BOULDER, Colo., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tapestry Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the appointment of Sandra L. Silberman, M.D., Ph.D., to the position of Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Silberman, a medical oncologist/hematologist, joins Tapestry with more than 15 years of experience in the clinical development of novel anticancer agents. At Tapestry, Dr. Silberman will be responsible for implementing the Company’s clinical programs, including the Phase II development of its lead compound, TPI 287.
“Dr. Silberman has an impressive track record of bringing novel and innovative therapeutics successfully from preclinical research into and through the clinical trials process,” commented Leonard P. Shaykin, chairman and chief executive officer of Tapestry Pharmaceuticals. “As we prepare to roll out our Phase II clinical trial program for TPI 287, Dr. Silberman’s skills and experience will help shape and guide the planning and execution of these trials.”
“I believe that TPI 287 has potential for patients with limited treatment options, and I look forward to working with the team at Tapestry to move this program forward. This is an exciting opportunity and will continue my lifelong commitment to providing benefit and hope to patients with cancer,” commented Dr. Silberman.
Dr. Silberman began her career in clinical development at Pfizer, Inc., where she initiated the Company’s first program in clinical oncology and oversaw the introduction of Tarceva(TM) into clinical trials. She then served as Senior Director for Novartis Clinical Research, where she led the global development of Gleevec(TM), a highly innovative drug and the first targeted therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia. Dr. Silberman then joined Eisai Medical Research as Global Therapeutic Area Head (Oncology), a role in which she advanced six novel compounds into Phases I through III in clinical development. As an independent industry consultant over the years, Dr. Silberman has advised Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, Imclone, Roche and GPC-Biotech in their various oncology programs.
Dr. Silberman earned her Ph.D. in Tumor Immunology from Johns Hopkins University and her M.D. from Cornell University Medical College. She completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the Brigham & Women’s and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. She has numerous publications and is named on several patents in the cancer drug development field, including novel anti-tubulin agents for advanced solid tumors. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Hematology.
About TPI 287
TPI 287, a proprietary third generation taxane, is Tapestry’s lead clinical compound. This compound was designed to overcome multi-drug resistance in solid tumors that have become resistant to taxane therapy. In preclinical testing, TPI 287 demonstrated the ability to inhibit tumor cell growth in a number of in vitro cell lines and has shown inhibition of human tumors in certain animal xenograft models when tested against standard comparative agents. The in vitro activity was seen across multiple cell lines including cell lines known to be sensitive to taxanes and cell lines known to be resistant to taxanes. Taxane sensitive cell lines in which TPI 287 has shown activity include cell lines derived from breast cancer, uterine cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Taxane resistant cell lines in which TPI 287 has shown activity include lines derived from breast cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer. In in vivo testing TPI 287 demonstrated tumor growth inhibition activity in tumor cell lines with mutant tubulin and multiple drug resistance, MDR-1.
TPI 287 is currently in two Phase I studies in the United States and overseas to determine the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of the compound. Tapestry plans to initiate Phase II trials in the first quarter of 2007.
About Tapestry Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tapestry Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a company focused on the development of proprietary therapies for the treatment of cancer.
For more information about Tapestry and its technologies, visit Tapestry’s web site at www.tapestrypharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward- looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “opportunities,” “trends,” “potential,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “hopes” or comparable terminology or by discussions of strategy. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the initiation of Phase II trials of TPI 287 in 2007. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include risks that clinical trials for TPI 287 will be delayed due to institutional approvals, patient recruitment, formulation and manufacturing difficulties, delays in finalizing and receiving approval of Phase II protocols, negotiations with regulatory agencies, or other factors; that human clinical trials may show that TPI 287 is unsafe and/or ineffective in treating cancer in humans. General implementation risks associated with development of TPI 287 include those that we are blocked or limited in the development of TPI 287 because of the intellectual property rights of third parties; that we are limited in our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce our own intellectual property; that development of TPI 287 is delayed or terminated because the costs of further development exceed its value; and that the Company’s resources will be insufficient to continue development. Additional risks, uncertainties and other factors are identified under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarter Reports on Form 10-Q/A for the Quarter ended September 27, 2006. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new or additional information, future events or otherwise.
Contact: Tapestry Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Gordon Link Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer 303-516-8500 glink@tapestrypharma.com Elma Hawkins, Ph.D. Communications and Corporate Development 212-400-3019 ehawkins@tapestrypharma.com Investor: Lilian Stern Stern Investor Relations, Inc. 212-362-1200 lilian@sternir.com Media: Lloyd Benson/Dana Conti Schwartz Communications 781-684-0770 tapestry@schwartz-pr.com
Tapestry Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CONTACT: Gordon Link, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,+1-303-516-8500, or glink@tapestrypharma.com; Elma Hawkins, Ph.D. ofCommunications and Corporate Development, +1-212-400-3019, orehawkins@tapestrypharma.com, both of Tapestry Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; orInvestor, Lilian Stern of Stern Investor Relations, Inc., +1-212-362-1200,or lilian@sternir.com; or Lloyd Benson or Dana Conti, +1-781-684-0770, ortapestry@schwartz-pr.com, both of Schwartz Communications
Web site: http://www.tapestrypharma.com/
