NEW YORK, Jan 07, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE via COMTEX) -- Cortice Biosciences, a biotechnology company developing novel agents for the treatment of oncologic and neurologic indications, announced today the appointment of George Farmer, Ph.D. as Chief Executive Officer.
Dr. Farmer brings more than 20 years of industry, financial, and academic experience to Cortice. Most recently, he served as Vice President, Corporate Development at Synta Pharmaceuticals, a company developing novel treatments for cancer. As a Senior Biotechnology Analyst with Canaccord Genuity, Wachovia Securities, and Fortis Bank, Dr. Farmer covered a wide range of companies developing and commercializing drugs for many therapeutic indications. He also served as a Senior Scientist at DuPont Pharmaceuticals Company and completed post-doctoral fellowships at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and University of California San Francisco investigating molecular mechanisms of cancer progression. Dr. Farmer received his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Columbia University and a B.A. from Dartmouth College.
"The unique properties of our lead drug candidate, TPI 287, combined with a well understood mechanism of action supports its potential not only as treatment for brain cancers and other solid tumors, but also for Alzheimer's disease and related orphan indications where tau protein dysfunction has been implicated," said Dr. Farmer. "I am thrilled to have joined the Cortice team to help lead the development of TPI 287 and bring this important drug to patients."
About TPI 287
TPI 287 is a novel taxoid derivative, known as an abeotaxane, which binds to and stabilizes the assembly of microtubules similarly to commonly used taxanes, including paclitaxel (Taxol(R) and Abraxane(R)) and docetaxel (Taxotere(R)). In oncology treatment settings, microtubule stabilization by these agents leads to mitotic arrest and cancer cell death. TPI 287 has advantages over the taxanes due to its ability to circumvent common drug resistance mechanisms and its propensity to penetrate the central nervous system. Accordingly, TPI 287 has the potential to treat primary brain tumors and secondary brain metastases that are often shielded from systemic administration of taxanes. Microtubule stabilization by TPI 287 may also have potential for the treatment of neurologic disorders affected by tau protein pathology. These include tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease and orphan diseases, such as progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, and frontotemporal dementia.
About Cortice Biosciences
Cortice Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage drug development company pioneering novel therapies for the treatment of oncologic and neurologic disease indications with urgent unmet medical need. More information can be found at www.corticebiosciences.com .
CONTACT: Cortice Biosciences, Inc.
646-747-9090
[email protected]