TOULOUSE, France and ANN ARBOR, USA, 22 November 2011. Cerenis Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel high-density lipoprotein (‘HDL’) therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, today announced the appointment of Dr. Richard C. Pasternak to the Board of Directors.
Dr. Pasternak has had a long-standing research interest in lipid disorders and atherosclerosis, as well as prevention and patterns of practice and disease management. Previously, he was Vice President, Head of Cardiovascular Clinical Research and Head of Global Scientific Affairs and Scientific Leadership at Merck & Co from 2004 to 2010. Prior to this, he was Director of Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation at Massachusetts General Hospital from 1992 to 2004, and he was Associate Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School.
Dr Pasternak has authored more than 100 publications and has spoken widely on the development of drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and about how academia and industry can better collaborate in biomedical research. He is currently a faculty member of the Weill Cornell School of Medicine, and serves on the Boards of the Founder’s Affiliate of the American Heart Association, the Galien Foundation, and Essentialis Therapeutics.
“We are pleased that a clinician and a scientist of Richard Pasternak’s standing is joining our Board,” said Jean-Louis Dasseux, CEO of Cerenis. “He brings unique clinical experience in the field of cardiovascular disease, as well as expertise in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry.”
The Cerenis Board of Directors is now composed of 7 members as follows:
- Jean-Pierre Garnier, Chairman of the Board of Cerenis, Operating Partner at Advent International, Chairman of Actelion;
- Johan Christenson, Senior Partner at HealthCap;
- Alexandra Goll, General Partner at TVM Capital;
- Denis Lucquin, Managing Partner at Sofinnova Partners;
- Ekaterina Smirnyagina, Venture Partner at Alta Partners;
- Richard C. Pasternak, former Vice President, Head of Cardiovascular Clinical Research and Head of Global Scientific Affairs and Scientific Leadership at Merck & Co;
- Jean-Louis Dasseux, Chief Executive Officer of Cerenis.
About Cerenis Therapeutics
Cerenis Therapeutics is an international biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel HDL therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. HDL is the primary facilitator of the reverse lipid transport, or RLT, pathway by which excess cholesterol is removed from arteries and is transported to the liver for elimination from the body. Cerenis is developing a portfolio of HDL therapies, including HDL mimetics for the rapid regression of atherosclerotic plaque in high-risk patients, and HDL elevators for patients with low HDL. Cerenis is well positioned to become the leader in the HDL therapeutic market with a broad portfolio of programs in development.
Since its inception in 2005, the company raised 117 M€ in equity with top tier investors: Sofinnova Partners, HealthCap, Alta Partners, EDF Ventures, Daiwa Corporate Investment, TVM Capital, Orbimed, IRDI/IXO Private Equity and the FSI (Fund for Strategic Investment). 10,7M€ were also provided by OSEO, the French agency for innovation, to support the development of CER-001.
About CER-001
CER-001, a complex of recombinant human ApoA-I and phospholipids, is being developed for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome. CER-001 is designed to mimic pre-beta HDL, the “good” cholesterol, to promote the removal of excess cholesterol and other lipids from artery walls and enhance reverse lipid transport.
Cerenis Therapeutics
Jean-Louis Dasseux, President and CEO
Tel: +33 5 62 24 97 06
dasseux@cerenis.com
Alize RP (French Enquiries)
Caroline Carmagnol
Tél. : + 33 6 64 18 99 59 / caroline@alizerp.com
Anne Sophie Cosquéric
Tél. : +33 1 42 68 86 41 / anne-sophie@alizerp.com
College Hill Life Sciences (European, US enquiries)
Melanie Toyne-Sewell / Eileen Paul / Anastasios Koutsos
Tel: +44 20 7457 2020
Rebecca Skye Dietrich
Tel: +1 (857) 241-0795
cerenis@collegehill.com
