Former Sucampo Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Peter Kiener, Joins GT
Biopharma's Board of Directors
LOS
ANGELES, April 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --
GT
Biopharma Inc. (OTCQB: GTBP and Euronext Paris "GTBP.PA") today
announced that Dr. Peter Kiener will join GT Biopharma's Board of
Directors, effective immediately.
Dr.
Peter Kiener has substantial experience in both biologics and
immunotherapy, and was most recently the Chief Scientific Officer
at Sucampo, which was acquired by Mallinckrodt in February 2018 for
approximately $1.2 billion. Prior to Sucampo, he served as Chief
Scientific Officer of Ambrx Inc., a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of
antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that was acquired by a consortium
led by Fosun Pharmaceutical Group in 2015. Prior to Ambrx, Dr.
Kiener was President and Co-founder of Zyngenia Inc., an
early-stage biopharmaceutical company. He also held leadership
roles at MedImmune LLC, the global biologics arm of AstraZeneca,
including Executive Vice President and Global Head of Biologics
Research and Development, Senior Vice President and Head of Global
Research, and Vice President of Research. He also worked on
biologics for Bristol-Myers Squibb prior to his work at MedImmune.
During Dr. Kiener's more than 20 years as pharmaceutical executive,
he has played a significant role in moving various programs through
all aspects of drug development, including discovery, regulatory
approval, and post marketing. He has also been substantially
involved in the execution of multiple deal types, including private
placements, IPO, M&A, strategic partnerships, and licensing
deals. He has published more than 120 papers in peer-reviewed
journals and is an inventor on more than 40 patents and patent
applications.
Dr.
Kiener also currently serves as the chairman of board of directors
of Cue Biopharma and as a member of board of directors of
Tetragenetics. Previously, has served on the scientific advisory
boards of KAI Pharmaceuticals Inc., Genocea Biosciences Inc., NKT
Therapeutics Inc. and VLST Corporation and as a member of the Board
of Directors of Receptor BioLogix Inc., Synovex Corporation and
Virdante Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Peter
received his B.A. (1st Class Honors), from
Lancaster University in Lancaster, UK and his Ph.D. from Oxford
University, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology.
"We
believe that Peter's extensive experience, across all aspects of
biologics drug development, will be an invaluable asset to GT
Biopharma. He has deep expertise with antibody drug-conjugates and
NK-based technologies which will be particularly helpful as we
enter clinical development with our proprietary TriKE and TetraKE
product candidates and continue the clinical development of our
bi-specific ADC," said Shawn Cross, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of GT Biopharma.
"I am
delighted to join GT Biopharma at this exciting time in the
company's development. I believe the company's pipeline and
platforms have the potential to have a significant impact on modern
cancer therapy," said Dr. Kiener.
About GT Biopharma, Inc.
GT
Biopharma, Inc. is an immuno-oncology biotechnology company focused
on innovative treatments based on the company's proprietary Tri and
Tetra-specific Natural Killer Cell Engagers (TriKEs™ and
TetraKEs) and bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platforms.
GT's lead oncology drug candidate, OXS-1550 (DT2219) is a novel
bispecific scFv recombinant fusion protein-drug conjugate composed
of the variable regions of the heavy and light chains of anti-CD19
and anti-CD22 antibodies and a modified form of diphtheria toxin as
its cytotoxic drug payload. OXS-1550 has demonstrated success in
early human clinical trials in patients with relapsed/refractory
B-cell lymphoma or leukemia. In addition, GT's TriKE platform will
address a number of cancer types. GT's nervous system platform is
focused on acquiring or discovering and patenting late-stage,
de-risked, and close-to-market improved treatments for nervous
system diseases (Neurology and Pain) and shepherding them through
the approval process to the NDA. GT Biopharma's neurology products
currently include PainBrake, as well as treatments for the symptoms
of myasthenia gravis, and motion sickness.
Except
for historical information contained herein, the statements in this
release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements are inherently unreliable and actual
results may differ materially. Examples of forward-looking
statements in this news release include statements regarding the
effectiveness of the Company's products, the potential outcome of
clinical studies, the future success of development activities and
the future growth and operating and financial performance of the
Company. Factors which could cause actual results to differ
materially from these forward-looking statements include such
factors as the Company's ability to accomplish its business
initiatives, obtain regulatory approval and protect its
intellectual property; significant fluctuations in marketing
expenses and ability to achieve or grow revenue, or recognize net
income, from the sale of its products and services, as well as the
introduction of competing products, or management's ability to
attract and maintain qualified personnel necessary for the
development and commercialization of its planned products, and
other information that may be detailed from time to time in the
Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update
or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact:
Westwicke
Partners
John
Woolford
+1(443)213-0506
john.woolford@westwicke.com