Achaogen Appoints John C. Doyle to the Newly Created Position of Chief Operating Officer
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Download PDF August 25, 2009
San Francisco, CA, August 25, 2009 - Achaogen, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company addressing the issue of multi-drug resistant bacterial infections through the discovery and development of innovative, broad-spectrum antibiotics, announced today the appointment of John C. Doyle to the newly created position of chief operating officer. Mr. Doyle brings years of experience in leadership roles managing business and financial operations, strategic and operational planning, equity financing, strategic alliances and R&D program management with biotechnology companies including Genentech, Renovis and Tularik.
"As we continue to expand and develop our pipeline and prepare to enter Phase 2 development with our lead product candidate ACHN-490, we are planning for the future growth of Achaogen," said Kevin Judice, Ph.D., chief executive officer and chief scientific officer of Achaogen. "John's experience in both large and emerging biotech companies, as well as his diverse background in public and private financings, corporate development and operations, will be important to Achaogen as we continue to execute on our business strategy."
Mr. Doyle joins Achaogen from Genentech, a leading biotech company acquired by Roche in March 2009, where he served as vice president of finance and corporate planning. Previously, he served as chief financial officer and senior vice president of corporate development at Renovis (acquired by Evotec AG), a publicly-held biotech company focused on neurological diseases and disorders. Mr. Doyle has also held positions at Tularik (acquired by Amgen) and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Doyle received an M.B.A. from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.S. from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
"There is a clear and growing need for new antibiotics as multi-drug resistant bacterial infections become more prevalent worldwide," commented Mr. Doyle. "The Achaogen team is deeply committed to addressing this serious and growing threat to public health and I am excited to join the effort."
About ACHN-490
Achaogen's novel aminoglycoside agents-neoglycosides-overcome known aminoglycoside resistance mechanisms as well as resistance mechanisms that thwart other well-known classes of antibiotics. Leveraging modern chemistry and biology, as well as the extensive scientific and clinical knowledge gained from decades of aminoglycoside usage, Achaogen is poised to enhance the prominence and utility of this important class of antibacterials against 21st-century pathogens.
Achaogen's lead neoglycoside, ACHN-490, has displayed efficacy in research and nonclinical studies against systemic infections caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria (e.g., E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and P. aeruginosa) and MRSA. The company initiated a Phase 1 clinical study in early 2009 and data from this study are expected in the second half of 2009.
About Achaogen
Achaogen is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative, broad-spectrum antibiotics to treat multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. Resistance to available antibacterial therapies continues to rise at an alarming rate, and Achaogen is poised to meet the evolving needs of this market by applying its anticipatory science, developing drugs today that will combat tomorrow's resistant pathogens. This scientific strategy represents a novel approach to addressing the global bacterial resistance crisis.
South San Francisco-based Achaogen is backed by top-tier venture investors and has received substantial non-dilutive funding from NIH, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Wellcome Trust and other sources. Venture capital investors include 5 AM Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners and Domain Associates, Venrock Associates and Versant Ventures. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.achaogen.com.