Marseille, June 12th, 2008 - Trophos SA, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of drugs for neurological disorders, announced today the appointment of Damian Marron as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Damian was previously Executive Vice President, Corporate Development at Nicox SA. He replaces Antoine Béret who is retiring and will retain a seat on the Board.
Damian arrives at an exciting time for Trophos as it seeks to accelerate its portfolio of proprietary compounds to clinical proof of concept in a number of neurological conditions and other selected indications such as ischemia-reperfusion injury and hepatitis. Trophos is currently performing three clinical studies with its novel lead drug candidate TRO19622: a Phase IIa efficacy trial in painful diabetic neuropathy, which has recently completed recruitment and for which results are expected in Q4 this year; an exploratory phase IIa study in patients with NASH and a phase Ib study in Spinal Muscular Atrophy. A Phase IIa efficacy trial in post-chemotherapy induced neuropathic pain is expected to begin enrolling patients in 2H 2008.
“I am honored and excited to have been given the responsibility to lead Trophos in the next stage of its development,” said Marron. “The Trophos team, led by Antoine Béret, has built a strong portfolio of drug candidates, identified using the companies proprietary neuronal cell screening platform, to treat neurological indications and other diseases with high unmet medical needs. I will be looking to use my experience to work with the Trophos management and its Board to build further value and bring hope to patients with these serious and under-treated conditions.”
Marc Villecroze, Chairman of the Trophos Board added: “We wish to give our sincere thanks to Antoine Béret for his leadership of the company since its foundation in 1999 through to its present strong position. We wish Antoine well in his retirement and are pleased he will remain connected with the company through his seat on the Board. We congratulate Damian Marron on his appointment. He brings considerable biotechnology and industry experience to the role, especially from his last six years with NicOx, where Damian was instrumental in establishing collaborations with companies such as Merck and Pfizer and played a major role in financing rounds. The Board and I look forward to working with Damian to advance Trophos in the next stages of its development.”
About Damian Marron Damian, 45, has extensive experience in the biotechnology and international pharmaceutical industry, including corporate development, product and technology licensing, research and development, and sales and marketing. Damian’s last role was Executive Vice President Corporate Development at NicOx SA, where he held responsibility for Commercial, Business Development and Alliances, and Investor and Media Relations. During his six years at NicOx, Damian was responsible for the establishment of major collaborations with Merck and Co. Inc. and Pfizer Inc. and participated in financing rounds raising in excess of EUR 175M. Prior to NicOx, Damian held various business development and operational roles at 3M Pharmaceuticals, Orphan Europe, Rhone-Poulenc-Rorer and Glaxo. Damian graduated in pharmacology from the University of Liverpool in 1985, followed by post-graduate research into monoclonal antibodies at the University’s Department of Radiation Oncology.
About Trophos: www.trophos.com Trophos is a biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery and development of novel therapeutic compounds to treat neurological disorders and other diseases with high unmet medical needs. The Trophos discovery strategy has enabled it to develop a portfolio of proprietary products, such as its lead product TRO19622 and drug candidate TRO40303, that confer a survival benefit to stressed neuronal and non-neuronal cells. This is achieved through a mitochondria-based mechanism of action with a robust scientific rationale predicted to exhibit therapeutic benefits in neurodegenerative diseases and indications such as ischemia-reperfusion injury and hepatitis. The company is focusing its efforts on the orphan indicates ALS and SMA while seeking to establish clinical proof of concept and partnerships in other indications, such as neuropathic pain, ischemia-reperfusion injury and hepatotoxicity. Trophos is currently performing three clinical studies with TRO19622: a Phase Ib study in SMA and two Phase IIa trials to assess i) the analgesic effect in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy and ii) the effect on circulating liver enzymes, markers of oxidative stress and apoptosis in patients with NASH, respectively. A Phase IIa efficacy trial in post-chemotherapy induced neuropathic pain is expected to begin enrolling patients in 2H 2008.
Trophos was founded in 1999, is based in Marseille, France and currently has 32 employees.
