Constellation Pharmaceuticals Appoints Renowned Cancer Biologist Edward E. Harlow, Jr., Ph.D. as Company`s CSO
-Company Leading Emerging Field of Epigenetics-
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(Business Wire)--
Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has appointed Edward
E. Harlow, Jr., Ph.D. as the company`s Chief Scientific Officer. This
appointment reflects the Company`s strong scientific heritage and its progress
in building the leading biopharmaceutical effort focused on discovering and
developingnew drugs targeting epigenetic regulation of the human genome. Dr.
Harlow will direct Constellation`s research and drug discovery efforts,
initially focused on new treatments for cancer.
Dr. Harlow, a distinguished molecular biologist, is an internationally
recognized leader in cancer biology who is best known for his discoveries
regarding the control of cell division and critical changes that allow cancer to
develop. He most recently served as Professor and Chair of the Department of
Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School and
Associate Director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. Previously he
served as Scientific Director for the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer
Center and was Associate Director for Science Policy at the National Cancer
Institute, where he helped direct U.S. cancer research planning. Dr. Harlow has
received numerous scientific honors, including election to the National Academy
of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine, appointment as Fellow of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences, and receipt of the American Cancer Society`s
highest award, the Medal of Honor.
"We are delighted and proud that Ed is joining the leadership of Constellation
at this pivotal point as we grow our team and make important progress with our
R&D programs," said Mark A. Goldsmith, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of
Constellation Pharmaceuticals. "He has an outstanding record of achievement in
science and he has collaborated with and advised both young and established
pharmaceutical companies. Our company is built on a tradition of rigorous
science, and Ed`s proven ability to lead breakthrough research coupled with his
deep relationships across academia and industry will help us to achieve high
impact on behalf of patients."
"I am excited to join this impressive organization and believe the depth and
quality of Constellation`s scientists and drug discovery platform position it to
continue leading the field," said Dr. Harlow. "Epigenetics is an intriguing
window into the complex biology of multiple diseases, and Constellation offers a
compelling opportunity to leverage my experience in order to create innovative
medicines."
Dr. Harlow has served on a number of influential advisory groups, including the
Board of Life Sciences for the National Research Council, External Advisory
Boards for UCSF, Stanford, UCLA, and NYU Cancer Center, and Scientific Advisory
Boards for the Foundation for Advanced Cancer Studies and numerous biotechnology
and pharmaceutical companies, including Onyx, Alnylam, 3V Biosciences, and
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. He received his B.S. and M.S. from the University of
Oklahoma and his Ph.D. at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in London.
About Constellation Pharmaceuticals
Constellation Pharmaceuticals is the first biopharmaceutical company dedicated
to the development of novel therapeutics in the emerging field of Epigenetics, a
new field of science that focuses on selective regulators of gene function and
expression. Constellation`s initial focus is in oncology, and the Company`s
platform will also be applicable to other therapeutic areas including
autoimmune, inflammatory and neurological diseases. The Company`s academic
founders represent the core thought leaders in epigenetics responsible for key
advances, insights and discoveries in the field. Constellation Pharmaceuticals
is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit the
company's website at www.constellationpharma.com.
Constellation Pharmaceuticals was founded by three of the foremost authorities
and leaders within the field of Epigenetics: Danny Reinberg, Ph.D, Professor of
Biochemistry at the New York University School of Medicine and an Investigator
of the Howard Hughes Institute; Yang Shi, Ph.D., Professor of Pathology at the
Harvard Medical School and David Allis, Ph.D., Professor and Head of the
Laboratory of Chromatin Biology at The Rockefeller University.
Constellation`s Board of Directors include: Anthony Evnin, Partner, Venrock;
David Goeddel, Ph.D., Partner, The Column Group; Mark Levin, Partner, Third Rock
Ventures; Tom Maniatis, Ph.D., Professor, Harvard University; Robert Tepper,
M.D., Partner, Third Rock Ventures; and Mark A. Goldsmith, M.D., Ph.D., CEO,
Constellation Pharmaceuticals.
Also supporting the Company`s efforts is a Scientific Advisory Board featuring
some of the most renowned scientific experts within the field of Epigenetics and
oncology, including; Richard Klausner, M.D., Managing Partner, The Column Group
and former Director of the National Cancer Institute; Arnold Levine, Ph.D.,
Professor, Institute of Advanced Study; David Livingston, M.D., Deputy Director,
Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Institute; Julian Adams, Ph.D., Chief Scientific
Officer, Infinity Pharmaceuticals; Xiaodong Cheng, Ph.D., Professor, Emory
University; Thomas Jenuwein, Ph.D., Director, Max Planck Institute; and Scott
Lowe, Ph.D., Professor, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
About Epigenetics
Epigenetics is an exciting new field of biology that involves chemical
modifications of both DNA and of its packaging proteins ("chromatin"), which are
collectively called the `epigenome.` The genome, or DNA, is the "blueprint" for
the human body, consisting of thousands of genes, which are the fundamental
units of information necessary for normal cell growth and development. In
contrast, the epigenome plays a critical role in regulating the expression of
genes, that is, switching genes on or off - or in the case of disease, for
switching genes on or off incorrectly. This new field of Epigenetic science
provides the opportunity to create a broad new class of human therapeutics
targeting selective regulators of epigenetic function.