resources in place to help us meet our clinical goals.”
Donald D Cilla, Jr, PharmD, joins NexGenix as Vice President, Clinical Development and Chief Operating Officer. With expertise in clinical pharmacology and clinical operations, Dr Cilla has almost 20 years of clinical development experience. He has been involved in or overseen development programs in cardiovascular, neurology, oncology supportive care, and antinfective disorders. Dr Cilla has previously worked at Par Pharmaceutical, Purdue Pharma, Otsuka, Corning-Besselar (now Covance) and Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis, holding increasing levels of responsibility. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Michigan.
Michelle Morin, BS, Director of Corporate Development, joined NexGenix in April of 2006. With expertise in corporate finance, investor relations and business development, Ms Morin has over eight years of experience helping companies make and implement strategic business decisions. Past positions include Management Consultant to Ardent Pharmaceuticals and Enhance Biotech, and Manager of Investor Relations for Adherex Technologies. Ms Morin received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.
Neal Rosen, MD, PhD joins NexGenix as a Scientific Consultant. Dr Rosen is a Member of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in the Department of Medicine and the Program in Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry. He is an expert in the interface between basic biology and clinical oncology. Dr Rosen is world-renowned for both his clinical and basic research involving signal transduction pathways in cancer cells. His work has been central to understanding the role of protein conformational chaperones in cancer. He is also known for his work on oncogene function in tumor cells and the targeting of pharmaceuticals to overcome these functions. Dr Rosen received his BA Degree from Columbia University and his MD and PhD Degrees from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
About NexGenix Pharmaceuticals
NexGenix Pharmaceuticals is a US-based biotechnology company focused on drug development for Neurofibromatosis Types 1 and 2 and related sporadic tumors. Neurofibromatosis, or NF, is a genetic disorder characterized by the development of tumors along nerves. These slow growing tumors are resistant to radiation and chemotherapy and the only current treatment is repeated surgical removal. NexGenix has assembled a team of top NF clinicians and researchers on its Scientific Advisory Board and has developed a proprietary screening platform for both Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and 2. NexGenix will soon seek an IND for a unique treatment for NF1. A targeted treatment for NF2 is in preclinical development.
For more information, please visit the NexGenix website at http://www.nexgenixpharm.com
This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
Certain information contained in this news release is forward-looking and is subject to unknown risks and uncertainties. The actual results, performance or achievements of the company may differ materially from the results, performance or achievements of the company expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
NexGenix Pharmaceuticals
CONTACT: Michelle Morin, BSDirector of Corporate Development for NexGenixPharmaceuticals, +1-212-742-0210, mmorin@nexgenixpharm.com
Web site: http://www.nexgenixpharm.com//
