Vancouver, British Columbia - June 10, 2015 - Qu Biologics Inc., a biotechnology company developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSIs) that aim to restore normal immune function in the targeted diseased organ, announced today the appointment of Jim Pankovich as Vice President, Clinical Operations and Drug Development.
Dr. Hal Gunn, Chief Executive Officer of Qu Biologics commented, "Jim brings to Qu extensive clinical operations expertise in all phases of clinical development from concept to NDA filing." Dr. Gunn added "Jim comes to Qu at an important time in our development as we expand our clinical programs in Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and lung cancer."
As VP, Clinical Operations and Drug Development, Jim will be responsible for product development and optimization as well as regulatory affairs and leading the development of Qu's clinical programs including its current clinical trials in Crohn's disease and lung cancer, its upcoming clinical trial in ulcerative colitis and Qu's other planned clinical trials.
About Jim Pankovich
Mr. Pankovich has more than 20 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry with extensive strategy development, clinical study management and operational experience. During his career, he has guided the development of novel compounds and biologics for the treatment of various cancers and infectious disease in all phases of clinical development from concept to NDA filing. Most recently he served as the Chief Scientific Officer of the CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network. He was formerly the Senior Director, Clinical Research for MIGENIX Inc, Associate Director, Clinical Research at Inex Pharmaceuticals, and Vice President, Operations & Clinical Research at CV Technologies. Mr. Pankovich holds a M.Sc. (Experimental Medicine) from the University of Alberta and an MBA from Queen's University.
About Qu Biologics
Qu Biologics is at the forefront of a paradigm shift in the way we treat cancer and other immune-related disease. Rather than blocking or stimulating a single specific receptor or pathway, the company's Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSIs), a novel class of immunotherapies, aim to restore the body's normal immune response. SSIs, which are derived from components of inactivated common bacteria, are designed to activate the body's innate immune response and restore normal immune function in the targeted organ or tissue to reverse the chronic inflammation underlying many chronic diseases including cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and other immune-related conditions. The company is currently recruiting participants for a clinical trial in Crohn's disease and a Phase 2a open-label clinical trial in recurrent non-small cell lung cancer to study SSI treatment. A clinical trial in ulcerative colitis has received Health Canada approval and is expected to begin in a few weeks.
Backed by a prestigious group of scientific advisors and board members, Qu Biologics is led by a management team that includes co-founder and CEO Dr. Hal Gunn, a physician and expert on the body's immune response to chronic disease, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, former CEO of the BC Cancer Agency and a distinguished clinician, scientist and leader in cancer control internationally, and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. David Mullins, Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology in the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and recognized expert in immune cell trafficking to tumours. For more information, visit www.qubiologics.com and www.qucrohnstrial.com.