to-BBB Announces Successful €10 Million Financing
* Round C financing of €10 million with new and existing investors
* Key management changes as it transitions to next phase of development
Leiden, the Netherlands, 30 June 2014 – to-BBB, a biotechnology company developing novel treatments for devastating brain diseases, today announced the successful finalization of a round C financing of €10 million with new and existing investors. The company also announced the appointment of Dr. Pericles (Perry) Calias as Senior Vice President Translational Medicine and the appointment of Leonard Kruimer as interim CEO to replace Willem van Weperen, who accepted a career opportunity outside the company. Leonard Kruimer, CFO, commented: “The new investment is a clear vote of confidence in our technology, development programs and the continued development of the company. This current infusion of funds will allow us to strengthen our developmental efforts while expanding our clinical programs.”
Appointment Dr. Pericles Calias
Dr. Pericles Calias has recently joined to-BBB as Senior Vice President Translational Medicine. As such, he will be responsible for expanding and accelerating the development of our pre-clinical portfolio. Dr. Calias will coordinate the early regulatory, non-clinical, manufacturing and quality efforts as to-BBB continues its clinical development programs. Prior to joining to-BBB, Pericles Calias led the development of the CNS protein replacement programs at Shire. During his seven-year tenure there, he authored over 20 patents and held various leadership roles throughout the research and development organization. He also led the research efforts for several US and EU regulatory filings for various marketed products. Prior to Shire, Dr. Calias was part of the founding teams for two ocular companies, Eyetech and Eyegate Pharmaceutical. He will be based in Boston, where he will further strengthen to-BBB’s US presence.
Leonard Kruimer commented: “We welcome Pericles as his profile perfectly fits into our management team of experienced industry executives. Furthermore, I would like to thank Willem van Weperen, who has led our company for five years and has navigated to-BBB technologies BV from an early stage biotech to the phase in which we are ready for major next steps in critical clinical trials for our groundbreaking therapies.”
Willem van Weperen comments on his stepping down: “The company is now well positioned to execute our clinical development strategy. At this point in time, I have chosen to embark on a new career opportunity and have decided to step down as CEO. I am proud to have positioned the company to the point where we have multiple compounds in clinical development. Furthermore, I am confident that the current management of to-BBB will be successful in bringing new treatments for severe brain diseases towards commercialization.”
About to-BBB
to-BBB is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel treatments for devastating brain diseases, such as brain cancer and neuro-inflammatory diseases. The Company combines existing drugs with to-BBB’s proprietary G-Technology® to enhance drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier. to-BBB currently has two products in clinical trials: its lead product 2B3-101 is in a Phase IIa trial in Europe and the US for the treatment of primary brain tumors as well as brain metastases; the second product 2B3-201 for MS relapses and other neuro-inflammatory diseases entered a Phase I clinical study in December 2013. to-BBB is based in the Netherlands and its subsidiary to-BBB Taiwan Ltd. is based in Taipei, Taiwan. Investors in to-BBB include Aescap Venture, Antea Participaties, Jonghoud International and the Industrial Bank of Taiwan Management Corporation (IBTM).
For further inquiries:
Corporate Contact:
Sijme Zeilemaker, MSc
Business Development Manager
to-BBB technologies BV
Phone: +31 71 33 222 56
E-mail: SijmeZeilemaker@toBBB.com
to-BBB technologies BV
J.H. Oortweg 19
2333 CH Leiden
Leiden Bio Science Park
The Netherlands
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