San Diego, June 27, 2011 – Phage Pharmaceuticals announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Jamie Oliver, Pharm.D., to lead the company as CEO. Dr. Oliver also joined Phage’s Board of Directors. “We are fortunate to have been able to recruit Jamie as a member of our management team. He brings with him extensive expertise in the science and technology of our Company,” said Frederic Chanson, Chairman of the Board.
Dr. Oliver has more than 28 years of clinical research experience in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry, including positions as Medical Officer of ClinTrials Research, Vice President of Peregrine Pharmaceuticals and Maret Pharmaceuticals, and CEO of Peptagen, Inc.. He has provided overall strategic and operational direction in biotechnology drug development for clinical, regulatory, research and development, quality assurance, and manufacturing. He has extensive experience in raising public and private equity and venture-based, start-up capital and with the FDA. He received his bachelor’s degree and Doctorate in Pharmacy from Mercer University in Atlanta.
“I am very excited about taking on this role at Phage Pharmaceuticals,” said Oliver. “I’m proud of what Phage has accomplished so far and in the planned expansion of their novel protein expression technology. We will be actively expanding our portfolio of biosimilar proteins and are actively involved in global expansion.”
To achieve the new goals for Phage, a number of key internal promotions have been executed. The executive management team has been expanded to include Brian Baker to serve as Chief Financial Officer. Brian is a seasoned veteran of the biotech industry from the San Diego area. Brian has extensive experience in licensing, equity deal structuring, and collaborative partnerships.
A second senior staff promotion of Dr. Wei Chen to Chief Scientific Officer rounds out the additions to the executive team. Wei’s broad experience in protein expression system and biologic constructs will be necessary for the company’s planned expansion.
The third key staff change was the promotion of Judi Appleman to Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs. With the expansion of the clinical development programs, Judi will be instrumental in overseeing the Company’s relationship with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In addition, Mrs. Appleman continues to provide program management for the clinical programs.
Contact:
Jamie Oliver
Phage Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
6868 Nancy Ridge Drive, #100
San Diego, CA 92121
Phone: 858-427-9126
Cell: 919-264-9224
joliver@phagepharma.com
info@phagepharma.com
www.phagepharma.com
About Phage Pharmaceuticals
Phage Pharmaceuticals makes use of a proprietary production method that improves upon well established approaches for the manufacture of targeted proteins and results in the production of properly-folded therapeutic proteins at high yields. The production method results in lower manufacturing costs with fewer waste by-products and impurities compared with current conventional methods used in the manufacture of similar therapeutics.
Phage Pharmaceuticals has two product candidates in clinical development, Human Growth Hormone (“hGH”) and FGF-1. Both product candidates have open, active INDs with the FDA. Phase I clinical trials of the company’s hGH drug candidate have been completed successfully, and the company is positioned to begin further clinical development of hGH. FGF-1 manufactured at Phage Pharmaceuticals’ facilities has been assessed successfully in a Phase I clinical trial for treatment of wounds and was shown to be safe and well tolerated. Other preparations of FGF-1 manufactured at Phage Pharmaceuticals’ facilities were assessed in Phase I safety and Phage II efficacy trials for the treatment of severe Coronary Heart Disease. Phage Pharmaceuticals has other therapeutic proteins in various stages of pre-clinical development. Among the programs are those involving Beta Interferon, G-CSF, Parathyroid Hormone, EGF, and pegylated versions of Interferon Alpha, hGH, C-CSF, Beta Interferon, EPO, Coagulation Factor IX, FGF-1, Interferon Gamma, Interleukin-12, and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1.