BROOMFIELD, Colo., June 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Accera, Inc. today announced the appointment of Charles Stacey, M.D., as president and chief executive officer.
Dr. Stacey has an extensive background in the healthcare industry as a physician, company executive and investment professional. Prior to joining Accera, he was a senior investment manager with London-based Inventages, one of the world's largest life sciences-focused venture capital and private equity firms. In this position he managed global investments in biotechnology, medical device and healthcare information technology companies, and provided company management teams with strategic business counsel. During this time, Dr Stacey provided strategic direction to Accera as an investor. Before this, he was co-founder of Flexycast Ltd., a medical device company in the U.K. Dr. Stacey started his healthcare career as a surgeon with a specialization in reconstructive and orthopedic surgery in London.
He holds an MBA from the London Business School. Dr. Stacey earned an MS in surgical technology from Imperial College London, his medical degree from King's College London and a BS in neuroscience from University College London. His research focused on neuro-metabolic disorders in which he has published several peer-reviewed papers in leading neuroscience journals.
"Accera is now focused on the Phase 3 clinical development program for AC-1204 in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Claude Nash, founder of Viropharma and chairman of Accera's Board. "Charles has tremendous experience in building successful science-driven companies and extensive knowledge of Alzheimer's disease. As Charles already has an in depth knowledge of Accera, we are excited by the immediate value that he will bring to the company and the development of our lead compound."
Dr. Stacey commented: "Researchers and doctors are increasingly recognizing the critical need for mechanistic diversity in Alzheimer's drug development, especially in light of the very high failure rate of late stage clinical trials. There is a strong and growing body of scientific evidence that Alzheimer's is characterized by a metabolic defect of the brain, and that a nutritional-based drug may prove beneficial. Our lead compound, AC-1204, precisely addresses this hypothesis. Accera is one of only a handful of companies worldwide with an Alzheimer's asset in Phase 3 development. We have a huge opportunity to change the course of this terrible and tragic disease.
I look forward to leveraging my experience in helping expedite the company's path forward with clinical development. I am fortunate to be leading a world-class team in the late-stage product development of this exciting compound. We look forward to completing the Phase 3 clinical program and working with regulators on the approval process."
About the NOURISH AD Phase 3 Clinical Study
NOURISH AD is a 26-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study investigating the effects of daily administration of AC-1204 in subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease with an optional 26-week open-label extension. Conducted at 66 sites in the U.S., the study is currently enrolling patients with an anticipated total of 480. The primary endpoints will examine the effects of AC-1204 on memory and cognition as measured by the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) and global function as measured by the Alzheimer's Disease Study Cooperative Study Clinicians Global Impression of Change (ADCS-CGIC) after 26 weeks among non-carriers of the epsilon 4 variant of the gene apolipoprotein E (APOE4). The study will also evaluate activities of daily living, resource utilization and quality of life among subjects with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's.
For more information, visit http://www.AD-trial.com
About Accera
Accera, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Broomfield, Colorado, developing therapies for central nervous system disorders. The company's proprietary scientific platform addresses unmet medical needs in brain health, including Alzheimer's disease. From its roots in developing a marketed product, Axona®, Accera has advanced to the clinical development of drugs with innovative mechanisms of actions. The company's management team includes globally recognized specialists in central nervous system diseases and drug development, who together leverage the latest scientific knowledge and understanding of neurological disorders. Accera's lead product candidate is AC-1204, a ketosis-inducing compound in a Phase 3 clinical study in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
For more information, visit www.accerapharma.com.
Accera Media Contacts:
Russo Partners LLC
Todd Davenport, Ph.D.
(212) 845-4235
[email protected]
David Schull
(212) 845-4271
(858) 717-2310 Mobile
[email protected]
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SOURCE Accera, Inc.