




Healthcare Industry News: Novartis Pharmaceuticals
News Release - June 21, 2007
LifeCycle Pharma Forms Scientific Advisory Board in Solid Organ Transplantation
Expands U.S. Clinical Development Operations With Appointment of Senior Director of Medical and Clinical Research and Director of Medical Affairs TransplantationHORSHOLM, Denmark, June 21 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- Summary: LifeCycle Pharma has established a Scientific Advisory Board for its transplantation programs. In addition, LifeCycle Pharma announces the expansion of its United States (U.S.) clinical development department with the addition of Drs. Rob Gordon and Larry Chodoff LifeCycle Pharma A/S (OMX:LCP) today announced the formation of an international Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of experts in the field of organ transplantation. The SAB will provide counsel to the company's management team as LifeCycle Pharma expands its development programs within the area of solid organ transplantation.
The SAB consists of six internationally recognized thought leaders from the U.S. and Europe, including:
- Dr. Rita R. Alloway, Director of Transplant Clinical Research, University of Cincinnati
- Dr. Klemens Budde, Medical Director of Transplantation, Charite University Hospital, Berlin
- Dr. Robert S. Gaston, Medical Director of Kidney & Pancreas Transplantation, University of Alabama, Birmingham
- Dr. Josep M. Grinyo, Chief, Division of Nephrology, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Barcelona
- Dr. John R. Lake, Director, Gastroenterology Division, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
- Dr. Marc D. Pescovitz, Professor of Surgery and Microbiology/Immunology, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis
"As LifeCycle Pharma advances its product portfolio within organ transplantation, the Scientific Advisory Board will provide an instrumental role in guiding our research and development programs," said Dr. Flemming Ornskov, President and CEO of LifeCycle. "We have attracted established, and highly respected members of the transplantation field who will play a pivotal role in LifeCycle Pharma bringing innovation to this disease area," added Dr. Orsnkov.
In addition, LifeCycle Pharma has strengthened its clinical development capabilities in the U.S. with the addition of Drs. Robert Gordon, as Senior Director of Medical and Clinical Research, and Larry Chodoff, as Director of Medical Affairs Transplantation.
Dr. Gordon is an internationally respected transplant surgeon who has spent more then 30 years in academia and industry. He was a member of the team that was headed by the world renowned transplant surgeon, Dr. Thomas Starzl, at the University of Colorado and the University of Pittsburgh. From 1992 until he moved to industry, Dr. Gordon was Professor of Surgery and Director of the Liver Transplant Service at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Most recently, Dr. Gordon was the Senior Medical Director for Transplantation at Roche Laboratories in Nutley, New Jersey.
After 17 years of practice at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, New York, Dr. Larry Chodoff joined Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in 1997, as Associate Director of Clinical Research, managing global research and development programs in organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases. Prior to joining LifeCycle Pharma, Dr. Chodoff held the position of Medical Liaison in Transplantation and Immunology at Roche Laboratories. Dr. Chodoff received his Pharm.D. from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1979.
"Their combined experience of more than 50 years of working within the area of organ transplantation will be a great asset for LifeCycle Pharma as our LCP-Tacro program enters Phase II clinical trials," said Dr. Michael Beckert, Chief Medical Officer at LifeCycle Pharma, who will oversee the responsibilities of Drs. Rob Gordon and Larry Chodoff.
About LCP-Tacro:
Tacrolimus is a leading immunosuppressive medication to prevent rejection after organ transplantation. LCP-Tacro is being developed as a once-daily tablet version of tacrolimus, with improved bioavailability and reduced variability; compared to both Astellas' twice daily version of tacrolimus (Prograf®), and its modified-release version of tacrolimus for organ transplants. This is expected to represent significant improvements for patients.
Transplant patients need to maintain a minimum level of tacrolimus in the blood to prevent organ rejection, but too high levels increase the risk of serious side effects such as, kidney damage or hypertension. Therefore, tacrolimus levels need to be managed carefully. Transplant patients are typically obliged to make frequent visits to the hospital for monitoring and dose adjustments for months after receiving a new organ. Management of the tacrolimus levels is complicated by the low bioavailability of Prograf®, its variable absorption, and its interaction with food and other drugs.
About LifeCycle Pharma A/S:
LifeCycle Pharma, headquartered in H0rsholm, Denmark, is an emerging pharmaceutical company with a broad and late stage product pipeline in therapeutic areas of cholesterol management, hypertension, organ transplant and autoimmune diseases. LifeCycle Pharma's proprietary technology platform, MeltDose® technology, offers lower dosing, reduced side effects and improved safety and patient compliance, as well as reduced product development time and development costs. LifeCycle Pharma is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange under the trading symbol (LCP). Please visit www.lcpharma.com for further information about LifeCycle Pharma A/S.
Source: Lifecycle Pharma
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