SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cerimon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today Daniel Levitt, M.D., Ph.D., a 20-year veteran of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, has been named Executive Vice President of Research and Development. He replaces Gary Patou, M.D., Cerimon’s interim CMO and now Chairman of Cerimon’s newly created Scientific Advisory Board and an Executive Partner at MPM Capital. Dr. Levitt will direct Cerimon’s product development activities and manage the Company’s clinical programs for its lead product candidate, Simulect(R), and for topical diclofenac. Dr. Levitt will report directly to Paul Sekhri, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cerimon.
Dr. Levitt brings considerable experience leading research and development programs at biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Before joining Cerimon, Dr. Levitt served as Dynavax Technologies’ Chief Medical Officer and Head of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs. Prior to Dynavax, Dr. Levitt was Chief Operating Officer and Head of Research and Development at Affymax, Inc, where he spearheaded all aspects of Affymax’s research, development, and commercialization operations. Dr. Levitt also spent six years at Protein Design Labs, Inc. (PDL) completing his tenure as President of R&D from 2000-2002. Prior to his service at PDL, Dr. Levitt held senior management positions at Geron Corporation, where he served as Vice President, Drug Discovery and Development, and Chief Medical Officer, and at Sandoz Pharma Ltd., where he most recently served as Worldwide Head, Oncology Drug Research and Development.
Dr. Levitt graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University. He earned both his medical degree and his post-doctorate degree in Biology from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.
“Dr. Levitt’s 20 years of senior management experience in research, development, and manufacturing, especially in the areas of immunology and antibody manufacturing, made him the ideal choice to run our R&D programs, as well as oversee the clinical development of Simulect(R) and topical diclofenac,” commented Mr. Sekhri. “Dr. Levitt’s experience and expertise in drug discovery will serve Cerimon well as the Company continues to pursue additional opportunities to in-license product candidates in an effort to treat autoimmune diseases and associated conditions.”
Mr. Sekhri added, “We also want to recognize Gary Patou’s critical role as interim CMO through the company’s formation and the establishment of our product pipeline. Gary led Cerimon’s development efforts to initiate clinical trials of our two lead products, and we look forward to continuing to work with him in his capacity as chairman of our SAB.”
About Cerimon Pharmaceuticals
Cerimon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing therapeutic products for the physician who specializes in treating autoimmune diseases and associated conditions. Cerimon also has an asset in pain management. Cerimon employs a corporate strategy of in-licensing late-stage or marketed drugs to reduce the development and regulatory risk, decrease time to market, and expand the commercial potential of known drugs.
Cerimon currently has two drugs in development, Simulect(R) (basiliximab), which is expected to enter Phase 2b studies in early 2007 for moderate-to- severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis and a topical formulation of diclofenac sodium for the treatment of osteoarthritis pain that will enter clinical testing in the US in 2007. Cerimon is well financed, having closed a $70 million Series A financing in late 2005 with the premier investors MPM, Nomura Phase 4 Ventures, and OrbiMed Advisors.
For more information on Cerimon, please visit the Company’s website at http://www.cerimon.com.
Cerimon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CONTACT: Jim Welch, Chief Financial Officer, Cerimon Pharmaceuticals,jwelch@cerimon.com, +1-650-827-4000; Justin Jackson - media,jjackson@burnsmc.com, Jason Farber - media, jfarber@burnsmc.com, JulianeSnowden-Andrew - investors, jsnowden-andrew@burnsmc.com, Nicki Kahner -investors - nkahner@burnsmc.com or +1-212-213-0006, all of Burns McClellan,Inc. for Cerimon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Web site: http://www.cerimon.com/
