LEIDEN, The Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ProFibrix B.V., a Dutch biotech company focused on products to stop bleeding and initiate tissue repair, today announced that it has added Jan Ohrstrom, MD as COO to its Executive Management team. Dr. Ohrstrom was previously part of the Senior Management team that took ZymoGenetics Inc public, and played a key role in bringing Recombinant Human Thrombin to the US market. Dr. Ohrstrom will be based in Seattle, WA, where ProFibrix has established a wholly owned subsidiary. ProFibrix Inc. will facilitate the preparations of a global pivotal Phase II/III trial for the lead product FibrocapsTM, to be conducted in 2009/2010. Additionally, the subsidiary will allow ProFibrix significantly greater access to US pool of investors.
Dr. Jaap Koopman, Founder and CEO of ProFibrix said: “We are delighted with the decision of Dr. Ohrstrom to join ProFibrix. His extensive expertise in the management of drug development and business operations will be a tremendous asset to ProFibrix as we continue to move our products through clinical development towards commercialization and prepare for the next financing round early next year.”
Dr. Jan Ohrstrom commented: “Joining the team at ProFibrix was a logical step, I have known the company for a number of years, assessed the FibrocapsTM technology and found it an excellent platform with several product opportunities. Within the field of haemostasis recombinant Fibrinogen could become the next big breakthrough, and ProFibrix is well positioned to bring this novel therapeutic protein successfully to patients. Our office in Seattle will expand the company’s reach into additional drug development expertise and at the same time provide easy access to US investors for the follow-up financing of ProFibrix.
It’s an exciting time for us to open ProFibrix Inc.”
About ProFibrix
ProFibrix is a biotech company that was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Leiden, The Netherlands. The company aims to create, develop and market new and innovative healthcare products for the haemostasis and regenerative medicine markets.
At the heart of all ProFibrix products is human fibrinogen, a matrix protein with unique functional properties that plays an essential role in haemostasis and tissue repair. ProFibrix is currently focussing on its lead product, FibrocapsTM, a dry powder topical haemostat, for the treatment of severe haemorrhage. To facilitate the development of several pipeline products ProFibrix has established a recombinant fibrinogen production platform in mammalian cells that is expected to go into scale up and pilot GMP production in 2009.
About FibrocapsTM
FibrocapsTM is a unique pre-mixed dry powder formulation of fibrinogen and thrombin, two human proteins that are essential during natural blood clotting. It is being developed as a topical haemostat that stops acute and severe bleeding during surgery and after trauma injury. This new dry powder format has major advantages over existing liquid formulations: It is readily available for use, is more stable and effective, and can be applied to the injury in various ways.
The current market for active topical haemostats in surgical applications alone is estimated at € 700 - 800 million per year, and this is expected to grow to ~ €1.3 billion the next 3-4 years. Owing to its unique properties, new markets for Fibrocaps may also be found in emergency settings outside the hospital, such as in ambulances, on battlefields and in the home.
Contact:
ProFibrix B.V. Dr. Jaap Koopman, CEO Tel: + 31 (0) 6 21628475 E-mail: j.koopman@profibrix.com or ProFibrix Inc. Jan Ohrstrom MD, COO Tel: + 1 (0) 2069105404 E-mail: j.ohrstrom@profibrix.com or College Hill: Adam Michael / Cosima Zerdik Phone: +44 20 7457 2020 Email: adam.michael@collegehill.com
Source: ProFibrix B.V.
