CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 28, 2015— Raze Therapeutics, a leading next-generation cancer metabolism company, announced today the addition of Robert Copeland, PhD, President of Research and Chief Scientific Officer at Epizyme, Inc., to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Dr. Copeland brings deep experience in oncology drug discovery and development to Raze's SAB.
Dr. Copeland has contributed to drug discovery and development efforts across a wide range of therapeutic areas leading to 17 drug candidates entering human clinical trials. These include the cancer drugs Tafinlar (Dabrafenib), Foretinib, Afuresertib and Mekinist (Trametinib) and the antibiotic Altabax (Retapamulin). Dr. Copeland has published more than 200 scholarly publications, holds ten issued U.S. patents and has authored five books in the areas of protein science and enzymology.
Currently, Dr. Copeland leads research and the scientific vision at Epizyme. Previously, he served as Vice President of Cancer Biology, Oncology Center of Excellence in Drug Discovery, at GlaxoSmithKline. He has also held scientific positions at Merck Research Laboratories, DuPont-Merck and Bristol-Myers Squibb and a faculty position at the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine.
"We are delighted to have Robert join our team of scientific advisors," said Mark Manfredi, Chief Scientific Officer. "With his successful track record of discovering and developing innovative cancer therapeutics, Robert's knowledge and insights will be invaluable to Raze as we create novel oncology therapeutics targeting one-carbon metabolism."
Dr. Copeland joins scientific founders and current SAB members Vamsi Mootha, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital, Joshua Rabinowitz, MD, PhD, of Princeton University, and David Sabatini, MD, PhD, of the Whitehead Institute; as well as current SAB members Keith Flaherty, MD, Director of the Henri and Belinda Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies at the Massachusetts General Cancer Center, Michael Gilman, PhD, of Padlock Therapeutics and an Atlas Venture Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Julian Adams, PhD, of Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc., George Q. Daley, MD, PhD, of Children's Hospital Boston and Karen Vousden, PhD, of the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute.
About One-Carbon (1C) Metabolism
Targeting cellular metabolism is an increasingly important therapeutic approach for the treatment of people with cancer. In many types of cancer, the normal function of one-carbon (1C) metabolism is misregulated, driving tumor growth, proliferation and survival, primarily by supporting biomass accumulation. Breakthrough insights by Raze's founders have identified 1C metabolic targets specific to certain tumors that, when selectively inhibited, stop the ability of tumors to accumulate biomass, offering the promise of targeted new cancer therapeutics.
About Raze Therapeutics
Raze Therapeutics is dedicated to the discovery and development of the next generation of oncology therapeutics that target fundamental metabolic pathways essential to cancer growth and survival. By selectively targeting one-carbon (1C) metabolism using its proprietary platform, Raze is developing a pipeline of 1C metabolism therapeutics for a range of solid and hematologic cancers, including genetically defined cancers. Raze is led by an experienced management team with a proven track record for building successful biotech companies and recognized scientific leaders in metabolism and cancer biology. The company is funded by leading financial and corporate investors, including Atlas Venture, MPM Capital, MS Ventures, Partners Innovation Fund, Astellas Venture Management, and Novartis. For more information please visit the company's website at: www.razetx.com or follow on Twitter at @RazeTx.
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For information contact: Feinstein Kean Healthcare Greg Kelley, (404) 836-2302 [email protected]