CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing new treatments for prostate cancer and other hormonally driven diseases, today announced the appointment of Karen J. Ferrante, M.D. as head of R&D and chief medical officer. Dr. Ferrante, formerly oncology therapeutic area head for Takeda Pharmaceuticals and the Takeda Cambridge, USA site head, brings nearly 20 years of drug development experience and proven leadership in the pharmaceutical industry to Tokai.
"Karen's broad oncology drug development expertise will be invaluable to Tokai as we advance the development of our lead product galeterone," said Jodie Morrison, president and chief executive officer of Tokai Pharmaceuticals. "Karen joins Tokai at a pivotal time as galeterone prepares to enter Phase 3 development in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Karen's background includes significant roles in the development of multiple widely used oncology drugs that have had profound effects in patients' lives and she is an ideal fit to direct the research and development efforts for Tokai. We are delighted to welcome Karen to the Tokai senior management team."
Prior to joining Tokai, Dr. Ferrante held senior positions at Millennium Pharmaceuticals and its parent company, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, including her role as chief medical officer and a head of R&D for Millennium, The Takeda Oncology Company. From 1999 to 2007, she held positions of increasing responsibility at Pfizer Global Research & Development, culminating as vice president and therapeutic area clinical leader in oncology development. She began her career in the pharmaceutical industry as associate director of clinical oncology at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. For more than a decade prior, she was at the New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston (Beth Israel Deaconess), where she completed her internship and residency in internal medicine followed by her fellowship in hematology and oncology. While at the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, she served as instructor, clinical instructor and clinical fellow in medicine at the Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ferrante has been an author of a number of peer-reviewed papers in the field of oncology, an active participant in academic and professional associations and symposia, is the holder of several patents and serves as a member of the board of Progenics Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Ferrante holds a B.S. in chemistry and biology from Providence College and an M.D. from Georgetown University.
"Interim results from the ongoing Phase 2 trial of galeterone presented at ASCO GU demonstrated that galeterone treatment resulted in meaningful PSA reductions across multiple distinct CRPC patient cohorts and a well-tolerated safety profile with no reported cases of seizures or mineralocorticoid excess," said Dr. Ferrante. "These results are consistent with the totality of the clinical experience reported to date with galeterone and I am encouraged by the profile the drug has demonstrated in CRPC patients. I look forward to joining the Tokai team and supporting the ongoing efforts to bring a potentially important new treatment option to CRPC patients and the oncology community."
About Galeterone
Galeterone (TOK-001), is a multi-targeted, oral small molecule drug being developed for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) that disrupts androgen receptor (AR) signaling, the key driver of CRPC, via multiple mechanisms of action. Galeterone is the only drug in development or on the market that combines all three of these mechanisms in a single compound to treat CRPC. Galeterone does not bind to GABAa, eliminating the class effect risk of seizures, and exhibits a selective CYP17 lyase over hydroxylase inhibition profile, and therefore, does not require concomitant dosing with prednisone.
About Tokai Pharmaceuticals
Tokai Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing new treatments for prostate cancer and other hormonally driven diseases. The company's lead drug candidate, galeterone (TOK-001), is a first-in-class, multi-targeted, oral small molecule drug being developed for the treatment of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Tokai is backed by Apple Tree Partners, Novartis Venture Fund and the Satter Foundation. For more information on the company and galeterone, please visit www.tokaipharma.com.
Contacts
Pure Communications, Inc.
Caton Morris, 910-232-7166