Ann Arbor, Michigan – November 12, 2014 – Atterocor, Inc., a company developing a novel therapy for adrenal cancer, today announced that Pharis Mohideen, M.D., has joined the company's management team as chief medical officer.
Dr. Mohideen brings to Atterocor extensive experience across the full spectrum of drug development in a broad range of therapeutic areas, including orphan, endocrine and metabolic diseases. As chief medical officer, he will lead all clinical strategies and activities, including overseeing the development of ATR-101, the company's investigational therapy for the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC).
"Pharis' therapeutically relevant experience and impressive track record within global pharmaceutical companies is an outstanding fit to lead our ongoing development efforts in adrenal cancer," said Julia C. Owens, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Atterocor. "We welcome Pharis to the team at a crucial stage of growth and transition for Atterocor. Our Phase 1 study of ATR-101 is underway, and we are expanding the trial to leading adrenal cancer centers in the Europe and U.S. this year. We are looking forward to his contributions and proven strategic expertise as we continue development of this important new therapy."
Prior to Atterocor, Dr. Mohideen was vice president of clinical development at Shionogi Inc., a global pharmaceutical company. There, he designed and led the company through its first full Phase 3 development program outside of Japan. Previously, he was global clinical program head at Novartis Oncology, where he was responsible for leading all clinical development and registration activities for three key compounds, including pasireotide, a second generation somatostatin analogue for rare endocrine indications like Cushing's disease, acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors. Dr. Mohideen began his career at Bristol-Myers Squibb in a global clinical development role working in diabetes and metabolic diseases. Prior to joining the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Mohideen maintained an academic position at the University of Hawaii, department of internal medicine (endocrinology), where he treated patients and served as an investigator on multiple pharmaceutical-sponsored clinical trials. Dr. Mohideen holds an M.D., M.S. in human physiology and B.A. in biology from the University of Hawaii. He also holds a M.S. in clinical investigation from Vanderbilt University.
"I am personally passionate about rare diseases like ACC, for which there is an urgency to develop new treatments," said Dr. Mohideen. "Current therapeutic options for adrenal cancer are limited, so each potential new therapy can make a critical difference for the patients in extreme need. I am excited to collaborate with the like-minded, top-notch Atterocor team, including the company's clinical and scientific advisers, who are also committed to bringing forward new treatment options."
About Adrenal Cancer
Adrenal cancer is often diagnosed in the late stages of disease when there is a very poor patient prognosis. Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a cancer of the adrenal cortex that occurs when cancer cells form in the outer layer (cortex) of the adrenal gland. This form of cancer is rare, with approximately 500 to 600 patients diagnosed in the U.S. each year and around 1,000 patients in the U.S. overall. Current treatment options are often toxic, ineffective and poorly tolerated in many patients, and surgery is not a viable treatment option for the majority of ACC patients. With limited treatment options, there exists a desperate need for new therapies for adrenal cancer.
About Atterocor, Inc.
Atterocor is focused on the development of ATR-101, a novel, oral drug candidate for the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Founded in 2012, Atterocor is backed by $16 million in Series A venture capital financing from top-tier life sciences investors Frazier Healthcare, Osage University Partners and 5AM Ventures, along with the Regents of the University of Michigan under the MINTS program (Michigan Investment in New Technology Startups) and The Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, an MEDC program managed by Ann Arbor Spark. Atterocor is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.