they're still kicking.........
Neurogenetics Inc. Appoints Dr. Soan Cheng as Director of Medicinal Chemistry; Expands Drug Discovery Team
SAN DIEGO, February 13, 2002 -- Neurogenetics Inc. today announced that it has expanded its Medicinal Chemistry team with the appointment of Soan Cheng, Ph.D., to the newly created position of director, medicinal chemistry.
Prior to joining Neurogenetics, Dr. Cheng worked as principal research scientist at Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories, San Diego, where he was responsible for scientific leadership and management of project teams. Dr. Cheng brings to Neurogenetics extensive expertise in the design and development of novel chemical libraries directed against numerous therapeutic targets.
Before Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dr. Cheng worked at DuPont Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, formerly Combichem, where he held positions of increasing responsibility within the Medicinal Chemistry and Combinatorial Chemistry group. Dr. Cheng has over fifteen years of experience on a broad range of projects and while at Combichem coordinated external collaborations with Roche and Novartis.
“Soan Cheng brings to Neurogenetics an outstanding background in medicinal chemistry and high-throughput organic synthesis,” stated Dr. Steve Wagner, chief scientific officer at Neurogenetics. “His expertise will help us build our Medicinal Chemistry group and rapidly transform hits emerging from our high-throughput screening into proprietary lead candidates. We are thrilled to have Soan join the Neurogenetics team, and look forward to working with him as we continue to expand the capabilities of our company.”
About Neurogenetics Inc.
Neurogenetics, Inc., founded in April 2000, is a San Diego-based emerging biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel small molecule therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related neurodegenerative disorders. The Company has exclusive license agreements with Massachusetts General Hospital for a number of significant AD discoveries from the laboratory of Dr. Rudy Tanzi, scientific co-founder of Neurogenetics and Head of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard University. Neurogenetics’ research and development efforts are focused on establishing novel molecular targets through analysis of disease-specific genetic polymorphisms for neurodegenerative diseases and developing orally active small molecule therapeutics to halt the progress of such diseases.
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(I didn't know that BMY had a PRL in San Diego. Have I been gone for too long?)
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Neurogenetics, Inc. and the University of California, Irvine Awarded BioStar Grant to Investigate Novel Target for Alzheimer's Disease
SAN DIEGO, January 28, 2002 -- Neurogenetics, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, announced today a new research initiative with the University of California, Irvine, funded in part by a BioStar (Biotechnology Strategic Targets for Alliances in Research) award. The joint funding will support research aimed at characterizing a novel target recently linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The research will be performed in collaboration with Dr. Michael Cahalan (Professor, Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics) and Dr. Frank LaFerla (Associate Professor, Dept. of Neurobiology & Behavior) at the University of California, Irvine. Neurogenetics has also initiated an independent drug discovery program to discover novel small molecules to treat AD that work through this target.
“This research will enable Neurogenetics to better understand the mechanism by which certain ion channels modulate the levels of neurotoxic A? peptides, and should be of great help in our goal to discover better drugs to treat AD,” stated Dr. Ken Stauderman, Executive Director, Cell Biology and Lead Discovery at Neurogenetics. “We are very enthusiastic to collaborate with Dr. Cahalan, a pioneer in the biophysical characterization of these channels, and Dr. LaFerla, an expert in the development of in vivo models for AD”.
Once considered a rare disorder, AD is now viewed as a major public health concern afflicting over 4 million Americans and this number is expected to increase to about 25 million by 2025. Indeed, AD is the leading cause of dementia among the elderly accounting for up to 70% of all cases. Though loss of memory is an early symptom, progressive neurodegeneration in AD cases leads to incapacitating cognitive dysfunction over the course of the disease. The age of onset for over 95% of the AD cases is 60 years or older with high prevalence among older population. The neurotoxic A? peptide is a major constituent of the neuritic plaques that are hallmarks of AD and believed to be the causative agent. (snip)
EISAI CO., LTD. and Neurogenetics, Inc. Extends Alzheimer’s Disease Agreement
TOKYO, Japan and LA JOLLA, California, January 21, 2002 -- Mr. Haruo Naito, President & CEO Eisai Co., Ltd., and Dr. William T. Comer, Chairman Neurogenetics Inc. today announced the extension of an exclusive agreement involving Alzheimer's disease targets utilizing human genetics. Under the original agreement signed in April 2001, Neurogenetics has granted to Eisai rights of first negotiation to collaborate on selected Alzheimer's disease drug discovery programs. The extension agreement enables Eisai to retain its rights of first negotiation for another year ending March 31, 2003. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “This extension reflects the continued confidence Eisai places in our research programs,” commented Dr. William T. Comer.
Eisai Co., Ltd. is a research-based human health care company, which discovers, develops and markets products in more than 30 countries. Eisai is a global leader in Alzheimer's disease research and treatment. Aricept®, a symptomatic Alzheimer's disease treatment launched by Eisai in the United States in 1997, is currently sold in more than 50 countries with over 450 million days of patient use worldwide. Through a global network of research facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, Eisai actively participates in all aspects of the worldwide health care system. For additional information, visit Eisai's web site at www.eisai.co.jp. (snip)
Neurogenetics Inc. Announces Appointment of Kumar Srinivasan, Ph.D., as Director of Corporate Development
LA JOLLA, Calif., December 10, 2001 -- Neurogenetics, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company targeting Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, announced today the appointment of Dr. Kumar Srinivasan as Director of Corporate Development. Dr. Srinivasan will be responsible for general business development activities, out-licensing, in-licensing, strategic planning, IP management as well as future financing activities.
Dr. Srinivasan previously served as Principal Scientist at SIBIA Neurosciences, where he played a pioneering role in discovering low molecular weight -secretase inhibitors for Alzheimer’s disease, that are being studied in human clinical trials by Bristol-Myers Squibb. He also worked as equity research associate at Banc of America Securities and as senior scientist at Genta Inc.
“We are very pleased that Kumar has decided to join Neurogenetics,” said Dr. William T. Comer, Chairman of Neurogenetics. “He brings to our organization a valuable combination of scientific and business expertise and experience, and we look forward to his contribution to our continued growth and success.”
Dr. Srinivasan received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Case Western Reserve University, and was post-doctoral fellow at the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at California Institute of Technology. In addition, Dr. Srinivasan recently graduated from University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business with an MBA in finance and strategic management. (snip) |
