VANCOUVER, Dec 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - ProNAi Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: DNAI), a clinical-stage oncology company pioneering a novel class of therapeutics based on its proprietary DNAi technology platform, today announced it has appointed Dr. Keith Anderson as Senior Vice President, Technical Operations and Dr. Gregg Smith as Vice President, Preclinical.
“The appointments of Dr. Anderson and Dr. Smith reflect our commitment to establishing ProNAi as a leading oncology drug research, development and commercialization company,” said Dr. Nick Glover, President and CEO of ProNAi Therapeutics. “Specifically, Dr. Anderson will have overall responsibility for establishing the company’s strategic manufacturing and supply chain strategy with a long-term focus on building a full-fledged, commercial-scale operation at ProNAi. Dr. Smith will play a key role in ProNAi’s portfolio expansion activities, both by contributing to the research programs aimed at further exploiting the company’s platform DNAi technology, and by being actively involved in the search, evaluation and development planning of any potentially acquirable oncology drug assets.”
Dr. Anderson joins ProNAi as Senior Vice President, Technical Operations. Keith is a seasoned pharmaceutical development executive with a proven track-record of developing and commercializing successful products. His 20 year career in pharmaceutical research included positions at Ligand Pharmaceuticals and Ocera Therapeutics, where he was Chief Operating and Chief Scientific Officer. More recently, he held the role of Vice President, Manufacturing at Seragon Pharmaceuticals, where he led CMC and supply chain activities until the company was acquired by Genentech/Roche. He holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Alberta.
Dr. Smith joins ProNAi as Vice President, Preclinical. His previous work experience includes VP Drug Development and operations roles at YM BioSciences, Cytopia and other Australian biotechnology companies, as well as an R&D Executive role at Gilead following its acquisition of YM. Gregg holds Pharmacy (Honours) and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Queensland, Brisbane and an MBA from LaTrobe University in Melbourne.
About ProNAi Therapeutics
ProNAi Therapeutics is a clinical-stage oncology company pioneering a novel class of therapeutics based on its proprietary DNAi technology platform for patients with cancer and hematological diseases. ProNAi’s lead DNAi product candidate, PNT2258, is designed to treat cancers that overexpress BCL2, an important and validated oncogene known to be dysregulated in many types of cancer. ProNAi is pursuing a multi-faceted clinical development strategy designed to efficiently achieve regulatory approval and maximize the commercial opportunity of PNT2258. ProNAi is enrolling patients in “Wolverine”, a Phase 2 trial evaluating PNT2258 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and in “Brighton”, a Phase 2 trial evaluating PNT2258 for the treatment of Richter’s transformation. For more information, please visit www.pronai.com.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding ProNAi’s anticipated clinical development and manufacturing activities and potential business development strategies. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, among others, the risk that ProNAi may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize PNT2258 or any other future product candidates, PNT2258 may fail to demonstrate safety and efficacy or may not otherwise produce positive results, ProNAi may experience delays in clinical trials, including due to difficulties enrolling patients, ProNAi’s third-party manufacturers may cause its supply of materials to become limited or interrupted or fail to be of satisfactory quantity or quality, ProNAi’s cash resources may be insufficient to fund its current operating plans and it may be unable to raise additional capital when needed, ProNAi may be unable to obtain and enforce intellectual property protection for its technologies and product candidates and the other factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” set forth in ProNAi’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ProNAi undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein or to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof, other than as may be required by applicable law.
SOURCE ProNAi Therapeutics Inc.
