| |
|
 |
Trophos appoints Damian Marron as Chief Executive Officer
|
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.