REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:HRTX), a specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that Esmé C. Smith will join the Company as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, effective today. Ms. Smith will report to Barry D. Quart, Pharm.D., Heron's Chief Executive Officer.
"Esme's impressive background and proven leadership skills will be an asset to the Company and an excellent addition to our management team."
"Esme brings to her role at Heron over fifteen years of relevant legal and industry experience that will be vital as we approach several clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones for our SUSTOL™ and post-surgical pain programs," commented Barry D. Quart, Pharm.D. "Esme's impressive background and proven leadership skills will be an asset to the Company and an excellent addition to our management team."
Prior to joining full-time, Ms. Smith advised the Company on legal matters. Previously, she served as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary at Dendreon Corporation, from July 2009 through March 2012. In this position, Ms. Smith had a critical role in overseeing the company's legal responsibilities during its transition from clinical-stage to a global, commercial company. Prior to Dendreon, Ms. Smith was a Partner with the law firm of Jones Day. Ms. Smith received a B.A. degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and her J.D. cum laude from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.
About SUSTOL™
Heron's lead product candidate, SUSTOL™ (granisetron), is being developed for the prevention of both acute- and delayed-onset chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). One of the most debilitating side effects of cancer chemotherapy, CINV is a leading cause of premature discontinuation of treatment. There is only one injectable 5-HT3 antagonist approved for the prevention of delayed-onset CINV in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC); none are approved for delayed-onset CINV in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). SUSTOL contains the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist granisetron formulated in the Company's proprietary Biochronomer™ polymer-based drug delivery platform, which allows therapeutic drug levels to be maintained for five days with a single subcutaneous injection. Currently available intravenous and oral formulations of granisetron are approved only for the prevention of acute-onset CINV. Granisetron was selected for SUSTOL because it is widely prescribed by physicians based on a well-established record of safety and efficacy.
About Heron's Post-Surgical Pain Program
Heron is utilizing its proprietary Biochronomer™ polymer-based drug delivery platform to develop drug candidates designed to extend the duration of action of known active ingredients to address important unmet medical needs. The Company has initiated full development of an established local anesthetic for the treatment of post-surgical pain formulated with its Biochronomer extended release technology. In animal models of post-surgical pain, the Company's drug candidates demonstrated statistically significant pain relief for three days, representing the potential to significantly reduce the need for opiates post-surgery and shorten the length of post-surgical hospital stays. Heron's lead product candidate in this program, HTX-011, is a unique combination of local analgesic agent bupivacaine and the anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam utilizing its Biochronomer extended release technology.
About Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly A.P. Pharma, Inc.) is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing products using its proprietary Biochronomer™ polymer-based drug delivery platform. This drug delivery platform is designed to improve the therapeutic profile of injectable pharmaceuticals by extending the duration of action.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties associated with the timing of completion of the HEC study and the NDA resubmission, potential approval of SUSTOL™ and the potential timing for such approval, if approved at all; risks relating to progress in research and development of HTX-011, including the timing of planned toxicology and clinical studies; risks related to other programs; risks related to the launch and acceptance of new products and other risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution investors that forward-looking statements reflect our analysis only on their stated date. We do not intend to update them except as required by law.
Contacts
Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
Investor Relations Contact:
Jennifer Capuzelo, 858-703-6063
Sr. Manager, Investor Relations
[email protected]
or
Corporate Contact:
Barry D. Quart, 650-366-2626
Pharm D., Chief Executive Officer