BOSTON, Dec. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Rhythm announced today the appointment of Fred T. Fiedorek, MD, as Chief Medical Officer. In this position, Dr. Fiedorek will oversee clinical development as Rhythm advances its product candidatesrelamorelin for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis and gastrointestinal (GI) functional disorders, and RM-493 for the treatment of obesity, including obesity caused by genetic deficiencies. With Dr. Fiedorek's appointment, Elizabeth Stoner, MD, will transition from her role as Chief Development Officer to become a member of the company's Scientific Advisory Board.
"Fred is a proven drug development expert with broad industry experience that spans clinical programs from Phase 1 through Phase 4 and commercial launch, with strong expertise in diabetes and other metabolic disorders," said Keith Gottesdiener, MD, CEO of Rhythm. "He brings valuable clinical leadership experience to the Rhythm team as we advance our two first-in-class clinical programs for diabetic gastroparesis and obesity."
Dr. Fiedorek most recently served as Senior Vice President, Head of Cardiovascular (CV) and Metabolic Development at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), where he led Phase 2 through Phase 4 global development for the CV and metabolic therapeutic areas. Under his leadership, several new medicines achieved successful marketing authorization, including Onglyza® (saxagliptin), Farxiga (dapagliflozin), Eliquis® (apixaban), Myalept (metreleptin), Bydureon® Dual Chamber Pen, and Glucovance® (metformin/glyburide). Prior to BMS, Dr. Fiedorek was International Project Leader for metabolic drug development at Glaxo-Wellcome. He received an MD from Harvard Medical School and trained in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology & Metabolism at Washington University in St. Louis. He also served on the faculty of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
"I am excited to join the Rhythm team to help develop two peptide programs that hold tremendous potential for improving the lives of patients," said Dr. Fiedorek. "Diabetic gastroparesis and obesity are both very underserved disorders, and the clinical data for relamorelin and RM-493 in these conditions are quite compelling."
About Rhythm (www.rhythmtx.com)
Rhythm is a biopharmaceutical company developing peptide therapeutics that address unmet needs in gastrointestinal diseases and obesity, including obesity caused by genetic deficiencies in the MC4 pathway. Rhythm is developing the ghrelin peptide agonist, relamorelin (RM-131), for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis and other gastrointestinal functional disorders; and the MC4R peptide agonist, RM-493, for obesity, including obesity caused by genetic deficiencies in the MC4 pathway. Rhythm investors include MPM Capital, New Enterprise Associates, Third Rock Ventures, Ipsen, and Pfizer Ventures. The company is based in Boston, Massachusetts.