HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aradigm Corporation (OTCBB:ARDM) ("Aradigm" or the "Company") today announced that Juergen Froehlich, MD has been appointed as Aradigm's Chief Medical Officer. He joins Aradigm from Vertex Pharmaceuticals where he was Head of Regulatory Affairs, overseeing global submissions and approvals under accelerated review timelines of Kalydeco (ivacaftor) and the granting of two Breakthrough Designations for the orphan indication of cystic fibrosis.
Dr. Froehlich has more than 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience in preclinical, clinical and regulatory activities at Boehringer Ingelheim, Genentech, Quintiles, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ipsen and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. While at Genentech, Dr. Froehlich directed the clinical development, submission and approval of Activase for acute ischemic stroke and the early development of Xolair for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. At Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dr. Froehlich oversaw the global life cycle management for Plavix and Avapro. At Ipsen, he directed the FDA submission and approval for Somatuline for acromegaly, oversaw U.S. development of Dysport for cervical dystonia as well as global clinical studies and regulatory strategies for recombinant porcine factor VIII in hemophilia. Dr. Froehlich was closely involved in the commercialization of various drugs and biologics and alliance activities with other companies.
Dr. Froehlich graduated from the Medical School at Wuerzburg University in Germany. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Pharmacology, a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology and a Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine. He also holds a dual executive MBA degree from the Graduate School of Business Administration in Zurich, Switzerland and from the State University of New York at Albany.
"We are delighted that Dr. Froehlich joined our team at this critical juncture when Pulmaquin® is entering Phase 3 clinical development for the management of patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. His rich experience in the late stage clinical development and approval of valuable treatments, especially for orphan indications, is a particularly important addition to our expertise," said Igor Gonda, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aradigm Corporation.
About inhaled ciprofloxacin (Pulmaquin and Lipoquin®)
Ciprofloxacin is a widely prescribed antibiotic to treat infections of the lung frequently experienced by cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (BE) patients. It is often preferred because of its broad-spectrum anti-bacterial action. The available oral and intravenous formulations of the drug are used to treat episodes of acute exacerbations of lung infections. Aradigm's once-a-day novel inhaled formulations of ciprofloxacin are encapsulated in liposomes, allowing for a sustained release of the drug within the lung and improving airway tolerability. The formulations are to be used for chronic maintenance therapy as they achieve much higher antibiotic concentration at the site of infection and relatively low systemic antibiotic concentrations to minimize side-effects. Lipoquin is a liposomal formulation of ciprofloxacin. Pulmaquin is a dual release formulation that is a mixture of Lipoquin with unencapsulated ciprofloxacin.
Pulmaquin has been tested extensively in preclinical tests, as well as in the ORBIT-2 Phase 2b bronchiectasis study in which outstanding antimicrobial activity coupled with good safety and tolerability was found, and, most importantly, the positive impact on prevention of exacerbations compared to placebo was also observed. Pulmaquin is entering Phase 3 clinical trials. Aradigm has been granted orphan drug designation for liposomal ciprofloxacin for cystic fibrosis in the U.S. and the E.U., and for the combination of liposomal ciprofloxacin and free ciprofloxacin for BE in the U.S. Aradigm's inhaled ciprofloxacin has been also successfully tested in animal models of the bioterrorism infections inhalational tularemia, pneumonic plague and Q-fever.
About Aradigm
Aradigm is an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of drugs delivered by inhalation for the prevention and treatment of severe respiratory diseases. Aradigm has product candidates addressing the treatment of bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, inhalation tularemia and anthrax infections, and prevention of respiratory and other diseases in tobacco smokers through smoking cessation.
More information about Aradigm can be found at www.aradigm.com.
Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties, including the conduct and completion of clinical trials, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in Aradigm's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the SEC on March 27, 2013, and Aradigm's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
Aradigm, Pulmaquin, Lipoquin and the Aradigm Logo are registered trademarks of Aradigm Corporation.
Contacts
Aradigm
Nancy Pecota, Chief Financial Officer, 510-265-8800