PPD Strengthens Drug Development Expertise with New Therapeutic Area Professionals

WILMINGTON, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC (PPD) has enhanced its global product development services, adding significant expertise in multiple therapeutic areas, including neuroscience, hematology/oncology, rare diseases and pediatrics.

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Amy Chappell, M.D. (Photo: Business Wire)

PPD’s appointment of Amy Chappell, M.D., and Alberto Lledó, M.D., Ph.D., in neuroscience; Timothy Miller, M.D., in rare diseases and pediatrics; and Konstantin Stoitchkov, M.D., Ph.D., in hematology/oncology strengthens PPD’s team of therapeutic area professionals with extensive product development and commercialization experience, who help clients address critical drug development challenges.

“As the drug development process continues to become more complex, our clients are looking to PPD to provide medical and scientific expertise and strategic direction that extend far beyond traditional clinical trial implementation,” said Rob Dow, M.B.CH.B., F.R.C.P.E., F.F.P.M., who, as chief medical officer, oversees PPD’s therapeutic areas. “These experts have held senior leadership roles in various capacities in the life sciences industry, providing them with a wide range of experience that offers significant strategic value to our clients.”

Amy Chappell, M.D., has significant experience designing and implementing neuroscience clinical trials, first with Eli Lilly and Company for 25 years and then as a consultant to companies such as Convergence Pharma, Biogen, Advicenne, Flexion and Lundbeck. Dr. Chappell is board certified in neurology (child) and lifestyle medicine. Her therapeutic area expertise is focused on nervous system disorders (Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, pain, migraine, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy). She has designed trials through all phases of development with special expertise in proof-of-concept and Phase II trials. She has continued practicing neurology as a volunteer throughout her career and currently at the Naples Neighborhood Health Clinic in Florida. Because of her strong commitment to public service and making a difference in the communities in which she has lived, she has been recognized by several groups, including being named “Woman of the Year” by Soroptimists International of Indianapolis.

Dr. Chappell earned her medical degree and completed a residency in neurology (child) at the Indiana University School of Medicine. She also completed both a residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in epilepsy at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. She has authored or co-authored more than 75 scientific publications and presentations.

Alberto Lledó, M.D., Ph.D., is a board-certified neurologist with additional certification in neuroimmunology. His neuroscience therapeutic area expertise includes work with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, pain, diabetic neuropathy, chronic pain, migraine, epilepsy, restless leg syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease. Before accepting his current role, Dr. Lledó worked with PPD as a consultant and executive director in global product development. Prior to that, he held roles as a neurology consultant and chief medical officer for Canbex Therapeutics, where he helped develop a new molecule for the symptomatic treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients. He has held roles of increasing responsibility with various units of Eli Lilly and Company for 16 years, where he served as a medical fellow/lead physician in the Australia, Canada and Europe regions focusing on Alzheimer’s and pain programs.

Dr. Lledó earned his medical degree from Universidad Complutense in Madrid and a doctoral degree in neuroscience for work done jointly at the Cajal Institute and the University of Chicago. He also completed the pharmaceutical medicine course at the University of Wales School of Pharmacy, where he has been an invited lecturer since 1999. He has more than 80 scientific publications, book chapters and presentations to his credit.

Timothy Miller, M.D., is a board-certified, fellowship-trained, neuromuscular neurologist with more than a decade of increasing leadership experience in the biotechnology industry, as well as a solid background in academia at several institutions. He has focused his clinical and research work predominantly in the areas of pediatrics and rare neuromuscular and genetic diseases. He joined PPD from Sanofi Genzyme, where he served as medical director, senior medical director, global medical director, and vice president and head of medical affairs for North America rare diseases. Dr. Miller has a broad range of clinical and pharmaceutical expertise including rare genetic diseases, and rare and common neurologic, hematological and muscular conditions. He has led small to large teams of medical professionals focused on implementation and complex pharmaceutical forums, and he has managed multimillion-dollar operating budgets, delivering projects on time and within budget.

Dr. Miller earned a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and a medical degree from the University of Missouri. He did his graduate medical work at the Barrow Neurologic Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Arizona and Washington University in St. Louis. He has a graduate certificate from the Arizona Clinical Researcher Training Program, a National Institutes of Health-funded program in clinical research design, conduct and methods at the University of Arizona. He has served as a principal investigator or subinvestigator on more than 25 research grants, and he has designed and managed Phase I-IV research programs in the industry.

Konstantin Stoitchkov, M.D., Ph.D., has more than 25 years of experience in both clinical practice and research. His oncology and hematology experience includes treating patients with different types of hematological malignancies and solid tumors with surgery, chemotherapy, targeted immune and vaccine therapy, bone marrow transplantation and in clinical trials. He joined PPD from Terumo Europe, where he was medical director of oncology and responsible for the department of medical affairs. Prior to that, Dr. Stoitchkov served as senior medical director and global therapeutic area lead for hematology/oncology at other CROs and as coordinating physician for three cooperative groups at the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer in Brussels, Belgium.

Dr. Stoitchkov, who has more than 75 scientific publications and presentations to his credit, began his career as an intern at the department of hematology of the Saint Louis hospital in Paris, France, and continued at the National Center of Oncology in Sofia, Bulgaria. He earned a medical degree from the Medical Academy and licenses in dermatology, venerology and oncology at the Medical University in Sofia, and obtained his doctorate in cutaneous biology and pharmacology from the Denis Diderot Paris VII University in France.

About PPD

PPD is a leading global contract research organization providing comprehensive, integrated drug development, laboratory and lifecycle management services. Our clients and partners include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, academic and government organizations. With offices in 47 countries and approximately 20,000 professionals worldwide, PPD applies innovative technologies, therapeutic expertise and a firm commitment to quality to help clients and partners bend the cost and time curve of drug development and optimize value in delivering life-changing therapies to improve health. For more information, visit www.ppdi.com.

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